DESSERT

 BLOOMIN’ BAKED APPLES RECIPE

 2 Honeycrisp apples (or other crisp apples)

2 tbsp butter

3 tbsp brown sugar, packed

1 tbsp flour

1 tsp cinnamon

4 caramels

Optional toppings: vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

To get the blooming apple look, you need to cut the apples. Slice off the top ¼ to ⅓ of the apples. Scoop out the core. I don’t have an apple corer so I used my metal ½ teaspoon measuring spoon. Then, use a thin knife to make two, deep circular cuts around the center of the apple. Next, turn the apple over and make narrow cuts all the way around the apple. Flip it back over and you can see all of the cuts.

Place the apples in an oven safe dish and put two caramels into the center of each apple.

Heat butter and brown sugar in the microwave for 30 second, stir and continue heating for an additional 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave and stir in flour and cinnamon. Divide the mixture over the top of the two sliced apples.

Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes. (Check apples after 25 minutes and continue cooking until tender. Some apples can take 45 min to 1 hour to soften.)

Remove from the oven and use a large spoon to move the apples into bowls.

Top with a scoop of ice cream, drizzle with caramel and sprinkle with cinnamon. The ice cream will cause the caramel in the center to harden so eat quickly or put the ice cream scoop on the side.

HOMEMADE KRISPY KREMES — YES, THIS IS THE ACTUAL RECIPE!

You'll want to share this one or tag yourself to save it!
Ingredients
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons boiling water
1 teaspoon dry active yeast
8 ounces all-purpose flour ( a little under 2 cups, I recommend you measure and weigh. See my note above)
1 1/2 ounces sugar ( about 3 tablespoons)
1 egg
1 ounce butter, cold to room temperature
1 dash salt
oil
Glaze
1/3 cup butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 tablespoons hot water ( or as needed)
Directions
In a large measuring jug, combine the milk and boiling water. Add a teaspoon of the sugar and the yeast. Stir it gently, then leave it in a warm place for the yeast to activate (aka foam).
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, the rest of the sugar, and the salt. Cut in the butter using your fingers or a pastry blender, until it resembles crumbs.
Add the egg (give it a quick beat) and yeast mixture to the flour mix, and mix into a smooth dough. This usually takes about 5 minutes of mixing.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly-floured counter and knead for about 5 to 10 minutes—it should feel springy and little bubbles should form under the surface. Place it back in the bowl, cover with a cloth or plastic wrap, and let rise for about an hour until double in size.
Once risen, place the dough onto the counter and cut it into 4 pieces. One piece at a time, stretch it into a long rope about an inch to an inch and a half wide. Cut strips about an inch long, ball em up with your hands, and place them on a baking tray or wire rack to wait.
Cover the doughnuts holes with a cloth to rise while you heat the oil to 375°F.
Place the doughnuts into the oil and fry until golden brown on each side, about 2 minutes. Be sure to fry only a few at a time so they don’t overcrowd and stick together.
Drain on a paper towel or wire rack over a cloth, before glazing them. Be sure to glaze them warm, or else they won’t get that delicious coverage!
courtesy www.food.com and Now Your Cook'in

FRIED CINNAMON APPLE RINGS

Alway "SHARE" with friends and family...LET'S EAT!
4 large apples (I used gala)
1 cup flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
vegetable oil for frying
for the cinnamon sugar topping
⅓ cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon. Set aside. In a small bowl combine the egg and buttermilk. In a third dish, make your cinnamon-sugar topping by combining the ⅓ cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Set that aside too. Next, slice the apples into ¼-inch thick slices, and use circle biscuit cutters in graduated sizes to make rings out of each slice. Discard the center circles containing the apple core. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat to 350°F. Combine the contents of the first and second dishes as the oil warms up. This will be your batter. Dip the apple rings in and out of the batter one at a time, removing any dripping excess by tapping the rings against the side of the bowl. Fry the rings in small batches, turning them to ensure browning on both sides. Once the rings are golden and crispy, transfer them to a plate lined with paper towel for a few seconds. Quickly transfer the apple rings, one by one, into the cinnamon-sugar mixture and coat evenly. Transfer to a wire rack and serve warm. Notes Apples can go a long way in the recipe, so if you don't get to all 4 apples, don't worry. Make as much or as little as you like.TURTLE COOKIE BARS

