The Secret to Making Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Authentic Key Lime Pie Recipe

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, I thought I'd re-post one of my hubby's favorite recipes — authentic key lime pie.

I would consider you one lucky devil if you've ever been to Key West and even luckier if you had a slice of authentic key lime pie while you were there! Whether you've been there or not — here's an authentic recipe that will take you there with each creamy bite of sweet tartness. Best part of this pie (aside from it being so delicious) is that it's extremely easy to make.

Ingredients
2/3 cups key lime juice
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cans sweetend condensed milk
Zest of 3 large limes
Pinch of salt

1 graham cracker crust

Whipped cream topping

Directions
1. Beat together key lime juice, sour cream, condensed milk, lime zest and salt.

2. Pour into crust and bake on 350˚ for 10 mins. Let cool.

3. Top with whipped cream poufs along the outside edge of the pie. Garnish with 1 circular lime slice in the center of the pie or place some curled lime zest on each slice.

Yield: 1 pie

Things you may need to make this:

 

Valentine's Day Stained Glass Cookies Recipe

I've been wanting to find a Valentine's Day recipe that will become a tradition in our household. The past few years I've tried different recipes incorporating hearts, pink and red in various ways. But nothing came out really amazing or easy. This year I think we found a winner! These are so super easy and adorable and taste amazing. Here's how to make these stained glass Valentine's Day cookies:

Ingredients

1 (7oz) bag assorted jolly rancher flavors

1 (17.5oz) bag Betty Crocker Sugar Cookies 

1 egg

1 stick butter, softened

1 tbsp flour (plus more for rolling)

You will also need: parchment paper or silicon baking sheets, a double heart-shaped cookie cutter, plastic sandwich bags and a dish towel.

Directions

1. Prepare dough as directed with egg, butter and flour. 

2. On a floured surface, roll out dough until 1/4" thick.

3. Use a double heart or a small and a large cookie cutter to create hollow heart cookies. Place hollowed hearts onto cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.

4. Place like-colored jolly ranchers into plastic bag, cover with a dish towel and hammer until jolly ranchers are crushed to pieces.

5. Fill centers of hearts with crushed jolly ranchers.

6. Bake on 350˚ for 7-8 minutes or until edges are slightly golden brown.

7. Let cool and remove with spatula. 

Yield: 2 dozen cookies

Things you may need:

  

New! Cinnamon Baked French Toast Recipe

Oh my goodness, if you want to make the best french toast casserole, here's your recipe. I got the original  recipe from a good friend who made this for us during a visit to her house. It's a variation of Pillsbury's Cinnamon Baked French Toast recipe using canned Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls. I added extra cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar; and reduced the eggs so it didn't get soggy of overly fluffy. Per my friend's recommendation, I left off the maple syrup because it's plenty sweet enough without it. That's all there is to this easy french toast casserole -- great for overnight guests or as a family treat.

New recipe — now even better!

I recently (Dec. 2013) made some updates to this recipe to make it even better. It's now less fluffy and eggy and more moist and gooey. Also, a slightly shorter cook time. Let me know what you think of the new taste.

Ingredients

2 cans (12.4 oz each) Pillsbury flaky cinnamon rolls
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (half & half works too)
3 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
Icing from cinnamon rolls
Powdered sugar, if desired

Directions
1. In a large glass bowl, melt butter then together with sugar. 

2. Beat in eggs, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.

3. Open canned cinnamon rolls, slice each  cinnamon roll into eighths. Place cinnamon roll pieces into the bowl of egg mixture and toss to thoroughly coat.Then pour the pieces, coated in egg mixture, into a greased 9x12 casserole dish and spread out evenly. Any remaining egg mixture, you can brush over top of areas that look like they might get dry.

4. Sprinkle with pecans and then bake on 350˚ on a low rack for 35-40 minutes.

5. Remove bake from oven. Warm icing from cinnamon rolls in microwave for 15 seconds; pour evenly over bake. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

Serves: 6-8

*If you like this recipe, you'll love our Cinnamon Apple Strudel Bake, also using Pillsbury cinnamon rolls!

