Chocolate covered cheesecake bites - just the right size for a bit of dessert at a party or to end a good meal. The first time I made these I was dismayed. These little things refused any attempt at decoration. Snowflake candies fell off, nonpareils just bounced to the side. Pretty little drizzles of colored melts, swirls – forget it. I don’t have a whole lot of patience for “fiddling” as Grandma called it, so I put the chocolates aside and ditched the pretty picture in my head. Next day, Bytes said “those things are pretty good”. I bit into the crisp chocolate and was smitten with the soft, cheesecake goodness inside. Forget decorations and fancies. Just pure ingredients, well blended and aged properly. Moral of the story: Listen to the candy, people! In keeping with the goal of ... [Read More]
no bake
Grinch Kabobs
Grapes, bananas and strawberries -- oh my! One look and everyone will know they were Grinch inspired. These are so cute and colorful, they will make any party fun! They are perfect for kid events and they love to help assemble them. Adults laugh when they see them on a buffet table and love them, too. And – big bonus! – they are good for you. You can assemble them using short 6" kabob sticks. But if kids are involved, look for the blunt coffee stirrers. The little straws work great and are sturdy enough to pierce the fruit without bending. I found flat bamboo stirrers with rounded ends that also worked well. This is another quick and easy holiday treat that requires no baking and can be made in quantity as large or as small as you want. Grinch Kabobs Print Cute, ... [Read More]
Chocolate Peppermint Grahams – No Bake Treat
I am always confused by graham cracker measurements. Different brands package their crackers differently. What this recipe refers to are the crackers packaged in little 8 cracker squares – that are actually square. Other brands have rectangular crackers and people call them squares. But there IS a difference! Rectangles have two long sides and squares have sides the same length. Ask the little school person in your life! Those rectangles contain TWO squares each. To break crackers, grasp each cracker along the perforation firmly with all four fingers on the bottom and the base of the thumb and the thumb itself on top. Snaps cleanly. The easiest way to crush peppermint candies. No hammer handy? Use something unbreakable with a bit of weight. You CAN dip the entire cracker ... [Read More]
Butterscotch Pecan Softies — no bake
Butterscotch Pecan Softies are a nice change of pace. Not sweet, a nice mellow butterscotch flavor and an interesting texture. If you can, mix it up and let it chill overnight in the refrigerator. That lets the flavors meld and develop to a mellow butterscotch. Toasting the pecans deepens the flavor. Just be careful with multitasking while the pecans are toasting in a skillet. It doesn’t take long and when they are ready, they are ready. No fooling around trying to finish some other little thing. Or you might find yourself scraping too much dark off a bunch of pecans. Yep, you got the picture – yours truly is the voice of experience :-) Watch for more no bake and no stress treats in small batches between now and Christmas. For when you want to have a variety of treats without a lot of ... [Read More]
Peaches and Cream Cheesecake
Peaches and Cream Cheesecake is a light and creamy ending to a meal. Or the star of an afternoon party like a baby shower. Peaches and Cream Cheesecake is a no-bake dessert. Just peachy anytime. Sorry, couldn't help that pun -- just fell out! =) If you can find sugar free peach jello, it will give you a deeper peach flavor. I usually end up using lemon because the peach is harder to find. You can use regular gelatin if you aren't concerned about calories or carb counts. You can also make this with fresh sliced peaches -- about two cups. Wheels loves fresh peaches so I have to hide them in order to have enough to make something. Or make the dish the instant I get the peaches home from the grocery --- before he has time to know they are in the house. lol It's better to keep a ... [Read More]
Pina Colada Squares
OMGG. Oh my, great goodness! This refrigerated Pina Colada dessert is sooo good. It’s made with cream of coconut for extra richness and flavor – just like the pina colada. You’ll find cream of coconut with the drink mixes. It’s an investment ingredient because it is enough to make another batch later. One can cream of coconut will make one dessert and 2 pina coladas to drink (the recipe is on the back). Or two desserts. Since I was serving luncheon for a group I made two desserts. :-) Assembly is quick and easy. Drain the maraschino cherries first and let them dry, then pat them with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. This keeps the juice from turning the dessert pink. Of course, if you want it pink in a tie dye sort of way. . . . . don’t worry about this step. The ... [Read More]
