secretoslp

  Blueberry Muffins are a wonderful snack, a great breakfast item with coffee - and these are so easy to make and ever so delicious! One of the things that I like about going through family recipes is the fond remembrance that speaks to you. I was working full time when my children were small and wanted to make something special for the kids. So I decided I would make some homemade muffins. My mother had always made hers using a Bisquick recipe. Instead, my husband pulled out a recipe he had from his first wife who was deceased. He said that this blueberry muffin recipe was the best he ever had and I have to agree. 1/2 cup butter - softened 2 eggs 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 cup milk 2 1/2 cups blueberries 1 cup sugar 2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 tsp. table salt 1 tsp. vanilla sugar for sprinkling on top In one bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl with mixer at medium speed cream the softened butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one...

Chocolate Strawberry Puff Pastry Shortcakes ~ an economical show stopping dessert for all your holiday entertaining! I've been watching a lot of holiday movies these past few weeks and am intrigued with the movies story lines. They are all about the importance of family, a time of healing and a time of togetherness. When I reflect upon the holidays and traditions in my own life, at the core of those holidays was family. I am looking forward to the holidays - spending time with family and friends and sharing some delicious food. Read more »

Apple Raisin Oatmeal Crisp ~ a warming, comforting fall dessert that's so easy to make! There's something so homey and comforting about Apple Raisin Oatmeal Crisp isn't there? It's a bit easier than making pie too because you aren't fussing with making pie crust. Don't get me wrong I love my apple pie and the crust making isn't complicated once you know the right techniques , but the crisp comes together much quicker. In fact the longest part of making Apple Raisin Oatmeal Crisp is the apple preparation. Read more »

Chocolate Lover's Trifle ~ a simple, yet delicious trifle that is perfect for any occasion. Chocolate Lover's Trifle does not take lots of baking experience as it's made with a box cake mix and a boxed pudding mix. It's something simple, yet delicious. Topped with whipped cream and some chocolate shavings it's the perfect dessert for any occasion. I made mine in smaller cake pans to make a tall version of a trifle for the holiday weekend. Read more »

Originally made for a holiday gathering back in December of 2013, these Quick and Easy Cream Cheese Tarts are perfect for any gathering throughout the year. Today is the Preakness which is the second race for three-year-olds held at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore. It's the second race of the Triple Crown. I thought it would be fitting to make this "crowned" jewel of a dessert to enjoy before the race begins. Read more »

Who doesn't love a good brownie? You have to sometimes cater to the one's you love and knowing that I hadn't made my husband anything chocolate, I scoured my beloved Fannie Farmer Cookbook and found her recipe for these The Best Brownies. We were not disappointed in the slightest. For me they were easy to put together and for my husband he enjoyed eating them! Read more »

Take a break from the normal picnic food and try this incredible Memorial Day menu. I love summer and picnics, don't you? While I really like a charred hot dog and a juicy cheeseburger which is what we have come to expect at summer picnics, I sometimes want a change. That is exactly what this menu is - a change to the normal, everyday picnic fare. There's nothing overly complicated about it - it's just different; good different! Read more »

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EasterMadeEasy #CollectiveBias Key Lime Ice Cream Sodas ~ The taste of lime is captured in this refreshing springtime ice cream soda! I associate spring with Easter and vice versa. Growing up (in a Catholic household) Easter also meant getting new clothes, hats and shoes for Easter Sunday. There was the coloring of eggs (for the Easter Bunny to hide), daffodils and other spring flowers began to bloom and we would be spending Easter Sunday with family and extended family. With Easter just around the corner I am looking forward to spending time with family in Massachusetts. I was asked to make dessert and wondered about a layered cake, however traveling by car for two and a half hours I worried the dessert might take a spill and look shipwrecked by the time we got there. Read more »

Soft and chewy in the center with a bit of a snap on the outside, these Big Daddy Chocolate Cookies will cure your need for some chocolate. My husband requires chocolate to be present in his life. Every. Single. Day. Generally he snacks on ice cream sandwiches, but he'll devour chocolate in any form. The easiest way for me to cure his chocolate fix (and the least expensive) is to whip together a cake mix and make some cupcakes if his supply of ice cream is running low. It's either that, or some cake box cookies. Read more »

Anzac Biscuits ~ the cookies New Zealanders and Australians made to send to the front lines during war time. I was given Pic-Nic's blog and asked to choose a cookie recipe from there. My choice was easy. Nicole hails from New Zealand. She is a Neuroscientist who has juggled getting her masters degree and maintaining a food blog. This recipe is her ode to those who served in New Zealand's army and I thought this recipe would be a fitting one to represent her and where she comes from. Nicole's recipe is a modern day take on the original cookie sent to the front line in war time and I am happy to be part of the Freaky Friday Virtual Cookie Exchange and making Nicole's recipe. In case you are wondering, "Freaky Friday" is where a group of bloggers come together, are assigned a blog and asked to pick a recipe to make. It's been fun and I am glad to be part of it. The last one we did was back in October and for that I made Tater Tot Casserole . Now for this sim...

Classic Almond Joy candy bar flavors built into a delicious, buttery cookie. Recently I spotted this recipe at a linking party and they sounded delicious.  I have provided the link to the recipe I obtained and it's at the bottom of the post. In any event I revised the recipe because I felt the amount of sugar was really way more than necessary to achieve a sweet level and I decided to also cut back  on the amount of chocolate chips. As well, the baking temperature listed kind of scared me so I opted for a lower temperature and slightly longer baking time so the cookies would not burn. Read more »

Pumpkin Spiced Pecan Bread is the perfect breakfast bread, full of fall flavor! When I created Pumpkin Spiced Napoleons a bit ago, I ended up with lots of filling and knew that I wanted to use it up but not eating the same dessert over and over. As the wheels turned I began to think of incorporating that filling and adding in ingredients you would use for a dessert-style bread. Hence this recipe was born. Read more »

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are my own. #SweetenTheSeason #CollectiveBias Chocolate pumpkin shaped cake with JELL-O Pumpkin Spice Flavored Instant Pudding center and covered with orange cream cheese frosting will delight your kids this Halloween. If you love fall and you love Halloween you are going to love this baking project and recipe. There is always a reason to #SweetenTheSeason especially if you shop for Kraft Foods baking products at your local Walmart Super Center Store. Have you been to one? They're gigantic and they have special sections just geared for Halloween ~ from the Baking Center to the aisles and areas with tons of costumes, make-up and anything to do with the holiday. Read more »