Saturday, December 13, 2008

Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats


1c. Karo Syrup


1c. sugar


1 1/2c. peanut butter


4c. Rice Krispies




Mix Karo and sugar in a large saucepan until boiling. Take off the heat and stir in peanut butter, add the rice krispies and mix well. Drop by Tbps. onto a wax paper. Let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Rum Cake


For those of you who need a little Christmas cheer. This cake might just do the job!!!!!!






1 Box of butter cake mix


1 Pkg. (not instant) vanilla pudding


4 Eggs


1/2 c. light rum or Bacardi Gold


1/2 c. cooking oil


1/2 c. water


1/2 c. finely chopped pecans




Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour bundt pan. In the bottom of pan sprinkle 1/2 c. finely chopped pecans. Mix ingredients together and pour into pan. Bake about 1 hour. Remove from oven and while still hot, drizzle rum glaze over it. Leave cake in pan for at least 30 minutes so the glaze can soak through.




Rum Glaze


1 Stick of butter


1c. sugar


1/4c. light rum or Bacardi Gold


1/4c. water




Blend all ingredients, bring to a boil from 2-3 minutes.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Ice Cream Cake



This recipe was graciously given to me by The MK goddess.









2 boxes of ice cream sandwiches



One big tub of cool whip



1 Bag of heath bits






Layer a 9x13 pan w/ice cream sand then top with cool whip then heath bits and then repeat the layers. pretty easy !



Place back in the freezer until ready to eat.






The variations to the dessert are endless.

Pudding Filled Cupcake Christmas Tree

Prepare yellow cake mix according to package diretions for 24 cupcakes. Allow the cupcakes to completely cool on a cooling rack.

Meanwhile, prepare instant vanilla pudding using 1/4 cup less milk that recommended. Allow the pudding to set in the fridge for 5 minutes. Then whisk in one part Cool Whip to 2 parts pudding. It doesn't have to be exact. The Cool Whip makes the texture of the pudding so much more creamy.

Fill an icing bag with 1/2 the pudding, using a large hole icing tip. Fill each cupcake with the pudding until the tops of the cupcakes puff slightly.

Frost 21 cupcakes with green frosting & top with M&M's (or Smarties) & sprinkles. Frost 1 cupcake yellow with sprinkles and 2 with brown & top with chocolate sprinkles.

Assemble Christmas Tree on a cake board wrapped with festive paper.


Store in the fridge (because of the pudding) until ready to serve.

Sugar Cookies

This is the recipe for Betty Crocker's Rolled Sugar Cookies. This recipe has never once made mediocre cookies. Never.
Sift together & set aside:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
Mix together with electric mixer until fluffy:

  • 6 T butter
  • 1/3 cup shortening
  • 3/4 cup sugar
Add 1 egg, 1 T milk and 1 tsp vanilla until creamy.

Add flour mixture to the beaten ingredients & mix together until well combined.

Refrigerate dough for at least 3 hours. When ready to cut, roll out 1/2 the dough at a time onto a lightly floured surface to 1/8" thickness.

Place cut dough onto a ungreased cookie sheet & bake at 375F for 8-10 minutes.

I always run out of ambition at this point & use canned vanilla frosting. And, no one minds one bit. If you peeps mind the canned frosting, try using Wilton's buttercream -- made with butter, not Crisco.


I made this for MiniMe's Kindergarten Thanksgiving Party. The trunk is just vanilla frosting (tinted brown) on a cake board. The cookies are stuck in place with frosting.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Deb's Perfect Molasses Ginger Cookies

A friend (ÜberHausFrau) of a friend (CoopaChick) is known far & wide for her wunderbar HausFrau skills. She lives in her kitchen, homeschools her kids (all 6 of them) & she can totally put me to shame in the Bread & Desserts Department. And, she might even give BBLady a run for her cookie money.

So, do I know where to steal a recipe, or what? Right here on her food blog.

Our PTSO is collecting cookies to make into cookie goodie bags for teachers & I decided to send a little food porn their way in the form of molasses cookies.

