Category: Desserts


Apr
2014

May Day Basket Ideas

categories: Desserts, Recipes

May-Day-Basket-Ideas-w

May Day is already tommorow!  Want to have a fun project with your kids?  Here’s some great ideas that will help you put a smile on your friends and family members’ faces.  We have a mini-apple pie basket recipe that is perfect for those who want to bake something fun and special for their baskets.  I love making these cute little pies; they are easy to make and they are packed with fresh apples!  YUM!      

We also have a great plant basket idea that is perfect for those who want to give flowers etc.  I love to garden, which is why I really enjoy creating baskets with plants.  For this project all you have to do is buy some plants and make a pipe cleaner handle for each basket.  Another creative way to make your plant baskets extra special is to buy vegetable, fruit, or herb plants and include a recipe that uses the plant you are giving in your May Day baskets.  For example, if you are making a strawberry plant May basket, you could include a printout of a Strawberry Pie recipe and tie it to the basket with a ribbon.

Below are steps to making these great May Day baskets: a mini-apple pie basket and a creative plant basket. 

Mini-Apple Pie Baskets

Apple Pie BasketsThese cute heart covered handleless baskets are sure to brighten anyone’s May Day.  Fill up a basket and take them to work or to a neighbor; I’m sure your day will be filled with smiles.

First you start by chopping six apples into bite size pieces.chopped-apples-wNow mix your apples with 3/4 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of flour, 3/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

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Now mix all of the ingredients together until combined.

apples-and-spoon-wNow set the apple mixture aside.  Then get out your ready-made refrigerated pie crusts (a box with two crusts in it).  Unroll one of the crusts and cut out 12 small hearts.  I know what your thinking… you don’t have a small heart cookie cutter.  You can get a 3 heart set at Hobby Lobby or just cut out each heart with a knife.

heart cookie cutter wNow with the remaining apple pie crust cut out 12 circles to fit into your muffin tin pan.  I use a cup to punch out the circles.
 cup-cutting-dough-wNow put the 12 circles of dough in your greased muffin pan and divide out the apple mixture between the 12 cups.

putting-apples-in-cups-wNow put a heart on each cup.  Then brush each heart with a little milk and sprinkle each heart with brown sugar.

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In a 375 degree preheated oven bake the baskets for 25-30 minutes.  Cool them on a wire rack.  Now you are ready to share for May Day.

Mini-Apple Pie Baskets
Serves 12
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Ingredients
  1. 14.1 oz ready-made refrigerated pie crusts (2 pie crusts per package)
  2. 6 apples chopped into bite size pieces
  3. 3/4 cups sugar
  4. 2 tablespoons of flour
  5. 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  6. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  7. 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  8. 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  9. 1 tablespoon milk (to brush on hearts)
  10. 1 tablespoon brown sugar (to sprinkle on hearts)
Instructions
  1. First you start by chopping six apples into bite size pieces. Now mix your apples with 3/4 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of flour, 3/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Now set the apple mixture aside. Then get out your ready-made refrigerated pie crusts (a box with two crusts in it). Unroll one of the crusts and cut out 12 small hearts. I know what your thinking... you don't have a small heart cookie cutter. You can get a 3 heart set at Hobby Lobby or just cut out each heart with a knife. Now with the remaining apple pie crust cut out 12 circles to fit into your muffin tin pan. I use a cup to punch out the circles. Now put the 12 circles of dough in your greased muffin pan and divide out the apple mixture between the 12 cups. Now put a heart on each cup. Then brush each heart with a little milk and sprinkle each heart with brown sugar. In a 375 degree preheated oven bake the baskets for 25-30 minutes. Cool them on a wire rack.
Cooking Up Cottage https://www.cookingupcottage.com/
Plant Baskets

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Another easy idea for a May Basket is place a few flowering plants or vegetables (that you bought at a store) in a cup and add a pipe cleaner handle.

