new kind of flag cake

I LOVE this!

Directions and info at 17 and baking

Red, White and Blue Jello

This is just great.  No Fuss Fabulous has links to this pretty, patriotic jello on her blog.  Check it out here.
*we’re making #5 this afternoon*
link to red, white and blue striped jigglers

Chocolate Peanut Butter Triple Layer Cake

We have decided that the phrase “I have died and gone to heaven” was coined after eating this cake.   Intense and delicious and so, so good.  I saw this recipe in the cookbook Sky High: Irresistable Triple Layer Cakes that I checked out of the library a long time ago.  When I saw it [...]

Potato Salad with Artichokes and Asparagus

We LOVED this.
makes 6 healthy salad-side servings
Can be made up to 4 hours ahead of time and chilled.  Stir in asparagus just before serving.
8 oz asparagus, ends trimmed, spears cut into 1″ pieces
2 lbs red potatoes, cut into 1″ thick chunks
2 strips bacon, chopped
2/3 cup chopped shallots
2 t fresh chopped fresh rosemary
5 t olive oil
1 [...]

Valentine’s Turtles

I already posted about Christmas Turtles, but today I found a picture of the turtles with pink and red M&Ms.  So cute.

Put a hershey’s kiss or rolo on a pretzel and bake at 250 for 4-5 minutes, until the candy is just soft.  Pop an M&M on top, and let cool

Real Candy Cane Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1/2 t peppermint extract
1/2 t vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 t salt
1 cup candy canes, crushed
3 T decorating (green or white) sugar, granulated if you must
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, cream the butter and confectioners’ sugar [...]

Minty Marshmallows

This was the perfect last-minute gift.  I took 1 cup powdered sugar and stirred in 3 T of water to make a glaze.  Dip a large marshmallow in the glaze and roll in crushed candy canes.
To make a more complete gift, add in hot chocolate:

Christmas Turtles

Jacob came home from preschool with this cute treat from a friend.  We made them a couple years ago and I’d forgotten about them!  Stick a rolos candy on top of a small round pretzel and pop them in a 250 oven for 4 minutes.  Immediately press an M&M (or half a pecan) on top.  [...]

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

This is what Nathan made for my birthday. It was easy and delicious. It would be easy to use low fat ingredients and turn into a healthier dessert, but – I’m pregnant and it’s my birthday so we didn’t. It was rich and divine.
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup [...]

Killer Chocolate Cheesecake

from the book Luscious Chocolate Desserts
This is so good, and so intense.   I’m making it for a small birthday lunch tomorrow, but in a 5″ (I think) springform pan instead of the usual 9″.  In the smaller pan I make 1/3 the recipe, and it’s the perfect size.   Use good quality chocolate.
CRUST
9 oz chocoalte [...]