When you read through this recipe, it may seem like a long process, but the steps actually went quickly, and it was pretty easy to make.

This recipe caught my eye because of the beautiful picture it had of the finished tassies. This was the first time I had heard about them and wanted to give them a try. A tassie is a small tart or miniature pie. This dessert is a miniature version of a pecan pie.

When I rewrite a recipe for this blog, there are many times I find that the instructions are confusing and unspecific.  After preparing the recipe myself, I often change the directions  to make them clearer and easier to follow.

One common mistake I come across, especially in dessert recipes, is when they call for toasted nuts. The author never instructs you on how to toast them.  I will always include that process in my interpretation of the recipe.

This recipe is wonderful. The tassies look professionally made and taste delightful. The drizzeled chocolate adds a beautiful layer and luscious taste. You can go with the low-fat ingredients, but I did not. I will leave that up to you. Bring this beautiful dessert to a dinner. They will make you a star!

This recipe is courtesy of Cookinglight.com. It says it makes 24 tassies, but I only got 20, so you may want to double up on the crust ingredients.

Ingredients for the Bourbon-Pecan Tassies

Crust:
Baking spray with flour
2 tbsp. canola oil
2 tbsp. butter, softened
1 tbsp. powered sugar
1 tbsp. 1% low-fat milk
1 oz. 1/3-less fat cream cheese, softened (I used regular cream cheese)
1/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
1 cup whole grain rye flour
1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Filling:
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
2 tbsp. bourbon or rye whiskey
2 large eggs
1 tbsp. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
2/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
1 0z. bittersweet chocolate, chopped 

To prepare crust:
Preheat oven to 350.

Process 1 cup of chopped pecans into a food processor until finely ground.

Lay them out on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes, until just lightly browned. Take them out and set aside. Leave the oven on 350.

Generously coat a 24 cup mini muffing pan with baking spray.

Beat oil, 2 tbsp. butter, powdered sugar, milk, and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined.

Set aside.

pecan tassies in mixer

Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife.

Place in food processor with 1/3 cup of pecans,1/4 tsp. salt.

Pulse 5 times.

Add butter mixture to flour mixture; beat until just combined. Mixture will be crumbly.

Take bowl off of food processor and knead in bowl until dough comes together, 3-4 times.

Shape dough in 24 balls. (I got 20).

pecan tassies roled balls

Press dough into the bottom of the prepared muffin pan, and press up the sides as well to form a shell. 

pecan tassies uncooked in pan

Place in oven and bake for 5 minutes.

Cool for 10 minutes.

pecan tassies cooked in pan 2

To prepare filling:
Whisk together brown sugar, maple syrup, bourbon, eggs, 1 tbsp. butter, and salt in a large bowl.

Stir in 2/3 cup pecans. 

pecan tassies Filling

Spoon about 1 tbsp. pecan mixture into each tart shell.

pecan tassies filling in shell

 

Bake 18 minutes or until filling is puffed and browned.

Cool 20 minutes.

Microwave chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl on high until it melts, about 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds. Set aside.

Run a spatula around the edges of the tarts to loosen; remove tarts from the pan. Drizzle chocolate evenly over each tart.

It’s that simple!

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My cousin, Simone made these cookies for dessert. Showing no discipline, I tried one.

Just one, I thought. Well that did not happen. These cookies are so scrumptious that they are addicting!

This dessert is a little bit of cookie and a little bit of cake, all in one bite. How can it get any better than that? It just doesn’t!

This is what I call a “cheat dessert”. It tastes like it was made from scratch, but the “cheat” is the yellow cake mix. This helps you whip up a batch of these cookies in no time. They are so simple and quick to make. And oh so delicious! If you need to bring a dessert to a dinner, and you are short on time, this is definitely what you should bring. You will make everyone happy.

My cousin got this recipe during a visit to a Montana ranch almost 10 years ago. I only wish she had given me the recipe sooner! 

She could not remember the name of the chef that gave her this recipe. I would gladly mention his name, as he deserves the recognition for these cookies.

This is a “must try”. It’s that simple!

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Cookies

1/4 cup butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1/4 cup of granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350.

Line two baking pans with parchment paper.

In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and cream cheese on medium speed.

cream cheese cheese and butter

Beat in the egg and continue to mix.

Add in almond extract and cake mix.

Continue to beat until well incorporated.

cream cheese with cake mix

Roll dough into 2-inch balls, or use a large size cookie scooper.

Roll balls in sugar, making sure to coat each one well.

cream cheese roll in sugar

Place balls on baking pan, about 1-inch apart.

 

cream cheese cookie in balls 2

Bake about 15-20 minutes, or until you see the bottom of the cookies just starting to turn a light brown.

Cream cheese cookies baked in pan 2

 

It’s that simple!

 
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I came across this recipe, and it was called the “Best Ever Blueberry Cobbler”.

After tasting it, I have to agree!

This recipe was easy to make and was a huge hit with my family and friends. The topping is buttery rich, with a moist cake-like consistency. The filling had just the right amount of sweetness with a tangy flavor from the fresh orange juice. It is the perfect combination of luscious blueberries and a flaky, delicious crust. It explodes with yummy goodness in every bite.

