Lady Bug Cake

Made this for my little girls 2nd birthday.  She loved it!

• 1 cake box
• 1 medium metal or glass bowl
• 1 small glass bowl
• mini Oreos
• white chocolate melting chips
• Buttercream Frosting
• Red food coloring
• Black food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Make cake according to directions on box.  Pour batter between, well greased and floured, bowls.  The smaller bowl baked for about 20 minutes.  The larger bowl baked for about 35-45 minutes.  Let them cool for 15-20 minutes. Turn over on foil covered cardboard. 

Frost the larger section first. Add a line of black down the middle, I used the writing frosting you buy in a tube, and add half an Oreo while frosting is still wet.  Frost the back side and sides of the head, then place it on the body.  Frost the face.  Place two white melting chips on for the eyes while the frosting is still wet, so the stay on.  I dipped my finger in black frosting and placed a dot in each eye.  I then melted white chocolate in a small Ziploc bag.  Cut a small hole in the corner and piped a mouth and eyelashes on.  I then placed two candles in the top of the head.

Sugar Cookie Ice Cream Cups

I don't know what my children enjoy more...making these cute little treats or eating them!

 

Sugar Cookies

• 1 1/2 cups butter
• 3 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 5 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

Cream together butter and sugar until smooth.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  In a large bowl, whisk flour baking powder and salt.  Gradually add to sugar mixture.  Cover and chill 1 hour.  (I store half this recipe in the freezer in an air tight container.)

 

 

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 24 mini muffin cups with Cooking Spray. Roll cookeie dough into 2 inch balls.  Place 1 cookie dough round in each muffin cup and press slightly, flattening a little. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

 

Place 2 teaspoons of the sugar in small bowl. Dip end of wooden spoon handle in sugar; carefully press into center of each cookie to make 1-inch-wide indentation. Cool completely in pan, about 20 minutes. 

 

In small microwavable bowl, microwave 1/2 cup of chocolate chips or white chocolate chips uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds, stirring after 30 seconds, until smooth. Run knife around edges of cups to loosen; gently remove from pan. Dip rim of each cup into melted chocolate. Sprinkle with nuts or sprinkles. 

 

Spoon ice cream into cups, using small cookie scoop. Top with whipped cream and favorite toppings.   

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies were gone way too fast...I need to make a double batch..  They were so soft and full of flavor.

• 1 3/4 cups quick oats
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.  In a medium bowl, stir oats, flour baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until nice and creamy.  Beat in egg and applesauce.  Stir the flour mixture into the batter until well blended.  Fold in chips and walnuts.  Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.  Bake 8-10 min.  Cool 5 min. on cookie sheets, then remove to wire rack.

Grandma Faucette's Applesauce Cake

This is a family favorite...so moist and just wonderful!

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1 1/2 cups applesauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup walnuts
• 1 cup raisins (optional)

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs beating well.  In a large bowl, mix flour, soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, & allspice.  In a separate bowl mix applesauce and water.  Add dry ingredients, alternating with apple sauce, to the butter mixture.  Fold in nuts and raisins.  Pour in greased 9x13x2 in. pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for 45 minutes.

CARAMEL SAUCE:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter, sugars, and cream in a medium saucepan over med-high heat.  Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute stirring constantly.  Add vanilla.  Spoon over individual slices of warm cake. 

Caramel Apple Slices

This is a great little treat or wonderful on ice cream or apple cake. We had it on our crepes and it was great!

• 6 large apples
• 2 TBSP butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 TBSP flour

 

Peel, core, and slice apples.  In medium saucepan melt butter.  Add brown sugar and flour.  Add apples and cook over low heat until tender, 15-20 minutes.



Apple Crisp

I love apple crisp, and so does my family!  I like to put this in tin pie plates and give to family and friends. 

• 6 large tart apples
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Topping:

• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Peel, core, and slice apples.  Toss with brown sugar and cinnamon.  Arrange in buttered 9x13x2 in. baking dish (or 2 pie plates).  Combine brown sugar and flour.  Cut butter into mixture and stir in rolled oats & nuts.  Spoon topping over apples and lightly press down.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for 35-40 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.

Apple Pie

Nic's favorite thing...warm apple pie. 

