Orange Dreamsicle Cupcakes

Here is a wonderful recipe for a light Summertime treat... they remind me of a childhood treat, an Orange Dreamsicle!  Enjoy y'all!

Ingredients (Cupcakes):


1 Box of Betty Crocker Orange Supreme Cake Mix

1/3 cup of Orange Juice for water

1 small box orange Jello

Ingredients (Topping):

1 cup of cold milk

1-3.4 oz box of instant vanilla pudding

1 8 oz. tub of whipped topping

Directions: Mix cake mix by directions on the box substituting the 1/3 cup of orange juice for 1/3 cup of the water.

When the cupcakes come out of the oven and while they are cooling, mix up one small box of orange gelatin as directed.

Start poking lots of holes in your cupcakes with a toothpick, fork or skewer. Pour about 2 tablespoons of the gelatin liquid over each cupcake, slowly, letting it seep in the holes.

Refrigerate your cupcakes for about 4 hours.

Mix up the topping: Whisk 1 cup of cold milk and 1 3.4 oz box of instant vanilla pudding. When this is well mixed, fold in 1 8 oz. tub of whipped topping. Ice cupcakes and ENJOY!

Super Easy Peanut Butter Pie

This is a really good Summer treat that is really easy to make...and so yummy to eat!


Ingredients:
4 ounces cream cheese (I use reduced fat)
1/3 cup peanut butter 
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup milk (I use 1 or 2%, whatever I have on hand)
9 ounces Cool Whip (A Eula Mae "staple")
1 graham cracker crust


Allow cream cheese to soften a little at room temperature.  Beat cream cheese and slowly add in other ingredients and mix well.  Pour in shell and freeze.  See,  I told you it was easy! 


Oh you are gonna LOVE this one!  I am getting hungry just typing this.  Enjoy~


Oh, this is my cutie-pie grandson AJ...I just added his picture...well...just because he is a cutie-pie! :)

Healthy Veggie Salsa

Here is a great little side dish that is very healthy and really filling.  It has been a life-saver for me while doing a modified version of the Daniel Fast with my best friend these last few days.  Hope you like it!

Ingredients:

2 cans yellow corn, drained (fresh corn cut off the cob is better, but it IS winter so...Jolly Green Giant it is!)

1 can black beans, drained (you can also use black-eyed peas, kidney beans, etc...it's your preference!)

1/2 of purple onion (diced) or 2-3 small green onions (chopped)

1/2  large bell pepper, chopped

1 can sliced black olives

2-3 Roma tomatoes, chopped (any kind of tomatoes are fine!)

1/4 bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped well

1-2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped (can use garlic powder)

Mix all of the above ingredients together well in a large bowl and generously sprinkle with fresh ground pepper, sea salt and olive oil.  Stir well.  It is so good!!!  It is wonderful to eat with Baked Tostitos too!  Ole' y'all!

Easy Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Here is a wonderful chocolate treat that everyone will enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 box of Betty Crocker's (or your favorite brand) chocolate cake mix
1 cup rolled oats (that's oatmeal, y'all!)
1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional) 


Directions:

Mix all ingredients until blended well in a large bowl.


Drop dough by tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.


Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees.


YUMMY...to my tummy, y'all!

Banana Choco-Nut Muffins...YUM!

Okay everyone...Fall is in the air and I am in a baking mood.  Here is a very easy recipe for some good homemade muffins for those cool Autumn mornings!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar or 3/4 cup of Splenda
1 stick butter

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

2 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, etc.)

1/2 cup chocolate bits or chocolate chips

1 cup mashed bananas (2-3 very ripe bananas work best!)
Directions:


Cream butter and sugar in mixer. Add eggs one at the time to the sugar/butter mixture.  Add the lemon juice to mashed bananas and stir into creamed mixture.


Sift together dry ingredients.  Add this with the nuts and chocolate chips to the mixture. Pour into well greased loaf pan or muffin tins which have been dusted with flour and bake at 325' for 1 hour or until done. About 30 mins. for muffins.


Optional: You can also sprinkle sugar on top of the muffins or loaf before baking.


A doubled recipe makes 12 extra large muffins or 24 small muffins

Yummy Bars!

OH... MY.... GOODNESS!

  I just saw this recipe and I just had to share it!  A big shout out to my girlfriend, Betty Crocker! I cannot wait to make these...although I KNOW it will mean EXTRA time on Mr. elliptical!!!  LOL!

Crème Brûlée Cheesecake Bars from Betty Crocker

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix


1 box (4-serving size) French vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix


2 tablespoons packed brown sugar


1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted


2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla


2 eggs plus 3 egg yolks


2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened


1/2 cup sour cream


1/2 cup sugar


2/3 cup toffee bits, finely crushed


1. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, pudding mix, brown sugar, melted butter, 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and 1 whole egg until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of pan.


2. In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sour cream and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add remaining whole egg, 3 egg yolks and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla; beat until smooth. Spread over crust in pan.


3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until set in center. Immediately sprinkle top with crushed toffee bits. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 3 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Easy Fall Cranberry Apple Casserole

Here is one more apple recipe that I just love!  I call it one of "Sunday go to meeting" recipes! 

 I thought with all of the Holidays coming up and all of the church homecomings just around the corner I would share a few of my favorites with you in my next few posts.  

This is also a very easy casserole dish and it can also be fixed in a hurry.  Enjoy!

 Ingredients:
1 large can (21 ounce) apple pie filling 
(sugar-free is fine!)

1 can (16 ounce) whole berry cranberry sauce

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cup rolled oats (that's oatmeal y'all!)

3/4 cup brown sugar

 Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine the pie filling and the cranberry sauce in a 8X8 or a 9X9 baking dish.  Mix the butter, oats and brown sugar until it is crumbly.  Sprinkle this over the fruit mixture and bake for 40 minutes.  That's it...easy peasy!

You can also use cherry or peach pie filling...it is wonderful and so easy!