What is on your menu this week?

This pie is our new favorite. I used to make a cooked pudding banana cream pie, but it often didn't set up like I wanted it to. I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, Maggie, and we've been making it for holidays, birthdays and just for fun. Super easy and always yummy. Banana Cream Pie 2 baked pie crust shells 1 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding 1 cup cold water 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk 1 pint whipping cream, divided  1 large bananas 1/3 c. powdered sugar In a stand mixer beat together vanilla pudding, cold water and sweetened condensed milk. Chill 15 minutes. Whip 1 cup whipping cream. Fold into pudding mixture. Pour into two baked pie crust shells. Chill for several hours. Whip remaining 1 cup whipping cream with powdered sugar. Spread on top of pies and tp with banana slices. Chill. More from Jenny:

I am a lover of pumpkin desserts.  My family are not big fans besides an occasional  pumpkin chocolate chip cookie  or slice of this pumpkin cake .  I love pumpkin pie bars in any form, especially this recipe.  (One of my other favorite is these pumpkin cheesecake bars ...yum!) I originally posted this recipe in 2011 and named it Pumpkin Torte, since that's the name that I got from the sweet lady at church that gave me the recipe.  However, I was making these this week to take to a church activity and realized that the recipe could use some help.  So, I changed the name, from Pumpkin Torte to Pumpkin Pie Bars.  (I think tortes have many more layers than this.) I changed the recipe since a few things in the original recipe, made me say, "I do, what?  What size can of pumpkin do I use?"  I knew my friend the recipe for the same bars, so I got her recipe and compared it to mine and made some changes.   That being said, th...

This is one of my family's favorite dessert to make on Sundays.  Both my husband and I grew up making it and now our kids love making it too. I posted the recipe here on my blog four years ago, but thought that it deserved an update.  Although there is a cute picture of my little, then six-year-old, daughter holding her bowl of brownie pudding.  Where does time fly? This dessert is truly magical and super yummy tasting.  First you make a brownie batter, then pour "chocolate water" on top.  While baking, the magic happens and underneath the brownies a chocolate sauce is hiding. Super yummy topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or eaten plain.  Don't count on any leftovers. Brownie Pudding printable recipe makes about 6 servings 1 c. flour 3/4 c. granulated sugar 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 c. milk 2 Tbsp. canola oil ...

I recently had a birthday.  My daughter loves to help me in the kitchen, so I had her help me make a cake.  We decided to make an oreo ice cream "cake".  I love all things oreo (except those weird flavored ones, like strawberry or bubble gum, or whatever they are).  This ice cream cake had the perfect amount of oreos.  It has a buttery oreo crust on the bottom, topped with vanilla ice cream, homemade chocolate sauce, whipped topping, and then topped off with a few more oreos.  I made this recipe last summer, but forgot about it.  I found it on Becky Bakes , but changed it a little bit.  Some of the layers are straight from cartons, which is super easy and still yummy.  I made my own chocolate sauce to drizzle between the layers of vanilla ice cream and whipped topping.  I used the chocolate sauce from my éclair cake recipe .  You could just as well use a jar of hot fudge sauce.  It's been several days s...

My mother-in-law makes an amazing peach pie.  I've tried many times to duplicate it.  I'm finally getting better at it.  And I've found that it really works the best with fresh peaches or home-canned peaches, not peaches from a tin can.   The crust is very easy since it's an oil crust and doesn't involve cutting in butter or shortening.  This salty crust tastes amazing with the sweet peaches.   My husband doesn't like cake, so growing up he would request peach pie for his birthday.  He likes to eat this pie in a bowl with milk poured over it.  I like mine on a plate with a fork...plain.  Yum! Peach Pie (I think the recipe is originally from an old BHG cookbook) Oil Pastry for Crusts (makes 2 crusts) 2 c. flour 1 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 c. oil 5 T. cold water Mix together flour and salt (I use a fork.)  Pour oil and water together.  Mix into flour and salt mixture until a ball forms.  Sepa...

My mother-in-law, Marianne, makes the best brownies!  I can't believe that I haven't blogged about them yet.  Probably because they are always gone so fast that I forget about taking a picture of them.  I've been making them for almost eleven years.   I haven't found a recipe that I like better than Marianne's.    I've played around with these brownies, substituting applesauce for butter.  But they're just not as good.  I make them with the original recipe and they turn out perfectly!  The middle pieces are slightly doughy with a thin crispy top and the edge pieces are still most and yummy.  I can't decide if I like the edge pieces better than the middle pieces.  Heavenly Brownies recipe from Marianne (from one of her cookbooks) 6 Tbsp. coca 1 c. butter 2 c. sugar 4 eggs 2 c. flour 1 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. vanilla chopped walnuts (optional -- I've never added these)...

