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a graphic designer with a flair for pretty nice creations

Chai Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream and Pecans

Jan 10, 2020

Chai Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream and Pecans

You can thank my friend Sarah for this recipe. She sent me a photo of a beautiful cake and I was excited to have some cream cheese buttercream frosting again. It had been too long. I went to the store and purchased a spice cake and when I got home, Sarah taught me that I should heat up some milk (the amount of water in the cake recipe) and steep some chai in it. So, here you go... Cake 1 box spice cake mix eggs vegetable oil milk 2 chai teabags Frosting 8 oz package cream che

Special K Bars

Dec 31, 2019

Special K Bars

2 cups light Karo syrup 2 cups sugar 2 cups peanut butter (creamy or crunchy) 12 cups Special K cereal 12 oz mini chocolate chips Combine Karo syrup and sugar in saucepan and bring to full boil. Stir frequently. Add peanut butter and stir. Prepare a greased cookie sheet/jelly roll pan. Put Special K in a large bowl and create a well in the middle, add mixture and stir together. Put in jelly roll pan and flatten (like rice crispy treats). Pour chocolate chips on top while it i

Dec 31, 2019

Chocolate Chip Pudding Bundt Cake

1 large package instant chocolate pudding (5.1 oz) 3 cups of milk 2 eggs 1 package chocolate cake mix 1 12 oz package chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350˚. Mix package of pudding with milk. When mixture thickens (about 3 minutes), add 2 eggs. Add cake mix and stir, then add chocolate chips and stir. Spray bundt pan with cooking spray and add flour (or use baker's Pam). Bake for 55 minutes. Cool for at least an hour before removing from pan. #dessert

Banana Split

Dec 31, 2019

Banana Split

We grew up enjoying this layered dessert on birthdays and special occasions. The chocolate layer is what makes this dessert - it's super thick, flavorful and worth the time it takes to make it. Because you have to freeze each layer, this dessert takes a day to make/set up. 1 package graham crackers (9 sheets of crackers) 4-5 bananas 1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream - in a box if you can find it 1/2 cup butter 12 oz chocolate chips 1 12-oz can of evaporated milk 2 1/2 cups powdere

Fruit Dip

Sep 7, 2019

Fruit Dip

Have you had the greatest fruit dip in the world? It's pretty simple and even better than you could possibly imagine. 7 oz. Marshmallow Creme 8 oz. Cream Cheese Soften cream cheese on the counter for a bit, then get out the mixer. Blend for a bit to make it light and fluffy, then add marshmallow creme. Refrigerate and serve with your favorite fruits - goes great on strawberries and apples. #dessert

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Brown-Butter Pears

May 21, 2019

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Brown-Butter Pears

We found this recipe on the Food & Wine website and have made some of our own alterations and additions (caramel sauce!) It seems like it has a million ingredients and takes forever to prepare, but it is totally worth it and will impress! Crust 8 oz gingersnap cookies pinch of salt 2 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons of butter, softened Cheesecake 16 oz cream cheese 1 1/4 cup pumpkin 3/4 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 xl egg 1/3 cup flour 1/4 teaspoon cinn

Chocolate Eclair

Jan 12, 2018

Chocolate Eclair

This doesn't seem like it would be as good as it is - but it's pretty spectacular. It's a great dessert to bring to a potluck. 2 (3.5 oz.) boxes vanilla instant pudding 3 cups milk 1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip 1 (14.4 oz) box graham crackers 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup milk 1/2 cup butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract Start by making the filling by combining the milk and pudding mix. Give it a minute to thicken, then add cool whip. Place a layer of graham c

Pancake Cupcakes With Maple Bacon Buttercream Frosting

Mar 9, 2016

Pancake Cupcakes With Maple Bacon Buttercream Frosting

8 slices bacon 1/4 cup maple syrup Cupcakes 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 1⁄2 cups whole milk 2 eggs 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled Frosting 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 1⁄2 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Preheat oven to 400° Farenheit. How do you cook your bacon? Use whatever method you like for the 8 slices of bacon. The one I used was in the original recip

Golden Grahams S’mores

Feb 29, 2016

Golden Grahams S’mores

My boss made these for our Christmas party. I'm obsessed with rice crispy treats, but today I may have a new favorite thing. That's saying a lot. 5 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 cup chocolate chips* 1/4 cup light corn syrup 1 bag miniature marshmallows (reserve a cup) 1 teaspoon vanilla 8 cups Golden Grahams cereal Butter 9x9 pan (or 13x9, whatever works for you!) I like to make my treats on the stove. Start by adding butter to a non-stick pan on medium heat. Once the but

Product Review: Ad Hoc Chocolate Layer Cake Mix

Feb 1, 2016

Product Review: Ad Hoc Chocolate Layer Cake Mix

I went to the outlet mall recently and stopped by the greatest store: Williams Sonoma. Found this cake mix on the back clearance shelf for $2.61. Originally the mix should have cost $14.95 - but it was about to expire so I was in luck. I usually buy Betty Crocker cake mix and it's good. I wondered how good a $15 cake mix could be. The answer: pretty darn good. It was harder to prepare than a normal cake mix . You add the eggs, vegetable oil, milk and then at the end you add b

