3 Quarters Today

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dessert

Do Peanut Butter Kisses Cookies Count as Christmas Cookies?

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Easy Peanut Butter Kisses Cookie Recipe

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookie, peanut butter kiss cookies recipeStarting in the beginning of December I start baking cookies, lots of cookies. Now Peanut Butter Kiss cookies don’t look like Christmas cookies, but they are one of my kids’ favorites, so they get made every year.

This is a quick peanut butter cookie recipe you can quickly mix and bake. 

I then pack them in cookie tins and mail cookies to friends and family all over the United States.

How to Ship Cookies for Mailing

The best way to pack cookies for shipping is tight and snug so they can’t move around. I use tissue paper and line cookie gift tins. The I fill the tins and use the tissue paper to fill in the empty spaces around the treats. Everyone tells me they arrive just fine.

Empty Winter Holiday Cookie Tins (Set of Six)Empty Winter Holiday Cookie Tins (Set of Six)12 ct. Christmas Empty Tin Canisters - Assorted12 ct. Christmas Empty Tin Canisters – Assorted

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I usually make at least six different varieties of cookies every year, not including my candies. This tradition started when I moved from Connecticut to Oklahoma for school and was looking for an inexpensive gift to send to friends.

Another reason I started making peanut butter cookies is one year I ran our of flour and these have three ingredients: peanut butter, sugar, and an egg. So not only inexpensive to make is also a simple gluten free cookie recipe for a friend who is gluten intolerant.

The Pampered Chef Large Bar Pan 14.75The Pampered Chef Large Bar Pan 14.75Pampered Chef Stackable Cooling RackPampered Chef Stackable Cooling Rack

Recipe for Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

I have my favorite Pampered chef baking pan that LOVE to bake cookies on. WHY? The baking stone evenly bakes the cookies and doesn’t over brown the bottoms. Most metal cookie sheets get too hot and the bottoms of the cookies burn too easily.

Preheat oven to 350F, unwrap candy kisses

  • One Cup Peanut Butter ( I use smooth)
  • 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • Large egg (1)
  1. Mix together, roll teaspoon-size balls, I use a melon scoop for uniform size balls
  2. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes
  3. Remove cookies from oven and immediately place an unwrapped Hershey Kiss into the cooked ball.
  4. Cool slightly and remove from baking sheet.
  5. Place on wire cookie rack until completely cool.

There you go, so easy a child could do it, and who doesn’t like peanut butter and chocolate? Enjoy your peanut butter kisses cookies recipe and if you have a favorite cookie recipe please share it in the comments. If you’re looking for more recipes using peanut butter these two cookbooks will keep you busy.

peanut butter kiss cookies recipe easy101 Things to Do with Peanut Butterpeanut butter kisses cookies recipeThe Peanut Butter & Co. Cookbook

RumChata Eggnog Sundae

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I just created a new favorite dessert with my favorite drink, introducing the RumChata Eggnog Sundae. It is the perfect Holiday drink and your Christmas party guests will be in heaven over this cup of creamy deliciousness.

RumChata Eggnog Sundae
RumChata Eggnog Sundae

I’ve been on a RumChata kick for the past six months of so, first making RumChata Cupcakes, then french toast and mixing it with rootbeer and plain eggnog.

However, I just outdid myself. This RumChata Eggnog Dessert is divine. The recipe came to me while I was at the grocery aisle picking up ice cream. I thought, hmmm I need to find some Egg Nogg ice cream, I wonder who makes it? Edy’s Limited Edition came to the rescue.

That got me thinking of the RumChata and how well it went with the egg nog at Thanksgiving (picture yet to come) and I put a few ingredients together in my head and headed for the pop aisle for Sprite or Sierra Mist.

Rumchata Recipe

Ingredients and Directions

After you fix a glass, sit down in front of your Christmas tree, gaze at the twinkling lights, relax, and enjoy the moment. What a wonderful way to unwind at the end of the day.