First you punch two holes in your paper cup.putting-holes-in-cups-w

Now place 2 plants from a 6 cell plant container in each cup. You don’t need to get any extra dirt, because they wedge down in the small cup nicely.  Now put two pipe cleaners together and bend them through the holes in the cups.  And there you have it!  You have a basket worthy of handing out on May Day.

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The next plant basket that you can make is also made with a plant purchased at the store. You just add a pipe cleaner handle to it and tape a piece of black construction paper to the plant.punching-hole-in-strawberry-plant-w

Then decorate the construction paper with chalk or stickers.  You could go even one step further by including a print out of a Strawberry Pie recipe and tie it to the handle of the basket.  

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You can also use herbs and add a recipe that uses that herb in it.  This is a great project to do with kids.  They love creating the baskets and handing them out.  Have a great May Day!


Apr
2014

Caramel Apple Pie

categories: Desserts, Recipes

 

Caramel apple pieEaster is coming… Have you thought about what you are bringing for a dessert?  Here’s an easy caramel apple pie recipe that is sure to make people say yum!  Sliced apples, caramel, and a delicious graham cracker pie crust… How can you go wrong with these tasty ingredients? 

First fill the bottom layer of your pre-maid graham cracker pie crust with a layer of your apple pie filling.  I found it takes almost a full can just to have enough apples to cover the bottom.

apples-in-pie-first-wNow it’s time to make your cream cheese filling.  Place the following ingredients in your mixer: softened cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla and beat it on a medium speed until it’s fluffy.  Now take the mixing bowl off of the mixer and hand mix in each beaten egg one at a time.  Once the first egg is perfectly mixed in, it’s time to mix in the second egg, and then follow the same instructions with the third egg.  Gently pour the cream cheese filling on top of the apple pie filling that is already on the crust.  Note, I usually put a cookie sheet under the pie crust before adding any filling to minimize the mess.  Also note that I usually discard the remaining cream cheese filling if there is too much.

mixing-ingredients-wNow bake on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 35 min or until the center is almost set. Now let it cool on the counter for 1 hour so that it gets to room temperature.

pie-after-baking-wNow spread with the remaining apple pie filling.  You may have a little extra apple pie filling from the second can.  Then refrigerate for 3 hours.CaraAfter the pie is done, you can toast pecans to top your caramel apple pie if desired. Toasting pecans is a great way to make the nuts more flavorful. To toast the pecans, put them on a cookie sheet and bake them at 350 degrees in an oven for 5 min.  Then stir them around with a spatula and bake for another 5 min.

pecans-on-pan-wNow after the pie has been in the refrigerator for 3 hours, you can garnish it with the pecans and drizzle each piece with the caramel ice cream topping as you serve them.  Store leftover pie in the refrigerator.

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Caramel Apple Pie
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Ingredients
  1. 1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust
  2. 2 cans (21 oz.) apple pie filling
  3. 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese softened
  4. 1/2 cup sugar
  5. 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  6. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  7. 3 eggs beaten
  8. 1/3 cup pecans
  9. 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
Instructions
  1. First fill the bottom layer of your pre-maid graham cracker pie crust with a layer of your apple pie filling. I found it takes almost a full can just to have enough apples to cover the bottom.
  2. Now it's time to make your cream cheese filling. Place the following ingredients in your mixer: softened cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla and beat it on a medium speed until it's fluffy. Now take the mixing bowl off of the mixer and hand mix in each beaten egg one at a time. Once the first egg is perfectly mixed in, it's time to mix in the second egg, and then follow the same instructions with the third egg. Gently pour the cream cheese filling on top of the apple pie filling that is already on the crust. Note, I usually put a cookie sheet under the pie crust before adding any filling to minimize the mess. Also note that I usually discard the remaining cheese cake pie filling if there is too much. Now bake on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 35 min or until the center is almost set. Now let it cool on the counter for 1 hour so that it gets to room temperature. Now spread with the remaining apple pie filling. You may have a little extra apple pie filling from the second can. Then refrigerate for 3 hours. After the pie is done, you can toast pecans to top your caramel apple pie if desired. Toasting pecans is a great way to make the nuts more flavorful. To toast the pecans, put them on a cookie sheet and bake them at 350 degrees in an oven for 5 min. Then stir them around with a spatula and bake for another 5 min. Now after the pie has been in the refrigerator for 3 hours, you can garnish it with the pecans and drizzle each piece with the caramel ice cream topping as you serve them. Store leftover pie in the refrigerator.
Cooking Up Cottage https://www.cookingupcottage.com/
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Apr
2014