I love this recipe so much that I'm ignoring my Saturday night ironing and floor cleaning so I can share the recipe with you.  And, I'm trying to distract myself from eating the last piece of fruit pizza that is staring at me.    This recipe is from my sister-in-law, Annelisa, who is a fabulous cook!  Everything she makes is delicious!  This "pizza" has a sugar cookie crust, layered with cream cheese "frosting", topped with fruit and then a pineapple juice glaze. I made this fruit pizza last night and my family ate lots of it for dinner (along with some pancakes).  It's healthy since it's "fruit" pizza, right? This would be a yummy treat for Valentine's day.  If I lived closer to my dad, I would make this for him.  He loves sugar cookies!  It would be fun to make the pizza in a shape of a heart. Pin It Fruit Pizza recipe from Annelisa Crust: 1/2 c. butter 3/4 c. sugar 1 egg 1 3/4 c. flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 ...

The other day I wanted to make something with pumpkin.  I had a baked pie crust from the Sunday's dessert and thought I'd make pumpkin pie, then I realized that you need an unbaked pie crust for pumpkin pie.  I had already opened a can of evaporated milk, so I tried to find a recipe to use it up.   I remembered this recipe.   I'm sure glad that I made it.  This dessert can be eaten warm or chilled.  Yummy either way! Pumpkin Torte Ingredients 1 box yellow cake mix, reserve one cup for topping 1/2 c. butter, melted 1 egg 1 can pumpkin pie filling 2 eggs 2/3 c. evaporated milk 3 T. softened butter 1 c. cake mix 1 Tbsp. cinnamon 1/4 c. sugar Directions Crust: Combine 1 yellow cake mix---- less one cup, 1/2 c. melted butter and 1 egg.  Pat evenly in 9x13 pan. Filling:  Combine and pour ove...

Making doughnuts is one of my favorite Halloween traditions.  We haven't done it every Halloween, but I think it's a fun tradition.  I figure why not eat a few more calories on Halloween and work it off later?   We made some doughnuts last year, but this year we used a new recipe and it didn't disappoint!  My kids loved helping me make them and eat them! My kids loved the chocolate glazed doughnuts...  and they loved the plain glazed too. Buttermilk Doughnuts 1 pkg active dry yeast (2 1/2 tsp.) 1/4 cup warm water  1 tsp. sugar 1 c. buttermilk 1/4 tsp. soda 1 tsp. salt 1/2 cup sugar 3 Tbsp. shortening 2 1/2 c. flour Dissolve yeast in water, add 1 tsp. sugar & set aside... In saucepan heat buttermilk until just warm, add soda, salt, sugar & shortening. When luke warm, add yeast mixture & flour--knead until smooth & satiny. Cover, let rise in warm place until double in size,...

I made this eclair cake for book club that I hosted last night and wanted to share the recipe with you all.  My family made eclair cake a lot in my growing up years, but I haven't ever made it since I've lived on my own (12+ years).  It is four layers of deliciousness:  buttery crust, pudding, whipping cream, and chocolate.  This is a wonderful dessert to make for a crowd, since you make it in a cookie sheet. I saw a recipe for eclair squares on the Sisters' Cafe blog and wanted to make it.  Their recipe is a little more "grownup" than the recipe that I used when I was younger.  The cool whip and Hershey's chocolate syrup that I used to use are replaced with real whipping cream and a chocolate glaze drizzle. Eclair Cake recipe from Sisters' Cafe and also from my childhood recipe box Crust: 1/2 cup butter 1 cup hot water 1 cup flour 4 eggs Boil water and butter until butter is melted.  Mix (in mixer with wire whisk attachment).  Add ...

I had extra whipping cream in my fridge from the chocolate ice cream we made last week, so we had  to make more ice cream tonight.  I'm glad we did, because it sure was yummy. We used the recipe for Old Fashioned Vanilla that was inside my ice cream maker owner's guide, then we added chopped up Oreos at the end to make it Cookies & Cream Ice Cream.  There are lots of other mix-ins that I'd love to try.  Or just plan vanilla would be yummy too.   Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Rival (model 8151) Electric Ice Cream Maker Owner's Guide makes 1 1/2 quarts 3/4 c. sugar 1/8 tsp. salt 1 3/4 c. whole milk 2 eggs, beaten 1 1/2 c. whipping cream 1 T. pure vanilla extract Combine sugar, salt and milk in saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until mixture almost boils.  Reduce heat to low. Gradually stir about 1/2 c. of hot milk into the beaten eggs.  Add eggs to remaining hot mixture.  Cook over low heat, sti...