CRUST:

• 1 1/4 cups Crisco shortening
• 3 cups flour
• 1 TBSP vinegar or lemon juice
• 5 TBSP ice cold water
• 1 egg, beaten

In a medium bowl cut shortening into flour, making 1/4 in. bits. Make a well in the center.  Pour vinegar or lemon juice, water, and egg.  Mix from the bottom to the top with a fork until the dough barely sticks together.  Divide into two balls.  Place one ball between two pieces of waxed paper and roll out until the crust is big enough to fit into pie plate. Press into pie plate.

FILLING:

• 5 cups tart apples, about 6-8 larger apples, (The yellow transparents are the best!)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 TBSP butter

Heat oven to 425 degrees F.  Peel, core and slice apples. Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in large bowl.  Stir in apples.  Pour into pastry-lined pie plate.  Dot with butter.  Cover with top crust and seal edges.  Cut slits in the top.  Cover edge with 3 inch strip of foil to prevent too much browning.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. and bake 25-30 minutes more, until the filling is bubbly and top is lightly brown.  Remove foil the last 10 minutes. 

Fondant

Easy and great for adding decorations to cakes.

• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1 cup shortening
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp clear vanilla
• 2 lbs confectioners sugar

In a large bowl, stir together the shortening and corn syrup. Mix in the salt and vanilla flavoring, then gradually mix in the confectioners sugar until it is a stiff dough. If you are using a stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment. Otherwise, knead by hand. If the dough is sticky, knead in more confectioners sugar until it is smooth.  To use, roll out on a clean surface that has been dusted with confectioners' sugar until it is 1/8 inch thick or thinner if you can. Drape over frosted and chilled cakes and smooth the sides down, or cut into shapes to make decorations.

Mack Truck Birthday Cake

Shandon wanted a Mack cake because he loves the movie Cars.  He loved it!

• 3 cake mixes
• bendy straws
• Hershey's chocolate Nuggets
• York peppermint patties
• mini marshmallow
• fondant
• buttercream frosting

Mix cake according to directions on box.  Bake 3 9x13" cakes.  Layer and shape the cakes into the truck.  Decorate with frosting, fondant, and candy.   I printed out the car decals using photo paper.  I used a paper plate cut and frosted for the brim of his hat.

Buttercream Frosting

This is a simple, yet yummy, frosting that's great for decorating Birthday Cakes!

1 cup butter

3-4 cups powdered sugar

1 TBS vanilla extract

up to 4 TBS milk

Beat butter in mixing bowl. Gradually add sugar then add vanilla and 2 TBS milk. You can add more sugar or milk depending on the consistency you like your frosting.

Combine Cake

When Durant said he wanted a combine cake I about flipped.  That was going to be so hard...I thought.  Turned out not being so bad and I must say he absolutely loved it!!

• 2 cake mixes
• small chocolate doughnuts (back tires)
• Ding Dongs (front tires)
• candy corn
• bendy straw
• Toblerone Candy
• Buttercream Frosting

Mix cake according to directions on box.  Then bake 2 9x13 in. cakes.  Cut two pieces of cake out in a smaller rectangle about 5x8 in.  and place on top of each other.  I put frosting in between the two layers.  This cake I sat on a Styrofoam block covered with foil.  I then placed a wooden skewer stick through it in a few spots to make sure it holds.  I then cut a square piece and made a hole for the corn to go in. I then cut a piece for the cab and the header piece. I placed those on the cake with frosting and more sticks.  I piped the frosting on this cake because of all the cut edges.  Stuck the doughnuts and Ding Dongs on with toothpicks and added frosting to the middles. Place Toberone candy on in the front.  Frost your straw.  If you kind of let the frosting harden then dip your finger in shortening and smooth the frosting out with your finger it works the best.  

Watermelon Smoothie

A family favorite, around our house, are smoothies.  I had a bunch of watermelon leftover from a party, so I decided to make a smoothie with it and leftover sherbet...it was amazing!

• 6 cups chopped seedless watermelon
• 2 cups sherbet (I used tropical)
• 1 cup ice
• 1/8 cup sugar

Place everything in a blender and blend on smoothie setting until smooth.

Mini chocolate filled cupcakes

These make great gifts!