Saltine Toffee

Sep 21, 2015

Saltine Toffee

I just found this beautiful recipe on Pinterest by Shugary Sweets and had great success. I divided the recipe in half because it was an experiment and because I didn't want to be the size of a house by the end of the weekend. 20 saltine crackers 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup chopped pecans 6 ounces milk chocolate chips Line a 15x10x1-inch baking sheet with the saltine crackers. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a small saucepan over medium-high h

Rice Crispy Treat S'mores

Feb 17, 2015

Rice Crispy Treat S'mores

Make these amazing rice crispy treats: 1 stick unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan 1 10-ounce bag marshmallows Heaping 1/4 tsp coarse sea salt 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal (about half a 12-ounce box) Filling: 1 7 oz jar Marshmallow Creme Dipping: 1/2 cup chocolate chips 1/4 cup 2% milk 1 tbsp butter (optional) Butter (or coat with non-stick spray) an 8-inch square cake pan with 2-inch sides. In a large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. It will melt, then foam, then

Great Idea: Brownies in a Muffin Tin

Jun 22, 2014

Great Idea: Brownies in a Muffin Tin

Before the super awesome brownie pans were made and out on the market, I was making my brownies in a muffin tin. Don't pretend you aren't going to eat a brownie that big. Don't pretend that you, too, won't fill half the cup, add peanut butter chips and fill the rest. And don't pretend that you don't want your brownies cooked in half the time. You won't fool me. #dessert

Great Idea: The Right Way to Eat a Cupcake

Jun 1, 2014

Great Idea: The Right Way to Eat a Cupcake

In case you were wondering: this is the right way to eat a cupcake. I saw it in a group of life hacks a while ago and thought: I've been doing that since high school. Pssh. Whatever. Break the cupcake in the middle, invert it and smoosh it together. Less icing on your face, more happiness in your belly. Sometimes people look at me strangely when I do this, but then I catch them doing it and they know I was right. Enjoy! #dessert

Make It Better: Cake

May 28, 2014

Make It Better: Cake

This week I was too busy to make cake from scratch, so I decided to make "better" cupcakes from a box mix. They turned out very moist. Not undercooked. Just delicious. So this is a recipe for boxed cake - but better. Follow the rest of the box's instructions with these improvements: Add one more egg than what is on the directions If the box calls for oil, use butter instead and double the amount on the directions. Use milk instead of water. It turned out really well. Give it

Oven S'mores

May 27, 2014

Oven S'mores

S'mores are one of my favorite desserts. My friend Jess suggested that I try oven s'mores. It wasn't a decision I regret. So amazing, and less messy than regular s'mores. I had no recipe, so I just made up these instructions. 3/4 Hershey's bar (I used dark chocolate) 3 graham crackers handful of mini marshmallows Turn on broiler. Place the chocolate in a microwave/oven-safe ramekin. Heat for 30 seconds in the microwave. Stir. Heat for another 30 seconds. Add handful of marshm

Raspberry Sorbet

May 25, 2014

Raspberry Sorbet

After the success of my lemon sorbet, hubby requested raspberry sorbet, his favorite. Without a doubt, the lemon sorbet is better, but this one is really good, too. 12 oz. bag of frozen raspberries (thawed before use) 2 cups granulated sugar 2 cups water 4 tbsp lemon juice Add the sugar and water to a medium saucepan. Heat to boil stirring constantly. Once the mixture is boiling, turn off heat and stir for two minutes. Cool the mixture to room temperature. If you want it to c

Lemon Sorbet

May 13, 2014

Lemon Sorbet

For Christmas, hubby and I received an ice cream maker attachment as a gift from his sister, Amber. Although I love ice cream year round, I haven’t gotten ambitious enough to make any until this week. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. The only thing I didn’t consider: you need to freeze the mixing bowl for 15 hours before use. When picking my first recipe, I knew to ask my friend Jess. She uses her ice cream maker frequently and loves this lemon buttermilk sherb

Oatmeal Brownies

May 2, 2014

Oatmeal Brownies

Mom used to make these oatmeal brownies when we were growing up. They are similar to my World's Greatest Cookie recipe, but in bar form. Chocolate chips and cinnamon may sound weird together, but they compliment each other nicely. 1/2 cup margarine 1 egg 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 cup flour 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/8 tsp nutmeg 1 cup quick oats 1 cup chocolate chips Cream together butter and egg, add sugar. Add everythi

Fudgy Brownies

Apr 21, 2014

Fudgy Brownies

Husband and I are having a bake-off. I hadn't made this recipe before, but it was definitely a good choice. It's from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book (you know, the red and white checker one?) As with before, I added frosting. Five stars out of five. So. Good. I haven't tried his brownies yet, but I think I'm going to win. I did not add nuts, and I completely ignored the instructions about lining the pan with foil. For the frosting, I decided I wanted dark chocolat