Can you believe I'm actually posting a recipe?  I think it's been at least two months since I've done it.  We've been really busy this summer and it's been too hot to do much cooking.  Which is why I made ice cream this weekend... Chocolate Ice Cream recipe from Rival's Owner Guide makes 1 quart 1 1/2 c. whole milk 2/3 c. sugar dash salt 2 ounces semisweet chocolate squares, finely chopped (I used 2/3 c. chocolate chips instead) 1 egg, beaten 1/2 c. half and half (I used fat-free) 1/2 c. whipping cream 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract Combine milk, sugar, salt and chocolate in saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture almost boils.  Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten eggs.  Add the eggs to remaining hot mixture.  Cook and stir over low heat until slightly thickened (2 minutes).  Stir in half and half, whipping cream, and vanilla.  Cover and refrigerate for ...

These are my new favorite cookies.  I've made them several times in the last few months.  I love cookies that have pudding mix in them.  Especially these chocolate chip cookies with vanilla pudding in them. I posted a while ago about these Death By Chocolate Chocolate cookies that I made using the recipe from Stephanie's Kitchen .  Then I tried these chocolate cookies from Picky Palate (without the marshmallows and pb chips).  I love both these cookie recipes, so I combined them and made up my own version. Chocolate Pudding Cookies recipe adapted by me from Stephanie's Kitchen and Picky Palate 1 1/2 cubes butter (3/4 c.) 1/2 c. granulated sugar 3/4 c. brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 2 1/4 c. flour 4 oz. box instant chocolate pudding mix 2 c. chocolate chips (I use a mix of milk chocolate, semi-sweet and white chocolate chips) Cream butter and sugar.  Mix in eggs and vanilla.  In se...

My favorite recipe for lemon bars comes from the lovely red and white checked Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.  I was looking to see if the recipe was online anywhere and found almost the same recipe from BHG, but a little bit lighter .  I'll have to give these a try.

I'm always on the lookout for a new and improved chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I already have a post on my blog about my new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe , so I had to name this post my other favorite chocolate chip cookies. This recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe uses melted butter, which kind of reminds me of making congo squares , but in cookie form.  I loved the way the cookies turned out.  And will make them again.  Who knows, maybe they'll stay my favorite recipe.

Seven layer bars are one of my favorite desserts ever.  I only make them when I am planning on sharing them with people other than my family.   I tried the recipe from my new favorite cookbook,  The New Best Recipes Cookbook .   I love this cookbook because I love reading about what they tried to finally end up with the "best recipe".  It's pretty much the same as my other recipes for seven layer bars, except that this recipe added white chocolate chips and toasted the coconut. Seven Layer Bars recipe from  The New Best Recipes Cookbook   (in my words) 1/2 c. butter, melted 9 graham crackers, crushed 1 c. coconut 1 c. chopped walnuts 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 c. butterscotch chips 1/2 c. white chocolate chips 1 can sweetened condensed milk (I use fat-free) Spread coconut onto baking sheet and bake for 8 minutes in 350 degree oven until lightly toasted. Mix butter and cracker crumbs together, then press in the bottom of a 9x13 pan.  T...

Happy Valentine's Day everyone !  To celebrate, I made these fabulous peanut butter bars.  Actually, I made them yesterday and I just remembered I forgot to put them in my daughter and hubby's lunches.  Oops!  Hopefully I don't eat them before they get home from. These are one of my favorite bar cookies to make ever.  It's a good idea to make these to share with lots of people, so you don't eat the whole pan by yourself.   Have a great day and don't forget to post your menus for the week (because I LOVE THEM )! Peanut Butter Bars 1/2 c. butter (I use 6 T. butter, 2 T. applesauce) 1/2 c. peanut butter 1/2 c. white sugar 1/2 c. brown sugar 1 egg 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. soda 1/4 tsp. salt 1 c. flour (plus a little more if needed) 1 c. oats Press in bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 for 12 - 15 minutes. Frost with chocolate frosting.  Chill in fridge. Chocolate Frosting: 1 c. + powdered sugar 2 1/2 T. cocoa 1...

I made these peanut butter cup brownies the other day using my new whisk.  It was fun whisking in lots of peanut butter and chocolate.  These brownies and yummy, but very, very rich.  So, whip up a batch, cut them in little squares and share them with your friends and family. I got the recipe from Becky Bakes .  Give it a try!