Desserts

Sinfully Outrageous Homemade Brownies from It's a Keeper

Sinfully Outrageous Homemade Brownies

What do you get when you mix nearly 2 pounds of chocolate with some eggs, butter, sugar, flour, baking powder and vanilla? One batch of sinfully outrageous homemade brownies! And, yes, you read it right…TWO POUNDS OF CHOCOLATE!

These brownies are by no means, healthy, low-fat, non-fat, carb free or gluten-free.

But how can something that starts with almost 2 pounds of chocolate be that bad?!? Don’t answer that.

These homemade brownies are full-blown, fat laden, sugar loaded, chocolate overloaded, uber rich and sinfully delicious squares of pure chocolate joy.

They will curl your toes and make you swoon. And, you will dream about them.

Strawberry Trifle It's a Keeper

Strawberry Trifle

I love trifles.  It’s probably because I’m the world’s worst cake cutter and server.  Or, maybe it’s all of the pretty layers. My mom made this amazing strawberry trifle for my sister’s Memorial Day party. And, since I’m on a strawberry kick this week, I thought I would share her recipe with you.

There is just something about a dessert that isn’t fussy.  Trifles are the antithesis (good word, huh?!) of fussy.  You can’t really mess up when you make them.  And, you definitely can’t mess them up when serving them.  That’s my kind of dessert. 

10 Minute Easy Chocolate Cake It's a Keeper

Easy Chocolate Cake in 10 Minutes

Yes, you read that right.  Chocolate cake in 10 minutes.  Really!  This easy chocolate cake recipe completely impressed me the first time I made it.  I was blown away at how quick and easy it was to make and how good it was to eat!

10 Minute Easy Chocolate Cake It's a Keeper10 Minute Easy Chocolate Cake It's a Keeper

I discovered this recipe by accident.  I was having some guests over and realized that I completely forgot to plan a dessert.  Duh!  I found a few recipes online for mug cakes and took my favorite parts of each one to come up with this recipe.  As my friends started arriving, I was whipping this easy chocolate cake together.  It was ready in no time! 

Lemon Pull Apart Rolls 2 It's a Keeper

Lemon Pull Apart Bread

I have a confession to make.  I have a love affair with anything lemon.  Cakes, pies, drinks, you name it.   I came across this recipe for Lemon Pull Apart Bread on Pinterest.  Of course, I knew I had to try it.

The recipe has only 5 ingredients and only a few simple steps.  It also uses frozen bread dough which is perfect for me since I’m not much of a bread baker.  Frankly, yeast kind of scares me.

I made this recipe over the weekend and it was delicious!  It was a nice light dessert and it was even great for breakfast the next morning.  I loved the bright, tart flavor.  I think this will be perfect for Easter or Mother’s Day brunch! 

Rum Cake It's a Keeper

Rum Cake

In December, my grandfather passed away.  He lived 92 very full years and was surrounded by family and good friends.   I’m so grateful that my son had the opportunity to spend so much quality time with him.  I know that he has many fond memories of his Pop Pop, as do I.

Now, If you’ve read my About page, you’ll know that I’m self proclaimed recipe hoarder.  Somehow, someway I end up walking away from every gathering, trip to the grocery store, dentist or salon with recipes.  Sometimes they are scribbled on the backs of envelopes, on paper plates or in my check book.  Sometimes, they aren’t even recipes – just a list of ingredients.  And, if I’m lucky, I even score bona fide recipe cards – complete with a recipe!

You’re probably wondering where I’m going with all of this.  Well, my grandfather’s wake was no different from most other functions I’m at.  Here I was, standing between my mother and my sister in the receiving line (I’m not even sure if that’s what you call it at a wake), when one of my parent’s friends comes through.  And, wouldn’t you know it…he hands me a recipe card with his wife’s Rum Cake recipe!  

Potato Chip Cookies - an easy cookie recipe that is the perfect combination of salty and sweet

Potato Chip Cookies

Potato Chip Cookies It’s a KeeperAs I mentioned in a previous post, I hosted a holiday cookie exchange this past weekend. I love cookies exchanges because it’s a great way to get together with friends over the holidays while trying all sorts of new cookies! Plus, the recipe hoarder in me loves to collect all of the new recipes for said cookies!

