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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Chocolate Pudding Cake

This creation is one of my most favorite recipes from my mom. It is so simple, but so CHOCOLATE! I've seen many spin-offs from this recipe lately (think "lava cake"), but none are as good as this recipe from my childhood.

OVEN: 350 degrees

3 Tablespoons baking cocoa
3/4 cup white sugar
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix all ingredients until well blended. Pour into an 8 x 12" baking dish.

Over top of cake mixture, sprinkle (without mixing):
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
3 Tablespoons baking cocoa
1 1/2 cups cold water

Bake for 40 minutes.

Best served warm as topping forms a pudding in bottom of cake pan. Takes great with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

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It was a HUGE hit ...

The Oreo Cookie Ice Cream Dessert went over famously at our picnic on Sunday. My husband and kids were hoping for left-overs to bring home. No such luck!

Here are a couple of things I learned from making this recipe ...

1. If you're making this on a hot, humid day, put the Oreos in the refrigerator for a couple hours prior to crushing them. Otherwise the cookie filling is very soft and makes crushing the cookies a bit messy.
2. If you don't have whipped topping (because your children used it up and neglected to add it to the grocery list), another flavor of ice cream on top works just fine! I happened to have some Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream in the house which was a wonderful topper for this dessert.

This one is definitely a keeper!

~Judy

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Zucchini Chip Bread

This zucchini recipe is from my mom. There's virtually nothing in life that doesn't taste better when you add a bit of chocolate! Well ... almost nothing. This recipe is fun because it uses applesauce to add moisture and great flavor.

OVEN: 350 degrees

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine the first six ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, applesauce, oil and vanilla. Stir into the dry ingredients until just moist. Fold in zucchini, nuts and chocolate chips. Pour into two greased 9x5x3" loaf pans. Bake for 55-60 minutes.

Cool in pan on a rack for 10-15 minutes. Remove from pan to finish cooling on rack.

You get to decide if this qualifies as a bread or dessert!

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Chocolate Eclair Cake

A family-favorite, especially as a hot summer dessert. Requires a little bit of advance preparation, but well worth it!

1 - 3 oz package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 - 3 oz package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 - 8 oz frozen whipped topping, thawed (Cool Whip)
1 - 16 oz package graham crackers
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup white sugar
2 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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In a large bowl, combine vanilla pudding mix and 1 1/2 cups cold milk. Whisk together well. Fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping and beat with mixer for 2 minutes.

In a greased 9 x 13" baking dish, spread a layer of graham crackers on the bottom of the dish. Spread vanilla pudding mixture over crackers. Then top with another layer of graham crackers.

In a large bowl, combine chocolate pudding mix and 1 1/2 cups cold milk. Whisk together well. Fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping and beat with mixer for 2 minutes. Spread over the layer of graham crackers. Top second pudding layer with another layer of crackers.

To make topping: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine 1/4 cup milk, cocoa and sugar and allow to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat ... add butter and vanilla. Mix well and cool. Pour topping evenly over graham cracker layer and refrigerate until set. Serve.

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Crunchy Apple Dessert

This delicious treat tastes very much like an apple pie sundae that Friendly's used to serve. We eat it often in the fall, but it's great year-round.

OVEN: 350 degrees

1 1/2 cups Bisquick
1 cup sugar
1 egg

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Mix ingredients together and cut in 2 Tablespoons of butter until crumbly. Reserve 3/4 cup of the crumb mixture. Press remaining into an 8 x 8" baking dish.

Coarsely chop 3 peeled and cored apples. Sprinkle over top of crust. Combine 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, 1 Tablespoon sugar and 1/2 gteaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples. Top with the reserved crumb mixture.

Bake for 25 minutes in a glass dish.

MAKES: 6-8 servings

Serving Idea: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

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