Crust: 2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2nd Layer
1 cup pecan halves or chopped pecans
2/3 cup butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup milk chocolate morsels
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine first 3 ingredients in a mixing bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended. Pat mixture firmly into an ungreased 13x9 inch pan. Arrange pecans over crust. Combine 2/3 cup butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly. Cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour mixture over pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Remove from oven; sprinkle with chocolate morsels. Let stand 2-3 minutes or until slightly melted. Gently swirl chocolate with a knife, leaving some morsels whole (do not spread). Let cool on a wire rack at room temperature until chocolate is set. Cut into squares. — yummy in moderation

CHERRY PIE BARS

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 (21 ounce) cherry pie filling 2 if you like cherries (highly recommend)
Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 Tbs milk
Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Beat in extracts. In a separate bowl combine flour and salt. Add to the creamed mixture. Mix until combined. Grease a 15x10x1 pan or 9×13, whichever one you decide to use. Spread 3 cups batter in a 15x10x1 (Also works with 9×13- baking time will at least be 35 minutes) Spread with pie filling. Drop remaining batter on top of pie filling.  Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes clean. Cool on wire rack. Combine glaze ingredients and drizzle over the bars.

FUDGE BROWNIE PIE

3/4 cup flour
1 cup of regular sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 ounces butter, melted OR MARGERINE
2 large eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
2 handfuls of mini marshmallows
For the frosting:
2 ounces butter, melted (1/4 cup)
1 ounce cocoa powder, sifted (1/4 cup)
2 ounces evaporated milk (1/4 cup)
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted (8 ounces)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 inch spring form pan set aside. Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Beat together the butter, eggs and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until smooth. Stir in the toasted nuts. Pour into the prepared pan.
Bake on a middle shelf of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Immediately sprinkle the marshmallows on top and return to the oven for a few minutes to melt the marshmallows. Remove from the oven and carefully spread the chocolate frosting over top. To make the chocolate frosting mix all ingredients together in a bowl, beating with an electric whisk until smooth and thick. Spread on the hot marshmallows. Let cool completely. Cut into wedges to serve.

JELLO IN A CAN!

Pour out liquid from a can of sliced pineapple and discard.
Dissolve a 3oz. box of sugar free lime Jello in 1 cup boiling water (you could also use the pineapple juice and water to equal 1 cup liquid)
Pour hot Jello water over pineapple rings in the can.
Chill until set. Run hot water on the sides and bottom of can to loosen. Then cut the bottom of the can and push the mold out. Cut between pineapple slices and serve. You can use any flavor of Jello that you wish! *Optional: top with cottage cheese or a dollop of whipped cream. You could also do this with other canned fruit and flavors of Jello, but you would lose the nifty pineapple ring effect.

PISTACHIO PUDDING DESSERT

Pie crust:
1 stick butter
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
Layer 1:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 (8oz) cream cheese
1 cup cool whip
Layer 2:
2 regular sized pkgs. instant pistachio pudding mix
3 cups milk
Topping:
cool whip
chopped almonds
Mix butter, flour, nuts; press into 9x13 inch pan. Bake 350 for 20 min. Cool. Mix powdered sugar, cream cheese and cool whip; spread on cooled crust. Beat together pudding mix and milk until thick. Spread on cream cheese layer and top with a layer of cool whip and chopped nuts. Refrigerate.

FRUIT N’ YOGURT CONES

All natural, low fat Greek Yogurt (any flavor)
Blueberries
Strawberries
Waffle ice cream cones
Wash, and slice strawberries, Wash blueberries  In waffle cone, add a spoon full of yogurt, then fruit, another spoonful of yogurt, and top it off with fruit. Put cones in the freezer, just until they're chilled...right before they start to freeze (about an hour) **or you could just eat em' up, and skip the freezer. DELICIOUS! ~ Optional, sprinkle in chocolate chips, almonds or granola in yogurt layer

OREO/PEANUT BUTTER CUP NO-BAKE DESSERT

20 chocolate cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, divided
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
1 carton (16 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
15 miniature peanut butter cups, chopped
1 cup cold milk
1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate fudge pudding mix
Crush 16 cookies; toss with the butter. Press into an ungreased 9-in. square dish; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter and 1 cup confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in half of the whipped topping. Spread over crust. Sprinkle with peanut butter cups.  In another large bowl, beat the milk, pudding mix and remaining confectioners' sugar on low speed for 2 minutes Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in remaining whipped topping. Spread over peanut butter cups. Crush remaining cookies; sprinkle over the top. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours. Yield: 12-16 servings