Molasses Ginger Cookies, The Perfect Version

Cream together:

  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 c sugar
  • 1/2 packed brown sugar
When fluffy, add & blend well:

  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Dry ingredients, mix together with wire whisk:

  • 2 cups flour, sifted
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Mix wet & dry ingredients together until the dough is uniform. Form cookies into balls - I used the small Pampered Chef scoop - & roll in a mixture of brown/white sugar (50/50). Bake at 375F, for 8-10 minutes, or until puffed up & the tops begin to crack. Cool on a wire rack.

BBLady -- I think I just might be making these for your Cookie Exchange. I'm throwing down the gauntlet. Game on!


Oh, and ÜberHausFrau, you aren't the only one who take pictures of cookies on cute little plates. Vielen Dank for the recipe.

~HausFrau

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Fluff

I have had a few requests (MamaFry) for easy recipes. No baking involved. Here it is. This one is almost as easy as ice cream sandwich cake(Thanks Miss Pink, posting pending)


1 Quart Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Packets Whip It ( this keeps the cream from separating after it sits in the fridge a few days, Aisle 9A for those who have access to United)
5-6 Tbsp. Pwd. Sugar ( or whatever it takes to make it sweet)
1-(15 oz) Crushed Pineapple (drained)
1 bag Mini-Marshmallows
1/2-1 c. Finely Chopped Pecans

Mix the heavy cream and Whip It with a hand mixer(Kitchen aide if you have one) on high speed until very soft peaks form. Add the pwd. sugar to taste and continue to beat on high until stiff peaks form. Fold in marshmallows, drained pineapple and pecans. Chill until ready to serve.

Serves 12-16

Tip: Try adding coconut

Pecan Tassies

To me, nothing says Thankgiving like Pecan Tassies. Well, excpet for maybe the turkey & dressing.

And, pumpkin pie.

Regardless, I only make Pecan Tassies around Thanksigiving. These are the perfect dessert fingerfood for the Holiday season. I've been waiting and waiting on BBLady to post the recipe, but I see she's too busy peddling her chocolate porn to worry about something timely like pecans.

Most Tassie recipes are quite similar & the main problem I've always had has been too much filling and not enough dough. I had the same issue again last night & modified the amounts for this recipe. This should make 60-70 tassies. If you think you need less, try this recipe. It makes 24-30, but there will be quite a bit of filling leftover/wasted. Besides, if you think you don't need 70 tassies, you are obviously hanging out with the wrong crowd.

Pecan Tassies

Dough:

6 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 cup butter, also at room temp
2 cups all-purpose flour

Cream together butter & cream cheese with the electric mixer. Add flour & mix until it starts to form a ball. Shape the dough into a large ball, wrap with plastic & refrigerate until easy to handle (at least one hour).

Shape dough into small balls about 1 ½ inch in diameter. Place into mini-muffin pan and press into "cups". I use my Pampered Chef dough shaper.

Filling:

  • 3 T butter, melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ - 1 cup of chopped pecans

Mix the filling ingredients together with a wire whisk. Fill dough cups about ¾ full. I use the PC mini scoop. Bake at 325F for 30 minutes or until the dough is very lightly browned & the filling mostly set.

Remove immediately from the pan & cool on a rack. Tarts should come out of the pan easily. Unless the filling runs over the edges - then it might be stuck. Run a butter knife along the edge to loosen.


I don't know for a fact, but I've seen several references that these freeze well. Which is great. Make ahead of time & defrost at room temperature when you need them.

Enjoy! ~HausFrau

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Trilevel Brownies



Ingredients
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
1-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Walnut halves (optional)


Directions
1. For bottom layer, stir together oats, the 1/2 cup flour, the brown sugar, and baking soda. Stir in the 1/2 cup melted butter. Pat mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 11x7x1-1/2-inch baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 10 minutes.


2. Meanwhile, for middle layer, stir together egg, granulated sugar, the 2/3 cup flour, the milk, the 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 ounce melted chocolate, the 1 teaspoon vanilla, and the baking powder until smooth. Fold in chopped walnuts. Spread batter over baked layer in pan. Bake about 25 minutes more or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Set on a wire rack while preparing top layer.


3. For top layer, in a medium saucepan heat and stir 1 ounce chocolate and the 2 tablespoons butter until melted. Stir in the powdered sugar and the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in enough hot water (1 to 2 tablespoons) to make a mixture that is almost pourable. Spread over brownies. If desired, garnish with walnut halves. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into bars. Makes 32 brownies.


Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare and bake brownies as directed. Frost and cool. Cover and store at room temperature for up to 1 day.


Nutrition Facts
Calories 141,
Total Fat (g) 7,
Saturated Fat (g) 4,
Cholesterol (mg) 19,
Sodium (mg) 76,
Carbohydrate (g) 18,
Fiber (g) 1,
Protein (g) 2,
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Monday, November 10, 2008

Chocolate Chip Chocolate Clouds


Estimated Times:Preparation - 15 min Cooking - 12 min Yields - 12 servings



12 pieces NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar Dough
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided
1/4 cup milk
1 container (8 oz.) non-dairy whipped topping, thawed, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Place 12 2 1/2-inch foil bake cups on baking sheet with sides. Place 1 piece of cookie dough in each cup.

BAKE for 12 to 14 minutes or until just baked and light golden brown. Remove cups to wire rack to cool completely.

PLACE 1 1/2 cups morsels and milk in large, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; STIR. Morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted. Cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

RESERVE 1/2 cup whipped topping; refrigerate. Combine remaining whipped topping and vanilla extract in medium bowl. Gently fold half of the whipped topping mixture into chocolate mixture. Add remaining whipped topping mixture; mix lightly. Spoon over cookie bases in muffin cups. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

FOR GARNISH AND TO SERVE: LINE baking sheet with wax paper.

PLACE remaining morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag. Microwave on HIGH (100%) power for 30 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag. Drizzle 12 squiggly designs about 2- to 3-inches square onto prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, 5 to 10 minutes. TOP each mousse cup with a small dollop of reserved whipped topping. With tip of knife, gently remove drizzles from wax paper and insert, standing up into dollops. Serve immediately.

*I made my own chocolate chip cookie dough and I used milk chocolate chips.
I also put in the fridge to harden up the mousse.

Check out Nestle's Very Best Baking for more details.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Pumpkin Bars


PUMPKIN BARS

4 eggs
1 2/3 cup sugar
1 cup oil
1 (16 oz) can pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

In mixing bowl, beat together egg, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and soda. Add to the pumpkin mixture and mix thoroughly. Spread batter in ungreased 15" x 10" pan. Also works well in cupcake tins or pumpkin-shaped tins.

Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. Cool. Frost with cream cheese icing.

Cream Cheese Icing:

1 (3 oz) package of cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Cream together cheese and butter, stir in vanilla and powdered sugar a little at a time, beating until smooth. Looks festive with food coloring added to the mixture.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

HausMade Cinnabon Rolls

This recipe is widely known on the Internet as the Cinnabon Clone.
Forget the Yankee candle, bake these instead.

For the Rolls:
  • 1-envelope ( or 2¼ teaspoons) of active-dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm (105º to 110º) milk
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs, beaten until smooth texture
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
Add ingredients in order into a bread machine & set cycle to "dough". When the dough has doubled in size, roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface & shape into a rectangle 21" by 16" and about 1/4 inch thick.

For the Filling:

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup butter, softened

Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl, spread the softened butter over the surface of the dough and sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar evenly over the surface.

Working carefully, roll from the 21 inch edge and make a log of dough with the filling spiraled inside. Cut 1 3/4" slices off the log and place about six at a time on a lightly-greased cookie sheet or baking dish. Allow to rise again until doubled in size (about 30 minutes) then bake for 10 minutes or until light brown on top.

For the Icing:

  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 oz. cream cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
While the rolls bake, combine the icing ingredients and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy. When rolls come out of the oven, coat each generously with icing.

This particular method makes about 12 huge cinnamon rolls. If you cut the rectangle of dough in half lengthwise, you can make twice as many regular size rolls. I made even smaller rolls & ended up with about 40 of them -- filled one 9X13 AND one 9X9.

I made these last night & reheated them in a warm oven this morning, then topped with the icing. You can also make the rolls ahead of time & refrigerate before allowing the dough to rise a second time. When ready to bake, remove the rolls from the fridge, allow to warm & rise until double. Then bake according to the directions.

Between 8 teen girls, MiniMe & I there was nothing left after breakfast except for a few sad crumbs in my baking dish.