And oh, the smell while it was baking!

In order to perfect this recipe, I made it a couple of times before sharing it with you. There are a few bits of information worth noting.

Definitely double the ingredients for the topping. There is simply not enough for the crust if you don’t.  Just place it over the blueberries with just enough to cover them. You don’t want to make it too thick, otherwise it does not cook correctly (I know because this happened to me). You may have some batter leftover.

I also added a bit more blueberries to the recipe (why not?). 

You are not limited to blueberries for this recipe. Any kind of fruit would be great…peaches, strawberries or raspberries. You can even use two of your favorite fruits combined!

Top it with ice cream or whipped cream! There are so many possibilities. I say just make it. It is really that heavenly.

This recipe is adapted from all recipes.com. You might want to make two of them, it is going to disappear very quickly!

Ingredients for the Blueberry Cobbler

3 cups fresh blueberries
3 tbsp. white sugar
1/3 cup of fresh orange juice (1 large orange or 2 small)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup of butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 375.

In an 8 x8 inch baking dish, mix the blueberries, 3 tablespoons of sugar and orange juice. Set aside.

blueberry cob blueberrywith orange juice

In a small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

*I doubled the next ingredients.

Using a mixer, cream the butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy.

blueberry cob butter and sugar

Beat in egg and vanilla extract.

Change attachment to the paddle and gradually add flour mixture, just until ingredients are combined.

blueberry cob crust in blender

Drop batter by rounded tablespoons over blueberry mixture. Try to cover as much of the filling as you can.

bluberry cob crust on top of blueberries

Bake in oven for 35-40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and filling is bubbling.

blueberry cob cut in dish

It’s that simple!

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Do you want to make something extra special for your Fourth of July celebration?

This recipe will exceed all your expectations.

This delectable treat is a simple trifle with a lemony cake base, delicious whipped cream cheese, whipped cream, and of course, red and blue berries! 

Most of the ingredients are store-bought, with the exception of a simple lemon sauce and whipped cream. You can simply buy whipped cream and add it in to make it even easier, but why would you? This trifle has all the elements of perfection! It will definitely make a wonderful impression at your 4th of July festivities.

Celebrate your red, white and blue with this trifle. Everyone will be glad you did!

Happy 4th of July!

Ingredients for the Trifle

1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
1 store-bought angel food cake cut into 1-inch slices
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup heavy cream
4 cups fresh raspberries
4 cup fresh blueberries

In a small sauce pan, combine the sugar, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of water over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Take off heat and set aside to cool.

trifle lemon sauce cooking

Using a mixer, beat the cream cheese with 1/3 cup of sugar on high speed until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). If you do not have an additional bowl for mixer, take the cream cheese mixture out of bowl using a spatula and set aside. Wipe out bowl.

trifle whipped cream

Place the bowl in your freezer for 15 minutes. Reattach to your mixer.

Pour heavy cream in bowl and beat on medium heat for  about one minute. Change the speed to high and continue to beat until you see fluffy peaks with the consistency of whipped cream (about 1-2 minutes). Do not over whip or it will be flat and lumpy.

trifle whip cream 3

Brush the cake slices with the lemon mixture on both sides.

trifle lemon sauce on cake

Arrange half the cake pieces on the bottom of a trifle bowl or any similar serving bowl.  A clear bowl will allow you to see the beautiful layers.

trifle cake in bowl 2

Spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the cake slices. 

Layer with whip cream mixture.

trifle cake cream and whipped cream 2

Scatter half of the raspberries and blueberries on top.

trifle berries in bowl 2

Layer again with cakes slices, creme cheese mixture, whip cream mixture and berries.

Cover, and refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.

It’s that simple!

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Any recipe with oats grabs my attention immediately. 

While looking for an “easy” dessert to bake, I came across this one and decided it was a “must try”. 

Not only did it seem to be a great dessert, I knew it would be great for breakfast too!

This has to be one of my favorite desserts ever. It had a “brownie” type of consistency, but the addition of the oats gave it a whole new texture and dimension. It was light, chewy and scrumptious; and great for “breakfast on the go”.

You can choose to augment this recipe with any number of desirable ingredients. For example, you can add chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips, individually or all together.

I like things simple, but if you want to add them, go for it!

This recipe is courtesy of “allrecipes.com”.`

How many does it serve? Well cut them as large or small as you want, see how fast they go, and you be the judge!

Ingredients for Oatmeal Brownies

1 cup butter at room temperature
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until thoroughly mixed and creamy. This will take some time, about 6-8 minutes on medium speed, so be patient. You will be able to see when the mixture becomes creamy.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after  adding each one.

Stir in the vanilla extract until well-mixed, and mix in the salt.

oatmeal brownies mixing batter

Change your mixer to a paddle attachment and mix in baking soda, baking powder, flour, oats and raisins. Mix well to moisten all ingredients, and spread into the prepared baking pan (the dough will be sticky, just use a spatula to spread it evenly).

oatmeal brownies in pan before cooking

Bake  until golden brown, about 20 25 minutes (or more if you need).  Just set your timer to 5 minute increments to monitor the baking process.

oatmeal brownies finished in pan

Let it cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before cutting.

It’s that simple!

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