This year, my mother brought these AWESOME Potato Chip Cookies to the party! It sounds weird, I know. But, trust me, you HAVE to try these!

Cinnamon Crusted Pecans It's a Keeper

Cinnamon Crusted Pecans

These pecans are one of my favorite recipes to make during the holidays. I can’t remember where I got the recipe from, initially. I’ve been making them for years. In fact, we included this recipe in our first cookbook, “Hitchcock Family Favorites”.

Peach Cake 1 It's a Keeper

Summer Peach Cake

The other night, my mother called and asked if she could come over…with dessert!  Uh, duh!  She had found a recipe in the newspaper for a fresh peach cake and, since her peach tree has produced a lot of fresh peaches she thought she would give it a whirl!

Our local newspaper, The Scranton Times Tribune, has a weekly feature where they select two recipes to showcase in Wednesday’s edition.  About a year ago, I was lucky enough to be selected and have my recipe for Braciole featured!  It was quite exciting — my 15 seconds of “fame”! So, I was excited to try a recipe from another local cook! The recipe below is from Marilyn Altomare.

S'mores Bars

S’mores Bars

One of my favorite parts of summer is sitting by a roaring fire outside as the sun sets and disappears behind the mountains.  Maybe it’s the peepers and crickets chirping…or the cozy feeling of the warm fire and soft blanket around my shoulders.  Maybe it’s the conversation and storytelling?  Or, maybe….it’s the marshmallows! 

Beach Cup Cakes

Beach Inspired Cupcakes

Last week, my son’s preschool had a beach themed party to celebrate the end of the school year.   I wanted to bring something cute and fun for the kids to enjoy.  So, I came up with these uber cute beach-inspired cupcakes! Aren’t they adorable?  And, they were so easy to make!

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pie

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pie

A few weeks ago, Mrs. Happy Homemaker linked up this delightful recipe. The minute I saw it, I had to give it a try. I literally dropped everything, threw my son in the car (well not really threw, but quickly ushered him) and headed to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients I didn’t already have.

Once I got home I was able to whip this pie up in no time flat! And, it’s a good thing. Because I had a peanut gallery that was drooling over my shoulder!

Girl Scout Samoa Cookies

Samoa Cookie Bars

A few weeks ago, I featured this recipe a homemade version of my FAVORITE Girl Scout cookies….Samoas! They looked so good that I just had to make them! I mean, what’s not to love? Chocolate? Coconut? Caramel? Shortbread? And, put it all together and you’ve got one super, duper yummy cookie! Every year, when the neighborhood girls camp out in front of the grocery store, I have to buy a box. And then…I hide it! I want them all to myself! And, I know it sounds silly, but I ration them. I want to extend the bliss as long as possible.

Caramel Apple Dip

Caramel Apple Dip

Happy Easter!   Today was a whirl wind day!  We’ve been on the go since 9 am — enjoy not one, but TWO holiday dinners!  One at my parent’s house and one at my sister-in-law Cathy’s.  There were so many uber delicious things.  I love holidays!

One thing in particular that caught my eye (or should I say tickled my taste buds?) was this great caramel apple dip that Cathy made.  I’m going to apologize right now for the poor quality of the photos here….it’s the best that my cell phone could provide!

Apple Cake

Apple Cake

I found this recipe in the pile, scrawled on the back of a greeting card envelope!  Thinking back, I believe it was one of my mother’s recipes and I think she got it from her neighbor, years and years ago. I was looking to make some thing homey and I had a few apples that I wanted to use up so this was a perfect candidate!

French Toast Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

Breakfast as a cupcake?  Sounds heavenly!  My good friend, Lisa, gave me this recipe and it sounded divine.  What’s not to love about French toast and maple syrup…and even a little bacon?!?!

I know what you’re thinking though — I thought the same thing too.  I have to admit, I was a little skeptical about the whole bacon as garnish thing, but I decided to take one for the team and give it a try – just as the recipe described.

Apple Bundles

While I enjoy the long, lazy summer days, it’s the cool, crisp days of fall that I really crave!  I wait all year long to enjoy the few short weeks, where the mountains are covered in orange, yellow and red patches and the days are cool and sunny.  You know…when you need to wear a sweatshirt but you can still get a sun burn!

This was the perfect autumn weekend!  Bright sun, colorful leaves, two whole days with nothing to do but visit the pumpkin patch and the apple orchard!  Bliss!

This weather always inspires me to cook and bake!  And, since we had just left the Ritter’s Cider Mill with all of our favorite finds (buckets of Jona Gold, Macoun and Gala apples, apple cider donuts and, of course, apple cider), I wanted to find some new apple recipes.

Mashed apples used to make apple cider

Pressing the mashed apples to make cider

Banana Galette

The other night, it was just my son and I, since Daddy was working.  We both wanted a special treat so I searched through my “pile” to find a recipe that my 4 year old could help make.

These Banana Galettes, a recipe from Everyday Food magazine, looked easy enough (and tasty enough), plus there were plenty of tasks my little sous chef could handle! But, I have to say, I had no idea what a “galette” was…and, truth be told, I still don’t really know!

Cinnamon Biscuit Peach Cobbler

I was at my local Farmer’s Market the other day and the peaches looked (and smelled) fantastic!  They inspired me to dig in my “pile” for a recipe that would make these babies shine!

The contender…Cinnamon Biscuit Peach Cobbler!  Now, doesn’t that sound heavenly?!?!  The recipe came from Taste of Home magazine.

And, since today is the last day of National Peach Month, I thought it was appropriate to post this today!

Molten Chocolate Cakes

Molten Chocolate Cakes

Recently, I asked you guys what you wanted me to make next.  Amy commented that she wanted a decadent dessert.  And, to me, nothing says decadence like CHOCOLATE!  When I flipped through my pile of recipes, I came across several different recipes for Molten Chocolate Cakes.  After reading through them all, I settled on one from Everyday Food magazine.

Molten Chocolate Cakes

Is it a Keeper?

These were really good!  Very rich, but very good!  Make sure you watch the baking time carefully.  I think I over baked mine.  Next time, I think I’ll start checking them at the 10 minute mark.

I also liked these cakes with raspberries.  I think it went very well together.  The only thing that was missing was a cup of coffee!  I think the coffee would have really intensified the chocolateliness!

These are easy to make and would make an elegant dessert for a dinner party or a special family treat!  Definitely a keeper!

Watch me make them on WNEP’s Home and Backyard:

Cinnamon Chip Scones

Cinnamon Chip Scones

I love cinnamon.  And, any recipe that starts with the word “cinnamon” grabs my attention.  I’ve been looking for a good scone recipe.  One that wasn’t too dry or too complicated to make.  When I came across this recipe, it seemed just right. 

Copycat Ruth's Chris Vanilla Cream with Berries

Copycat Ruth’s Chris Sweet Vanilla Cream with Berries

A few weeks ago, I had a wonderful birthday dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House.  The food was absolutely to-die-for!  I remember feeling a little bit sad when I took my last bite of filet mignon.  It was heavenly!  Just when I thought I couldn’t eat another bite, the waiter brought our dessert.  It was a small dish of vanilla cream with fresh berries on top.

Oh…my…god!  Words cannot describe how good that stuff was!  I knew I had to figure out to make this for myself! 

Cherry Jubilee Cheesecake Squares

My sister-in-law, Cathy, make this dessert for Easter dinner.  She found the recipe on the back of a cake mix box.  While I didn’t make the recipe, per se.  I was an active taste-tester! And, that’s what this blog is about.

Cinnamon-Pecan Muffins

I am always looking for great muffin and quick bread recipes.  So, when I came across this recipe for Cinnamon-Pecan muffins, I had to give it a try!  At first glance, it seemed easy enough — common ingredients that are already in my pantry, simple instructions and, most importantly, cinnamon!  I love cinnamon anything! 

FEATURED ON