Strawberry Pie

categories: Desserts, Recipes

Strawberry Pie

Spring is here, which means soon you’re going to need a great desert recipe for an upcoming event.  This strawberry pie is a light, refreshing desert that would be great to serve after Easter dinner, for a picnic, or even for a spring barbecue.  One of the best things about this strawberry pie is it is very easy to make.

First you slice your strawberries into thin slices and put them in your pre-made graham cracker pie crust.Strawberry pieNow combine the cornstarch, sugar, and water in a small saucepan.  Bring this mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Then add the strawberry Jell-O and stir until dissolved. Pour over the strawberries.strawberry pie

Now put the pie in the refrigerator until it sets up. That will take about 4 hours. Then it’s time to enjoy this refreshing pie. You can add a little whipped topping if you like or garnish it with fresh mint.

Strawberry pie

 

Strawberry Pie
A delicious fruit pie
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
4 hr
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
4 hr
Ingredients
  1. 3 tablespoons of cornstarch
  2. 1 cup of sugar
  3. 1 1/2 cups of water
  4. 3 oz box strawberry Jell-O
  5. 2 (16oz) packages of fresh strawberries
  6. 1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust
Instructions
  1. First you slice your strawberries into thin slices and put them in your pre-made graham cracker pie crust. Now combine the cornstarch, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. Bring this mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Then add the strawberry Jell-O and stir until dissolved. Pour over the strawberries. Now put the pie in the refrigerator until it sets up. That will take about 4 hours.
Cooking Up Cottage https://www.cookingupcottage.com/

Apr
2014

Banana Bars

categories: Desserts, Recipes

Banana Bars

 If you are like me each week you find this on your counter…

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…ripe bananas from the week before.  When I see this, I think to myself do I throw them away or should I make something with them.  Well this week I decided to make banana bars with them.  Here’s a great recipe for you to use up your ripe bananas.

First start by mixing your softened butter, sugar, eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla together in a bowl.  Then in a different bowl mix your dry ingredients flour, soda and salt.  Then slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until you have it all combined.  Next pour it into a greased 10×15 jelly roll pan or a different shallow baking pan.banana bars Spread batter in the pan and then bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

Next it is time to make the buttercream frosting. In a mixer blend 1/3 cup softened butter, 1 lb. powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/4 tsp. salt until smooth.

banana barsOnce your bars are cool, you can frost them.banana bars

Now serve and enjoy!

Banana Bars
A delicious bar
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Cook Time
25 min
Cook Time
25 min
Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup softened butter
  2. 1 1/2 cup sugar
  3. 2 eggs
  4. 2 ripe bananas mashed
  5. 3/4 cup buttermilk
  6. 1 tsp. vanilla
  7. 2 cups flour
  8. 1 tsp. soda
  9. 1/2 tsp. salt
Instructions
  1. First start by mixing your softened butter, sugar, eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla together in a bowl. Then in a different bowl mix your dry ingredients flour, soda and salt. Then slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until you have it all combined. Next pour it into a greased 10x15 jelly roll pan or a different shallow baking pan. Spread batter in the pan and then bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.
Cooking Up Cottage https://www.cookingupcottage.com/
Buttercream Frosting
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Ingredients
  1. 1/3 cup softened butter
  2. 1 lb. powdered sugar
  3. 1/4 cup milk
  4. 1 tsp. vanilla
  5. 1/4 tsp. salt
Instructions
  1. In a mixer blend 1/3 cup softened butter, 1 lb. powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/4 tsp. salt until smooth.
Cooking Up Cottage https://www.cookingupcottage.com/
 

 

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