Yellow Cake

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup butter
• 1 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/4 cup milk

In a large mixing bowl beat butter and sugar until creamy.  Add vanilla.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating 1 min. after each.  Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.  Add dry mixture and milk alternately to sugar mixture.  Pour batter into prepared cup cake pan.  Bake at 375 degrees for 15 min or until done. 

• 1 box chocolate jello

Make jello according to directions. Once cupcakes are cool, pipe jello into middle of cupcake. Move tip around in middle creating a hole for pudding to fill. Frost cupcakes. 

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting 

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tsp vanilla 
• 4 TBSP milk

Cream butter with mixer. Add 3 cups sugar and cocoa and beat on low. Add vanilla, milk, and more sugar if needed to make it a stiff frosting. 

Rocky Mountain Cookies

Yummy!

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 2 cups Rice Crispies cereal
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

In a large bowl cream together sugars and butter.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.  Sift dry ingredients into separate bowl.  Add to mixture.  Fold in oats, cereal, and chips.  Drop by tablespoons onto a baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 min.  Makes 6 dozen

Banana Bread

Delicious! Mini loaves make wonderful gifts.

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Mash bananas and set aside.  In a large bowl cream sugar and butter together.  Stir in eggs and mashed bananas.  In a separate bowl sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.  Add to first mixture and stir together.  Stir in nuts.  Place in two greased 9x5 in. loaf pans, or 4 mini loaf pans, and bake at 350 degrees for 25 min.  Reduce heat to 275 degrees and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  For muffins bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 min (makes 24).

Bridal Shower Cake

Chocolate Cip Pan Cookies

I made these for the first time to take to a party the other day.  My husband has one and says, "Props to whoever made these.  They are amazing!"  I'm like, "Nic, I made those".  He did carry them out to the car for me.  Everyone there loved them...so here is another recipe from Grandma Barbara!

• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 12 oz pkg chocolate chips.  (I did 1 cup chocolate chips & 1 cup white chips)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream butter, sugars, and vanilla.  Beat in eggs.  In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt and soda.  Gradually add flour mixture to sugar.  Stir well.  Add chocolate chips and nuts.  Spread into greased 15x10x1 in. pan.  Bake for 15-20 min. at 375 degrees. 

Chocolate Bundt Cake

 

 

Nic's favorite cake his Grandma Barbara made.  Everyone loves it!

• 1 pkg chocolate cake mix
• 1 pkg chocolate instant pudding
• 1/3 cup flour for high altitude
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Blend all ingredients in a large bowl; beat at medium speed for two minutes.  Bake in a greased and floured 10 in bundt pan for 45-50 min, or until center springs back when lightly touched.  Cool right side up for about 25 min then remove from pan.

Frosting

• 2 TBSP cocoa
• 1 TBSP + 2 tsp water
• 1 TBSP oil
• 1 TBSP light corn syrup

Combine everything in small saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until mixture is smooth.  Remove from heat; immediately beat in 1 cup powdered sugar.  Drizzle over cake.

I also melt white chocolate chips and drizzle over chocolate, just to make it pretty.

My Choc-Oat-Chip Cookies

Everyone loves these! They are a family favorite at my house.

• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 lg eggs
• 2 TBS milk
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups oats
• 1 cup Chocolate chips
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped nuts

In a large bowl beat brown sugar, butter, and sugar until creamy.  Add eggs, milk, & vanilla.  In a separate bowl mix flour and baking soda and gradually add to sugar mixture.  Stir in oats, chips and nuts.  Place in small mounds on baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees 8-10 min. 

Reese's Peanut Butter Cake

Happy Mothers Day to me!  Made this up because I don't like chocolate and the score bar cake looks better than it taste to me...now this is what I'm talking about!!!

• 1 box white cake mix
• 1 jar caramel topping
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup whipping cream (or cool whip)
• 2 pkg.  White Chocolate Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, chopped

Bake cake according to package.  Let cool.  With the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over cake.  Pour sweetened condensed milk and caramel, saving a little for top, in all the holes and around edge of cake.  Whip the whipping cream with 2 TBS powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.  Smooth over cake.  Drizzle with caramel and sprinkle chopped Reese's over cake.  Refrigerate an hour before serving.  Enjoy!