Cooking with Booze Recipes

The Boozy Baker: 75 Recipes for Spirited SweetsBooze Cakes: Confections Spiked with Spirits, Wine, andIntoxicated Cupcakes: 41 Tipsy Treats5 O’ Clock Somewhere Cupcakes

Quick & Easy Banana Dessert Recipes

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Bananas and strawberries go together perfectly in desserts. Here are a few quick and easy banana dessert recipes to fix for after school snacks.

All you need is five simple ingredients and you can make a variety of simple, but impressive banana desserts. 

Ingredients for Quick Banana Dessert Recipes

To prevent the bananas from turning brown toss with lemon juice. 

Mama's Banana Pudding: Southern Desserts CookbookMama’s Banana Pudding: Southern Desserts CookbookMama's Banana Pudding: Southern Desserts CookbookWood-Material Large Size - Fruit Dessert Banana Cream Cups,34.4 X 22.6 inch - 1500 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleWood-Material Large Size – Fruit Dessert Banana Cream Cups,34.4 X 22.6 inch – 1500 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleWood-Material Large Size - Fruit Dessert Banana Cream Cups,34.4 X 22.6 inch - 1500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

 

Easy Strawberry Trifle Recipes with Bananas

Trifles are wonderful desserts. You just add ingredients that go together in a clear container to make wonderful quick easy desserts for any size of gathering. 

Mini Strawberry-Banana Trifle

Place a vanilla wafer at the bottom of a whiskey glass. Or you could use an “official dessert glass” but my husband likes whiskey, so it’s what I use.

Layer banana pudding, pudding, bananas, strawberries in the glass

Top with whipped topping. (I crushed the vanilla wafers for a middle layer, but it’s not necessary.)

You can also make this is a large Trifle Bowl if you have one. You will need to double or triple the amount of pudding and ingredients as this will make a dessert for a large crowd.

Libbey Selene Footed Glass Trifle Bowl, 9-inchLibbey Selene Footed Glass Trifle Bowl, 9-inchLibbey Selene Footed Glass Trifle Bowl, 9-inch

 

Strawberry – Banana Pudding

Layer bottom of a 9×13 clear baking dish with vanilla wafers.

Prepare banana pudding. Fold in chopped strawberries

Top with Sliced strawberries, spread with whipped cream (or leave out, it’s just as good)

Serve and enjoy!

Pyrex Easy Grab 4-Piece Value Pack, includes 1-ea 3-qt Oblong, 2-qtOblong, Red Plastic CoversPyrex Easy Grab 4-Piece Value Pack, includes 1-ea 3-qt Oblong, 2-qtOblong, Red Plastic CoversPyrex Easy Grab 4-Piece Value Pack, includes 1-ea 3-qt Oblong, 2-qtOblong, Red Plastic Covers

 

Strawberry- Banana Poke Cake

Prepare a yellow cake in a 9×13 pan. Poke holes in cake with end of a wooden spoon. Spoon prepared banana pudding over cake. Spread so pudding “oozes” down into the holes. 

Top with sliced strawberries and as ALWAYS, served topped with whipped cream.

Banana Split Dessert

This one adds some chocolate to the ingredient listing. Oh, yes, Chocolate!!!

Mix chopped Snickers bars to the banana pudding. Yup, you heard me. chocolate, nuts, caramel. 

In a small dessert bowl layer vanilla wafers on the bottom. Add pudding mixture, top with strawberries and whipped cream. 

All I can say is “Yum, yum!

Bananas are healthy and full of potassium and 33% of of your daily Vitamin B6 needs. It is true that bananas have natural sugar that some medical professionals warn against eating a banana. But they also contain pectin and resistant starch which may moderat blood sugar levels.

So eat your bananas!

Get creative with some quick banana dessert recipes of your own.

Simple Apple Tarts

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As I was cleaning out my refrigerator I found some sad, wrinkled apples. Me being me, and not being fond of wasting food I decided to make these apples into a dessert. There wasn’t enough for an apple pie so I scoured my cupboard and found a few silicon baking tart pans.

Apple Tart Recipe

My make do Apple Tart recipe is very easy. Had to be, I was short on time and was feeling lazy. Pyrex glass bowls work just as well for this, I just didn’t have a matching set. Yes it’s all about taking the food photos I tell my husband as he rolls his eyes. 

