MANDARIN ORANGE DESSERT

2 sleeves Ritz Crackers, finely crushed
3 tsp. sugar
1 cube butter
1 tall can Mandarin Oranges, drained
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 large tub Cool Whip
1/2 can Frozen Orange Juice
Mix first 3 ingredients together. Put 3/4 of crumb mixture in the bottom of a pan. Mix the remaining ingredients together and place spread on top of crumb mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumbs on top. Refrigerate 2-3 hours before serving.

Easiest Homemade Ice Cream.

I made this Ice Cream for my kids this summer and they loved it. We experimented with different frozen fruits and flavors of pudding. Everyone came up with fun flavor combinations. I love using cheesecake flavored pudding and blackberries.
Makes around 2 1/2 cups.

Ingredients
8 ounces frozen blackberries
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 regular sized pkg. instant, sugar-free vanilla pudding (dry, as is)
Method
Pour frozen blackberries into food processor .
Pour all of the pudding mix over the blackberries. Pour the cream over that and process for about 20 seconds. Serve in ice cream cones or in a bowl and enjoy!

Better Than Sex Cake...

Forget about all the 'Better Than Sex' cakes you have ever tried, here is the real keeper...

Today is my cute husbands birthday and its tradition that he gets his favorite cake... I took some photos of the 5 LB work of art when I was finished so I hope they help. Pictures always help me out a ton!

Every person who has this cake cant seem to forget about it, thanks to my Mother-In-Law for this LEGENDARY cake... if you dont like the name of it, change it to 'Skor Bar Cake'.

1 Box Milk Chocolate Cake mix
1 Jar Mrs. Richarsons Butterscotch Caramel Topping
1 Can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 16oz Tub Of Cool Whip
8 Skor Bars (MMMMM)

Now, read these instructions because I had to learn through trial and error.

1- Bake the chocolate cake mix on a large cookie sheet, grease first of course.
2- Let the cake cool completely, do not place in fridge (for some reason I feel like this makes the cake not as absorbent to the caramel)...
3- Mix together the Butterscotch Caramel (I heat it up for 30 seconds in the microwave), and the eagle brand- mix these 2 very well.
4- Use the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes in the cake, I usually do about 20 or more.
5- Pour the yummy caramel mixture over the cake, spread well.
6- Let the cake sit for a while to absorb the caramel.
7- Top with cool whip and 8 chopped up Skor bars...
Refrigerate and enjoy!!

Banana Bread

I just made this recipe 2 days ago and loved it, I had bananas that I let get nice and brown and figured since produce always goes bad at my house, I should make the best of it. I love this recipe, so simple & amazing. This is my Aunt Jeanne's recipe- its a similar version of my Grandma Dora Mae's recipe.


1/2 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 TSP Lemon Juice
2 Eggs
1 Cup Mashed Banana's (the riper, browner, mushier... the better)
1/4 Cup Milk
1 1/2 TSP Baking Powder
1/2 TSP Baking Soda
1/4 TSP Salt
2 Cups Flour

Add ingredients in this order, mixing continuously... mix well.
We like to add milk chocolate chips, the recipe says you can use 1 Cup Nuts but I dont believe nuts belong in food.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or longer- depending on loaf. Use toothpick to know for sure. This makes 2 medium size loaves at my house...

Caramels

My sister in law Melissa has this simple recipe, tried it... loved it.

1 cube margarine
1 cube butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup Eagle Brand Milk

Microwave margarine and butter until melted. Add remaining ingredients. Cook in microwave 15 minutes, stirring 4 times (at 12, 9, 6, and 3 minutes remaining). I test the caramels when there is about 2 minutes remaining, run a small spoonfull under cold water and see if it is hard enough, if not cook remaining 2 minutes. Every microwave cooks different, so just keep an eye on them.

Good tip: I use a very large microwavable glass dish, because they do boil, and if your glass dish isn't large enough you will have a big mess. I use the Pampered Chef glass measuring dish, that is 8 cups. That works really well.

Enjoy! Merry Christmas!

Pumpkin Spice Frosted Snack Bars

1 pkg spice cake mix
1 15 oz can pumpkin
1 c miracle whip
3 eggs
1 pkg cream cheese
1/4 c butter softened
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 16oz package powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Mix cake mix, pumpkin, dressing and eggs in a large bowl. Pour into greased 13x9 pan.

Bake for 32 to 35 min. Cool completely.

Mix remaining ingredients and spread over cooled cake. Store leftovers in the fridge.

You can also make in a 15x10x1 pan by decreasing the baking time to 20 to 22 min.

This recipe is so good I about died when I found out it had miracle whip in it, but it does turn out really good and it is so easy.

Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake

This is Becca's recipe (not Justin's). It's really easy to make. I don't know how to blog so I hope this turns out okay.

1 Graham cracker crust

1 cup Pumpkin in a can

12 oz. cream cheese

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

* add whipped cream on top, Carmel to drizzle over slices and ginger snap cookies to crumble over the top.

Add all ingredients together mix until smooth. (A few lumps are okay). Pour over graham cracker crust. Bake @ 350 for 40-50 minutes. Allow to cool, then refrigerate and serve chilled. Add whipped cream while still in pie crust; warm Carmel and cookies right before serving.

Orange Brownies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C all-purpose flour

2 C granulated sugar

1 tsp salt

1 C (2 sticks) butter, softened

4 eggs

2 tsp pure orange extract

1 tsp grated orange zest

1 recipe Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13x9x2 inch pan.

Stir together flour, granulated sugar, and salt in a bowl. Add butter, eggs, orange extract, and orange zest. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until light golden brown and set. Remove from oven, allow to cool and pierce entire cake with a fork. Spread the Orange Cream Cheese Frosting over completely cooled brownies. Cut into squares.

Orange Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened

4 Tbl softened butter

1 (1 lb) box confectioners' sugar

2 Tbl orange zest

2 Tbl orange juice

In a large mixing bowl, whip the butter and cream cheese together with a hand-held electric mixer. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar until it is all combined and smooth. Beat in the orange zest and juice. Spread over brownies.

Courtesy Paula Dean 2007

Notes: If the brownies seem to be browning too quickly before setting, place aluminum foil over it the last 10 minutes of baking. I used confectioners' sugar to taste because I didn't have the tools to measure out a lb of sugar. They are extremely rich and delicious! Hope you enjoy it!

aunt jolenes caramel rice crispies

rice crispies:

1 cube butter
1 bag mini marshmellos
melt in sauce pan
add 6-7 cups rice crispies cereal
spread in 9x13 pan

caramel:

1 lb kraft caramel (unwrapped)
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cube butter
melt in sauce pan or microwave stirring frequently until smooth.
pour over rice crispie treats.

make another batch of rice crispies and spread over caramel.

warning...you may want to eat the entire pan!!!!