Party Dessert Recipes

A couple of party guests requested the recipe for the cookie-brownies I made, and the sherbet watermelon was a big hit, so I thought I'd share those recipes...

Coffee Cookie Brownies
This is one of those semi-homemade things.

• 1 pkg refrigerated sugar cookie dough
• 2 eggs
• 1 pkg brownie mix (I love Ghiradelli dark chocolate mix!)
• 1/2 cup cooking oil (I used apple sauce instead)
• 1/2 cup strong cooled coffee (I used instant decaf)
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces (my brownie mix included these so I didn't add more)

Preheat oven to 350. Press sugar cookie dough into bottom of 13x9x2 pan and set aside. In a large separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients, then spread over top of cookie dough. Bake about 40 minutes or until edges are set. Let cool, then cut into bars.


Sherbet Watermelon
There's not much skill to this, just a wee bit of patience.
All you need is:

• raspberry sherbet
• lime sherbet
• vanilla ice cream
• mini chocolate chips

I used to have a watermelon-shaped bowl, which was perfect for this, but it was plastic and broke some years ago. I have since made it in a normal round bowl, and it works just as well. First you'll add a layer of lime sherbet as evenly as possible in the bowl. This works best when it's slightly soft. Then freeze 'til hard.

Next, add a thinner layer of slightly softened vanilla ice cream. Freeze hard again.

Finally, mix mini chocolate chips (however many you think looks watermelon seed-ish) into the raspberry sherbet, and fill the remainder of the bowl with this so that it is level with the top of the bowl. Cover with foil and freeze hard.

To serve, simply flip over on a large-enough plate. You may have to wait a few moments til it slides out of the bowl. Slice and serve!

Chocolatey Goodness

Because I love you, dear blogland friends, and because of the Chocolatey Holiday of Love coming up on Saturday, I am sharing my favorite chocolate pie recipe with you.

This recipe comes from a long-time family friend named Virginia. Anyone who has ever tried this pie (and who is in their right mind) raves about how deliciously yummy it is. It is very sweet, though, so a tiny slice goes a long way. For parties, try making tiny little pies! Even Kathryn has made this (with only a teensy bit of help from me)!

♥ CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE ♥

• 1 stick butter
• 3 TBSP cocoa + 1 TBSP cooking oil
  (or substitute 1 square baking
  chocolate)
• 2 well-beaten eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup sugar
• unbaked pie shell

In a small saucepan, melt together butter and baking chocolate (or cocoa + oil). Add eggs and vanilla. Gradually stir in sugar. Stir over low heat til sugar is dissolved, then pour into unbaked pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Pairs wonderfully with a fresh, hot cup of coffee!

Cake Mix Cookies

Just wanted to share another quick recipe. This one is so simple, and delicious!

Cake Mix Cookies

1 box cake mix, any flavor (I love lemon!)

4 oz Cool Whip

1 egg

powdered sugar

Combine ingredients, then roll spoon-size balls of dough in powdered sugar, and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake about 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Yum!

Apple Oat Muffins

Kathryn and I made some seriously yummy muffins last week, and they've gone over so well in our house (even with my oh-so-picky child), that I wanted to share this recipe with you. I think they're perfect for this time of year!Apple Oat Muffins

2 cups old-fashioned oats>

1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup brown sugar, packed

2 tsp baking powder

¾ tsp baking soda

¾ tsp salt

½ tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup buttermilk

2 Tbsp applesauce (instead of veg. oil)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup shredded apple (Granny Smith or other slightly tart apple would be best)

Preheat oven to 400 F. In large bowl, combine oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, & ground cinnamon.

In medium bowl, with fork, beat buttermilk, oil, and egg til well blended; stir in shredded apples. Add apple mixture to flour mixture; stir til flour mixture is moist. Batter will be thick & lumpy. Spoon into lightly greased muffin pan. Bake 20 – 25 minutes. Makes 12 standard-size muffins.

I hope you enjoy these muffins as much as we have!

Classic Recipe

This week I've been organizing my recipes. It seems there are usually just a few recipes I actually use in each of my cookbooks, so it makes sense to consolidate them into one binder. Last night I went through the recipes from a fund-raising cookbook for the PTA of my elementary school in 1979; I came across this little gem tucked in among all the casseroles and desserts and such, and I just had to share it with you:

RECIPE FOR PRESERVING CHILDREN

Take 1 large grassy field
1/2 dozen children (all sizes)
3 small dogs
1 narrow strip of brook (pebbly if possible)

Mix children with dogs and empty into field,stirring continually. Sprinkle field with flowers.Pour brook over pebbles. Cover all with a deep blue sky and bake in hot sun.

When all the children are well browned they may be removed from field. Will be found just right for setting away to cool in the bathtub.