Ingredients

  • 1 apple per tart (any kind you have around)
  • Cinnamon, Allspice, Nutmeg, white sugar (to tell you the truth I didn’t measure, geee surprise)
  • 1 TBSP Flour  per tart
  • Butter (1 TBSP per tart) GOTTA have real butter
Pie Crust (I do measure on this)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled (again, gotta have REAL butter)
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1/3 cup ice water

Instructions (Filling)

  1. Slice one apple per tart directly into baking dish
  2. Mix flour, sugar and spices together
  3. Sprinkle liberally on apples
  4. Place a pat of butter on apples
  5. Cut out rolled pie crust and place on apples, cut vent holes in crust.
  6. Brush with butter or egg whites (which I forgot, but it makes the end result look pretty)
  7. Bake on cookie sheet in 350 oven for 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown

Directions  for Pie Crust (taken from Allrecipes, red edits on what I really did)

  1. Combine flour and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer. (I used a plain bowl) Cut butter or margarine or butter and shortening into tablespoon pieces; add it to the flour and butter. Use the paddle beater (fork) to cut the butter and flour together. Alternatively, this can be done by hand with a pastry blender. ( I used to have one)
  2. With the mixer on low speed , or while stirring the mixture with a fork, pour in the cold water. When the dough starts to clump, and before it turns into a ball, stop stirring.
  3. Lightly knead (mix and mash with hands)  dough in the bowl until it forms a ball. Divide dough into two parts. Flatten each part into a disk, and chill for about 30 minutes before rolling (didn’t do that, just put out on floured counter and rolled with my Pampered Chef Roller).
Almost forgot the end result. Eat and enjoy
Apple Pie Tart

#9/52: Shamrock Shake, It’s That Time of Year

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Shamrock Shakes are Back!

It’s that time of year again. March 1st, the day I can officially enjoy a Shamrock Shake (ok I bought this last night, I couldn’t resist) I’m also not one to be trending either, but on Twitter, #ShamrockShake is the promoted trend today. According to McDonald’s 2012 is the first year the Shamrock Shake is available nationwide. Wow, didn’t know that.

Shamrock Shake from McDonalds
Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s

Last year I learned a few historical facts about the Shamrock Shake. Maybe those in the Midwest don’t relate, but since it was originally released in Connecticut I have very fond memories at an early age.

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IRISH TREATS - 30 Dessert Recipes for St. Patrick's Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the IrishIRISH TREATS – 30 Dessert Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the IrishCooking with Irish Cream: The 50 Most Delicious Irish Cream Recipes (Recipe Top 50's Book 54)Cooking with Irish Cream: The 50 Most Delicious Irish Cream Recipes (Recipe Top 50’s Book 54)

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Why is it that a mint flavored shake is so tasty? I mean really. Mint? Should make you pucker just at the thought. But McDonald’s has found that magical combination of sweet, smooth and minty in one combination that is just delectable.

There is such a passion for this frosty drink a website tracks the appearance every year. Shamrockshake.com tracks the locations where they can be found, and yes, I added the McDonald’s 1-80 Gretna Exit to the list.

So until they run out enjoy the “Luck of the Irish” and St. Patricks Day with a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s.

Looking for the taste of a Shamrock Shake the rest of the year, you can get your minty craving in a Keurig or just explore different mint recipes for that fres minty taste.

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Junior Mints Hot Cocoa Single Serve - 12ctJunior Mints Hot Cocoa Single Serve – 12ctTop 50 Most Delicious Mint Recipes (Recipe Top 50's Book 55)Top 50 Most Delicious Mint Recipes (Recipe Top 50’s Book 55)

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McDonalds Shamrock Shake Information

McCafé Shamrock Shake :: McDonalds.com

Smooth and creamy mint flavored shake topped with whipped cream and a cherry. But only for a limited time.

Shamrock Shake – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Shamrock Shake is a seasonal green-dyed mint flavored milkshake dessert sold at McDonald’s to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

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