Cherry Torte

There are so many occasions when this beautiful dessert would be the perfect choice. Christmas, Valentine's Day, bridal shower ... or even just because you crave something silky and sweet. People will be impressed at how hard you worked to create this masterpiece ... and it's really quite easy!

1 cup butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
--Mix ingredients together until crumbly. Pat into a 13x9" baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven to a rack to cool. At the crust begins to cool, crumble with a fork. Then spread the crumbs evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.

Blend 1 - 8 oz package of softened cream cheese with 2 1/2 Tablespoons of milk. Add in 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Blend until creamy. Fold in 1 package of prepared Dream Whip (or two cups of Cool Whip). Spread over the crumb crust.

Top with your favorite pie filling (i.e. Cherry Comstock). Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Sour Cream Apple Pie

A tasty "upgrade" to a standard apple pie. This dessert is easy to make and tastes yummy! It is a nice change to an all-time favorite.




1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Mix ingredients well in a large mixing bowl. Add two cups of peeled and sliced apples (Granny Smiths work great). Toss apples to coat. Pour into a 9" unbaked pie shell.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with nut topping. Return to oven and bake 10 minutes more.

Nut Topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup butter
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix until crumbly.

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Breakfast Braid

This dish is a nice alternative to the same ole eggs and ham for breakfast. It's also great for special occasions such as Christmas breakfast or a mid-morning brunch.


OVEN: 375 degrees

1/2 cup milk
4 ozs cream cheese, softened
8 eggs
2 - 8 oz packages refrigerated crescent roll dough
4 ozs cooked ham (or you can substitute bacon or sausage)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Beat milk and cream cheese together. Mix in eggs. Cook egg mixture in a lightly greased skillet over medium heat, until eggs just begin to set. Remove from heat.

Arrange one package of crescent rolls in a rectangle shape (don't separate the dough) on a jelly roll pan.  Open the second package and separate the rolls. Place the rolls along the two long edges of the rectangle-shaped dough, with the broad half of each roll on top of the first layer of dough, and the pointed ends extending over the sides of the pan.

Arrange your meat of choice down the center of the dough (thinly slide ham, or crumbled bacon, or scrambled sweet sausage). Spoon the cooked egg mixture over top of the meat, then sprinkle shredded cheese over top.

Bring the pointed edges of the dough over top of the egg mixture in the middle ... pinch together to make a "braided" shape.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until dough is golden brown.

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Raspberry Cream Cheese Braid

This easy to make breakfast braid makes a wonderful addition to any breakfast brunch. You can fill it with any jam ... my latest creation was filled with apple butter.


OVEN: 425 degrees

 1 - 3 oz package softened cream cheese
4 Tablespoons butter
2 Cups Bisquick (or 2 c. flour and 4 tsp baking powder)
1/3 cup milk
1/2 - 1/3 cup raspberry jam

 Cut cream cheese and butter into Bisquick until crumbly. Stir in milk and pull together into a dough ball. Knead 8-10 strokes on a floured board. Roll dough out to fit the size of a jelly roll pan. Spread jam down center (length) of dough. Make 2 1/2" cuts at 1" intervals on both long sides of dough. Fold strips toward center over filling ... overlap and pinch together.

 Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on pan. Can drizzle favorite icing over top.

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