Whipped Pumpkin Dip Recipe

I just tried this whipped pumpkin dip at a friend's house last week. It was so creamy and delicious, I kept going back for more and more... and more. I've since made it again and decided this one's going in my book of favorite fall recipes. It's incredibly easy to whip up, here's how:

Ingredients
1 (8oz) container of cool whip
1 (15oz) can pumpkin
1 (1.34oz) package instant vanilla pudding
A pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and allspice

Serve with: vanilla wafers, sliced apples or graham crackers.

Directions
1. Mix together pumpkin, vanilla pudding (just the powder) and spices.

2. Fold in whipped cream and serve.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Recipe

It's year two of garden-fresh rhubarb. Unfortunately, we got a whole lot of nothing from our strawberry plants again this year but I'm guessing they just aren't getting enough sun. Thankfully, Walmart's produce didn't look look as bad as it normally does so I got a big box of strawberries because we have enough rhubarb for at least two more pies this year (We just have one rhubarb plant). Since rhubarb is really hard to find at stores around here, I guess I'm happy that the rhubarb does fine in the shade even if the strawberries aren't producing because I can always buy those. Still fresh-picked strawberries are so much better, especially if you grow them yourself! Ah well, maybe next year we'll try a sunnier spot.

So, if you've never had rhubarb pie before you are in for a treat! I've found people either love it or hate it. It's got a sweet-tart taste. I'm not a big pie person because they tend to be overly sweet so this is right up my alley. I like the strawberries mixed with the rhubarb to give it some added flavor. I tried an all-rhubarb pie last year and thought it was kinda gross personally but some people said they did like it. Well, let me know what you think! It's very easy to make, even the lattice crust surprisingly. Here's how:

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
2 tbs tapioca
2 1/2 cups chopped rhubarb
3 1/2 cups chopped strawberries
Juice from 1/2 lemon
2 tbsp butter
2 pie crusts
1 egg yolk

Directions
1. Mix together sugar, flour and tapioca. Add rhubarb and strawberries; toss to coat. Add lemon juice and toss.

2. Place one pie crust in bottom of a shallow pie pan and add strawberry rhubarb mixture.

3. Dart with butter.

4. Add lattice top and brush on egg yolk to coat evenly. How to make a lattice pie crust.

5. Loosely cover with foil and bake at 400˚ for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes or until top is golden brown.

6. Let cool then serve.

Serves 6-8

Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe

In honor of National Strawberry Sundae Day, July 7, 2013, I thought a homemade strawberry ice cream recipe was in order. The ice cream was delicious but I actually had more fun turning this holiday into a little strawberry sundae picnic! I thrifted this cute set of plates for the occasion and set up a kid-friendly table in the grass (in case plates were dropped or thrown!) with an overturned crate. I set our table with an old baby blanket, picked some flowers from the garden and grabbed some fresh strawberries from the farmer's stand. Unfortunately, our strawberry plants have only produced one strawberry so far this year. I don't think they are getting enough sun but at least I was able to use some of the leaves and a flower for decoration!

Our strawberry sundae
picnic table set up!

Ingredients
2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon juice
1 pint mashed fresh strawberries
2 drops red food coloring

Directions
1. Mix together milk, heavy whipping cream, sugar, salt, vanilla, lemon, strawberries and food coloring in a large bowl. Pour the mixture into your ice cream maker and prepare according to your maker's instructions.

Don't have an ice cream maker? Here's how to make ice cream without a machine.

To make a sundae, I used a plain waffle (frozen but you could make your own too), strawberry ice cream, strawberry syrup, whipped cream and fresh-picked strawberries.

Things you may need:

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bake

Cinnamon, cream cheese, pastry, oh my! This dessert recipe is seriously easy and oh, so deliciousioso. Let's just get right to it, shall we? Here's how to make this tasty treat:

Ingredients
1 can pillsbury crescent rolls
1 (8oz) package cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions
1. Line an 8x8" glass baking dish with half the crescent roll dough.

2. Beat together softened cream cheese, vanilla, lemon, egg and 1/2 cup sugar.

3. Spread cream cheese mixture over top crescent roll dough.

4. Top with remaining half of crescent roll dough. Pinch together seams and around edge to seal.

5. Melt butter and pour over top.

6. Mix together 1 1/2 tbsp sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over top.

7. Bake at 350˚ for 25-30 minutes.

Serves: 4-6

Chocolate-Glazed Eggless Brownies Recipe

If you happen to be looking for a delicious recipe for brownies that does not use eggs, here you go... these are great for someone with an egg allergy or who's cutting cholesterol but they are also a nice change of pace if you're just looking for a new flavor. The chocolate glaze puts these over the top and makes you wonder why you ever needed eggs in brownies in the first place.

