Lemon Bars

Hope everyone had a great Easter! We did, it was so nice to spend time with family. Now, I just have to keep my hands out of the boys' Easter candy!

We had a big family lunch on Easter, my Mother In Law and I split up the menu which makes it alot less stressful if you ask me. Anyway, I made dessert. I made this Strawberry Pie and the Lemon Bars.

I got this recipe years ago from my Aunt. She used to always make these at Christmas and I loved them, then we I got older I asked for the recipe and I have been making them every year since. But, this year I didn't make them at Christmas just because I tend to over do it then so I limited the desserts. So, I figured now was a good time since I passed on these at Christmas. Plus, they are supper easy to make and yummy!

As you can see from the photo, I left out the nuts this time. I think they are good both ways so feel free to do as you like. I also tend to keep mine in the frig, they are good both ways, in or out of the frig and even better warmed in the microwave for a few seconds.

Lemon Bars

1st Layer:
1 box of lemon flavor cake mix with pudding in the mix
1 stick of butter, melted
1 egg
Mix and spread into the bottom of 9 x 13 pan

2nd Layer:
2 cups chopped nuts ( I have used pecans)

3rd Layer:
1 box of confectionery sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
2 eggs
1/2 stick of butter, melted
Mix and pour on top of nuts

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let cool then cut into squares.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

 

Does that cupcake not look absolutely yummy? I think so, and it sort of happened by accident. You see, I had to make cupcakes for my youngest to take to preschool. At first I thought all the cupcakes would be chocolate but I thought that I would spare the teachers' nerves and just do vanilla. Plus, it was the only flavor that I had in the pantry. While getting the mix going, I knew that only 12 cupcakes would be going to the preschool so that of course left 12 cupcakes here for us to eat.

 

Well, I thought that here was my chance to change things up a bit and try something new. I was in the mood for chocolate so after I followed the directions on the back of the box for the vanilla cupcakes I poured half of the mixture into 12 cupcake liners for the preschool, then I decided to play with the remaining mix. I thought, heck, if I screw it up its only 12 cupcakes, right?!

 

 

Ok, so with 1/2 of the mixture in the bowl, I added 1/4 cup of cocoa and 3 to 4  tablespoons of coffee.  Mixed it all together and then filled the remaining 12 cupcakes liners with the new chocolate mixture and baked the cupcakes according to the directions on the back of the box.

 

After the cupcakes cooled, I started on the frosting. I made a basic vanilla buttercream frosting.

 

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Then I used this frosting to decorate the cupcakes for the preschool and for the frosting that I had left over I added....

1/3 cup of peanut butter (you may add more, just be careful, the more you add, the thicker the frosting)

mixed well and frosted the chocolate cupcakes.

Melted chocolate and drizzled on top.

 

That was it, simple and yummy, especially with a glass of milk!

 

The cupcakes were moist and the combination of the chocolate and peanut butter were just the trick for my chocolate craving. 

 

Let us take one more look......



Thank goodness that I only had 12 of these and that I shared...........I could have eaten them all, but I didn't.

Looking forward to baking lots of Christmas goodies soon, there are a few that I make every year. And this year, I am looking forward to surprising some neighbors with some of those goodies too! It is always more fun when you share!

Do you have any baking traditions at Christmas?

7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars

These are made every year here at Christmas, these are for sure a tradition at Christmas and always have been since I was a little girl.

They are yummy, oh so yummy and very addictive, gooey, chocolaty, so many rich flavors....so are you ready to make some of your own?

1 & 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup of butter, melted
Mix the above ingredients and press into a 9 x 13 dish, lined with foil or parchment or sprayed with cooking spray.

Then layer in order the below ingredients on top of the graham cracker layer:
1 cup of butterscotch flavored chips
1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 & 1/3 cups of coconut (I use the coconut in the freezer section, just let thaw first)
1 cup of chopped nuts (I use pecans)

After all the ingredients are layered, drizzle 1 (14oz.)can of sweetened condensed milk (yes, the entire can) over the bars.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

And of course they are great with a glass of milk. Can you tell that I have  a major sweet tooth?

 

Just one more look at this fabulous treat... (oh and these are one of the treats that I will be sharing with a few neighbors, I hope they enjoy them!)

 

 



Sweet Potato Pie

 

 

 

When fall arrives I automatically think falling leaves, cooler temps, pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving, homemade soup, pecan pie and sweet potato pie.

 

 

I'm sure that most people know how to make this lovely pie, it is so easy! But just in case you have not had the pleasure of tasting sweet potato pie, here is the recipe. This recipe is one that I came up with using 3 different recipes as examples in an old country church cookbook. Some of their ingredients I left out or added more either way here is my version.

 

I use ready made pie crust from the grocery store, I hope one day to try it with homemade pie crust. The crust that I use is Pillsbury and it is the pack with 2 9" pie crusts in the tins. (regular shell, not deep dish)

 

 Sweet Potato Pie

 

2 9" pie shells, uncooked

3 to 4 medium sweet potatoes, cooked

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

1 & 1/2 cup sugar



2 eggs
1 can of evaporated milk
2 tsp. vanilla (sometimes I feel the urge and add and extra tsp.)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

I cook my sweet potatoes in the oven at 350 degrees  on a baking sheet lined with foil. They are finished cooking when the potatoes are soft when you mash them with your fingers.

Mix all the ingredients together and pour into the pie shells. (it makes 2 pies) Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.   Take out of the oven and let sit until cool. Enjoy!