Yep, that's how good they are.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Libby's Pumpkin Roll

CAKE

1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

FILLING

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered sugar (optional for decoration)

Directions:

For the Cake: Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax or parchment paper. Grease and flour paper & set pan aside. Generously prinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar.

Combine: flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.

Bake: 13-15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. (If using a dark-colored pan, begin checking for doneness at 11 minutes.) Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.

For the filling: Beat cream cheese, 1 cup powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

Cooking Tip: Be sure to put enough powdered sugar on the towel when rolling up the cake so it will not stick.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Taffy Apple Pizza

Ingredients:

1 Pkg. (18 oz.) refrigerated sugar cookie dough, softened

1 Pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/4 c. creamy peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced

Cinnamon

1/4 c. caramel ice cream topping

1/2 c. peanuts, chopped (optional)

The Method:

Place dough on a round or square cookie sheet/stone. Roll dough to about 1 in. from edges. Bake at 350F 16-18 minutes or until brown. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen cookie from sheet/stone.

Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, brown sugar, peanut butter and vanilla in a bowl until creamy. Spread mixture over completely the cooled cookie.

Arrange the peeled apples over the cream cheese mixture & sprinkle with cinnamon.

Microwave the caramel topping in the microwave on high 30-45 sec. or until warm. Drizzle over the apples. If desired sprinkle the peanuts on top of the caramel.

Cut like you would a pizza.

Tip: To help prevent the apples from browning drizzle with lemon juice or Fruit Fresh.

Editor's Note: Hey, I'm surprised that BB Lady didn't go ahead and give us a from-scratch sugar cookie recipe. I'll have to dig around, find mine & post it because it totally rocks.

Bake the cookie on parchment paper & remove the paper after it cools. This prevents the cookie from sticking & unnecessary kitchen profanity. Not that I would know, or anything.

But, BB Lady does.

If you are in the market for lightening up this recipe (only so you can eat twice as much, not because you dare to calorie count a dessert recipe) here are my suggestions:

Use reduced fat or fat free cream cheese. Usually, I'm not a big fan of fat free, but (butt?) with the peanut butter & sugar you are about to add, you won't notice the missing fat. I am a huge fan of real peanut butter - the kind you have to stir & refrigerate - and think it would be really good in the recipe because of its incredibly nutty flavor. Besides, who needs extra preservatives?

Oh, yeah, those would be in the prepackaged cookie dough. Not that we care.

You can also shave off a few calories by using Splenda Blend Brown Sugar - follow the package directions, because I do believe you only use 1/2.

Make sure the apples are sliced very thinly. Someone made this somewhere in my past and the apples were way to chunky. It's really about the cookie & cream cheese, not big-honking pieces of fruit. To prevent browning, apple slices need to be lightly coated in citric acid. Sprite & 7-Up work well without adding extra tartness.

Just for the record, this dessert is really good sprinkled with pecans or walnuts.

And, Thank You, BB Lady for posting this. I haven't thought about Taffy Apple since the late 90's when this recipe was making its rounds on the Pampered Chef circuit.

~HausFrau

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Oreo Cookie No-Bake Cake

  • 1 package Oreos
  • 1 5 oz vanilla instant pudding
  • 3 c. milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1/2 c. margarine, softened
  • 1 c. powdered sugar
  • 8 0z Cool Whip
Crush the cookies until fine in a blender, using the entire cookie. Set aside.

Thoroughly mix the pudding, milk & vanilla, then set in refrigerator to cool.

Next cream together the cream cheese, margarine & powdered sugar until smooth. Mix together the chilled pudding mixture and the cream cheese mixture. Fold in the Cool Whip.

In a 9x13 pan start layering your dessert starting with the crushed Oreos followed by the pudding/cream cheese mixture, then crushed cookies, etc, making the top layer of crushed cookies.

Mix it up: use double chocolate Oreos & chocolate pudding.

Bright Ideas:

Make a Potted Plants Dessert: Use perfectly clean & new flower pots instead of the baking dish & add artificial flowers.

Make a Dig in the Dirt Dessert: Have gummy worms coming out of the cake, add shovel & gardening tools for decoration.


Make a Spooky Graveyard cake: Use Milano cookies for easy tombstones.

Editor note: You can totally lighten up this recipe by using fat free or reduced fat milk, cream cheese & Cool Whip. Margarine can also be halved. Ok, fine. If your jeans are looser than mine, then go ahead and do the full fat thing. Just trying to spare you some muffin topping flab. ~HausFrau

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Laze-E's Iced Pumpkin Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 20 minutes, each batch

Difficulty: easy

This recipe makes a wonderful cake-like spice cookie.

Dry Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix dry ingredients together and set aside.

In a separate bowl, cream together with electric mixer:

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
To cream mixture, add & beat until creamy:

  • 15 oz canned pumpkin
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 tablespoons amaretto
Mix in dry ingredients with a wooden spoon.

Use small scoop to make 1 inch diameter cookies.
Roll cookie dough in a mixture of:

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cinnamon
Place on baking stone or cookie sheet. Bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes. Remove cookies from baking stone & move to a wire rack. Immediately spread on canned vanilla frosting & sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar. Frosting will melt on the hot cookies and make an icing glaze.

Cookies can be sprinkled with powdered sugar instead of frosting.

Nuts, raisins & chocolate chips can be added for variety.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Patrick's Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Difficulty:Easy

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 8-10 minutes each batch
  • 2/3 cup shortening
  • 2/3 cup butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

  • 3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Add chocolate chips to your butt's heart's desire

Preheat oven to 375F

Mix thoroughly shortening, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Drop dough 2 inches apart.

Bake for 8-10 minutes

BB Tip: Use a small ice cream scoop to get uniform cookies, one inch in diameter.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Welcome to Strudel

It is a sad but true fact that I am not that talented when it comes to dessert magic. I can do the basics like bake a box cake or throw together a cherry crisp, but when it comes down to waving the magic wand and creating something delectable, I fail miserable.

Usually, I can't even think of a good dessert to take to a potluck shindig.

So, I don't. I bring a crockpot of Texas Beer Chili.

But, my friend Coral, who we all now know & love as BB Lady, is awesome when it comes to desserts. She is the only person who I know in real life who can make any dessert without a quick trip to the grocery store. Her fridge, freezer & pantry are always stocked with the good stuff.

Go on, ask her.

Yep.

She has phyllo dough just hanging out in the freezer waiting to jump into a pan of baklava.

When I started blogging Not Just Schnitzel, I knew that it needed a sister site for desserts & I knew exactly who needed to be the star.

BB Lady has graciously agreed to share some of her best dessert recipe & ideas with us. These are tried and true recipes that have been keeping people happy in North Central Texas for years.

We are expecting 1-2 new recipes each week. Which is great for us because we are coming up on a very busy time of the year for get-togethers that definitely need a food porn star at the dessert table.

Speaking of Food Porn . . . it's all food porn on this site. It's a dessert blog, for goodness sakes!

So, please help me welcome BB Lady to Not Just Strudel. Let's keep her happy with oodles of positive feedback so she'll keep sharing the love.

~HausFrau

Mini Lemon Tarts

Difficulty: Easy

If you like lemons this is for you. If not, what's your problem?



When life hands you lemon, make a tart!

Crust:
  • 3 oz cream cheese soft
  • ½ cup butter softened to room temperature
  • 1 ½ cup flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Filling:
  • Zest & Juice 3-4 lemons to make 1/3 cup of juice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ cup butter, melted

Mix all of the ingredients for the crust with an electric mixer, then chill for one hour.

For the filling: in the food processor, thoroughly combine the first three ingredients including the zest. Then slowly add the butter. After combining, pour into a double boiler & cook over simmering water until it starts to get thicken. It usually takes around 10 minutes. Remove from the stove and let cool.

In the meantime, spray a mini muffin pan with non-stick baking spray & preheat the oven to 350F. Using a small scoop, scoop crust into the muffin pan. Press crust into the pan until the edges are just level with the pan. Cook in oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool.

Using a spoon or small scoop, fill the crusts with the lemon filling. Place in the refrigerator until cold.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

If you would like you may add fresh whipped cream to the top of each one right before serving.

Bake time: 20 minutes
Prep time: 15 minutes, plus 1 hour chill time

Tip: I put the crust in the freezer for 30 minutes to chill