Ingredients
1 box Ducan Hines brownie mix
1 very ripe banana, mashed
2 tbsp oil
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp of vanilla

Glaze
6oz chocolate chip
2 tbsp butter

Directions
1. Blend together banana, oil, milk and vanilla then add Duncan Hines mix and stir until smooth.

2. Bake at 350˚ for 30min. Let cool for 5 mins.

3. Melt chocolate chips and butter in microwave for 1 min. Mix well and spread evenly over top brownies. Cool in freezer for 15 mins before serving.

You might also like our Eggless Pancake Recipe.

Baked Chocolate Chip Pancakes Recipe

Since my cinnamon french toast bake is by far the most loved recipe on this site, I have been mulling over why that recipe is so popular and have basically come to a few conclusions: First, it's sweet and delicious. Second, it's fast and super easy to make. Finally, you can make a bunch of it with minimal effort and few ingredients so it's great for when you have overnight guests or a large family to feed. And so, here is another recipe that may be right up your alley — Baked Chocolate Chip Pancakes. I have to give credit to the recipe that inspired this one, which you can find here. Here's how to make my version of this sweet, easy, homemade breakfast:

Ingredients

Spread out chocolate chips
evenly on top

3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup sour cream
4 tbsp butter, divide
1 egg
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350˚. Grease the bottom and side of a 9x12 pan with 1 tbsp of butter.

2. Whisk together milk, sour cream, remaining butter, vanilla and egg then beat in sugar. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and salt, then slowly add dry ingredients to egg mixture.

3. Pour batter into the greased baking pan and spread out evenly.

4. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the batter and bake for 22-25 minutes or until golden brown on top.

5. Cut and serve topped with butter and maple syrup.

Things you may need to make this:
  

Oreo "Dirt" Dessert Recipe

My friend Kristin shared this recipe classic with me after I devoured, well I won't say how many bowls of this... I will just say it's addicting. It's also an easy recipe to make with kids and they'll get a kick out of eating "dirt" and worms. 

Ingredients

16 oz. cream cheese, softened
8oz. cool whip
1 (3.9oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix
3 cups milk
1 1/2 packages of Oreos
1 small package gummy worms

Directions
1. Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl, add instant pudding mix and milk then blend with a hand mixer until smooth. Stir in cool whip and place dirt mixture in fridge until ready to assemble.

2. Place Oreos into a plastic bag and lightly roll with a rolling pin until the cookies crumble and you can't see the white cream anymore.

3. Assemble in layers. Oreo on the very bottom, then cream cheese mixture, alternating until the last layer of Oreos is on top.

4. Refrigerate until served.

Serves: 8-10

Things you may need to make this:

  

Easy Apple Strudel Dessert Recipe

I first tried a variation of this easy apple strudel recipe at a MOPs get together. My friend Stacy had made it for dessert and it was amazing! She kindly offered up the recipe and as I was reading it over, I realized how similar it was to my Cinnamon Baked French Toast recipe that's been a big hit. So, I decided to combine the two recipes, plus a third I found online using citrus soda and... voilà! Here you have it... a really simple apple strudel recipe using Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. Super easy and addictingly delish.

Ingredients

3 large granny smith apples

2 cans (13 oz each) Pillsbury flaky cinnamon rolls
1 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup citrus soda (you may substitute with 1 cup water + 1/2 cup sugar)
Icing from cinnamon rolls
Powdered sugar, if desired

Directions
1. Peel and core apples. Slice into quarters. (I use this Pampered Chef apple peeler)

2. Open canned cinnamon rolls, slice into eighths. Place cinnamon roll and apple pieces into 9x12 baking dish and spread out evenly. (For softer cooked apples, layer apple slices first then top with cinnamon roll pieces.)

3. Melt butter then stir in sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour mixture evenly over cinnamon roll and apple pieces, then pour citrus soda evenly over top.

4. Bake at 350˚ for 45 minutes.

5. Remove apple strudel from oven. Warm icing from cinnamon rolls in microwave for 30 seconds; pour over strudel. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

Serves: 6-8

Things you may need to make this easy apple dessert recipe: