Caramel Cheesecake

I first made this cheesecake for my husband's birthday. Caramel and cheesecake are pretty much his two favorite words in the food world. How could I refuse this special request? He dug into it before I could get home from work and immediately declared it the best cheesecake he'd ever eaten. I consider this high praise, indeed.

I made it again for someone's Thanksgiving dinner. She later reported that her guests absolutely loved it.

Trust me, you're going to want to eat this. It's rich and creamy and simply dripping with salted caramel, then wreathed in crushed Heath bar to add a bit of delicious crunch.

Don't wait. Get this cheesecake now. Let me make one for you. It's amazing!

German Chocolate Cake

It was my friend's birthday recently, so naturally, I asked her what kind of cake she wanted. When she responded with German chocolate, I knew I was in for a challenge. I'd never made one before, mostly because I don't like coconut or pecans. When there's German chocolate cake around, I usually pass. But we were making someone else's wishes come true, so here it is!

There are four layers of rich chocolate cake inside. (Unfortunately, it was night when our friend came over to get the cake, so I didn't get any pictures of the inside.) Between each layer is some of that ooey gooey coconut/pecan custard that got slathered on after I doused the cake in some rum-infused syrup. And the entire outside of the cake is covered with dark chocolate ganache frosting. It's pure indulgence. Just the thing to celebrate a birthday.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

In case you haven't noticed from my constant bragging, I live in Honolulu. It is one of the most beautiful cities on earth. And you can't get far in this town without running into a macadamia nut. They even have their own aisle at Walmart. They come in just about every flavor, both sweet and savory. These soft buttery nuts are one of the few varieties I'll tolerate.

It was an atypical grey and rainy day in paradise, so I decided to make cookies, and why not give them a little tropical flair? White chocolate macadamia nut cookies are buttery, crunchy, and have a burst of creamy sweetness from the white chocolate chips. Even if you can't make it to the beach, these are a little taste of paradise.

This was the last recipe I had to make with muscle rather than machinery. The day after these came out of the oven, the most beautiful thing arrived at my door.

You may recall, I broke my pitiful little hand mixer trying to make ice cream without an ice cream maker. Since then, I've been making things the old fashioned way. I am a strong proponent of the idea that you can still make delicious desserts without special equipment, but I'm also a strong proponent of laziness. I pinched pennies for weeks and weeks to earn this boysenberry baby. I can't wait to give it a whirl.

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White Chocolate Raspberry Blondies

I have a dirty little secret. It's bad. Embarrassing. I don't like fruit. At all. Except for the occasional apple, I never eat fruit. I like the flavors of fruit. I love juice, but I just can't eat fruit. Something about the fibrous pulp that's left behind in my mouth after all of the gorgeous juice is squeezed out just grosses me out. I'm a picky eater. It's a curse.

But raspberries are beautiful, and other people love them. I never said I don't like cooking with fruit, I just don't like eating it. I had the raspberries, and they had to be used, so I made you some white chocolate raspberry blondies. And you loved them. Or at least, my husband and all his co-workers did.

It starts out with a gorgeous white chocolate blondie, but then it's studded with white chocolate chips and gorgeous jewel bright fresh raspberries. If you like fruit, you'll love these. There's a burst of tartness from the raspberries that just makes them come alive.

Cheater's Chocolate Mousse

For Valentine's day, my husband and I decided to forego the crowded restaurants and instead we got takeout and had a picnic on the beach. I had to work that day, so I didn't have time to make a meal, but I did have time to whip up the simple chocolate mousse my husband had been requesting. Nothing says love like chocolate.

I also happened to have some graham cracker crumbs lying around due to the fact that digestive biscuits apparently weigh a lot more graham crackers. Do not try to substitute them one for one. Trust me! But you can use those extra crumbs to add some interest and texture to your chocolate mousse. I layered in the crumbs as I put the mousse into the glass. Simple and delicious.

I called this cheater's chocolate mousse because I used a package of plain gelatin to thicken it. It's really foolproof. And if you have an electric mixer, it comes together in no time. If not, your family and friends will know you really love them after you spent ten minutes frantically whisking. Use the best chocolate you can afford. Even if that's only store brand chocolate chips, don't worry. It will still taste amazing.

We loved watching the sunset over the Pacific and stuffing our faces with some of our favorite foods. I put the mousse in a pretty glass for you, but you know I piled a whole mess of it into a plastic container and threw two spoons in our cooler backpack to take to the beach. It's more romantic if you share.

Cheater's Chocolate Mousse
Recipe from 1001 Fast Easy Recipes


1 packet unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped or chips
1 tsp vanilla
1 pint heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks

• In a medium saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the 1/4 cup water. Leave it alone for 2 minutes to let the gelatin absorb.
• Add the corn syrup and cook over low heat for five minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chocolate and vanilla. Keep stirring until the chocolate is melted and everything is smooth.
• Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the whipped cream in two batches. A few streaks are okay. 
• Spoon it in to whatever you want to serve it in. Fancy crystal or a bucket. It doesn't matter. You can also layer in some graham cracker or cookie crumbs or other fun stuff at this point.
• Refrigerate for two hours, then try not to eat it all.

Cookie Pizza

Sometimes you get called in to work on your day off. Sometimes you have last minute house guests arrive well after your normal bed time. Sometimes life gets crazy. When that happens to me, I know I need something sweet. Dessert is always the answer. But it's been a long week, and my feet hurt, so I need it to be simple.

Depending on your level of fatigue, this can be made with all store bought ingredients. I love baking from scratch. I think scratch sugar cookies beat out the stuff from the tube any day. But they take work. And planning. And I already told you I was tired. Sheesh!

You can also top this giant cookie with just about anything you want or have lying around your kitchen. I used peanut butter as the "sauce" of my pizza, then peanut butter chips and m&ms for the toppings. You could even put fruit on it if you want, I guess, but don't call me to come over. Sugar people. It's what I need.

Simple and sweet. Oh, and fun. Did I mention fun? This cookie pizza is dessert and kindergarten art project all in one. If you have actual tiny humans in your house, by all means, press them into labor by making them decorate their own masterpiece. If not, you can go to town on it yourself. Don't forget to go all Jackson Pollack on it with the hot fudge before serving.   I promise, everyone will be happy.

Cookie Pizza
Recipe from 1001 Fast Easy Recipes

18 ounces of your favorite sugar cookie dough
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup m&ms
Hot fudge sauce
(All measurements are approximate. Get creative, go crazy)

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Grease a 12 inch pizza pan, then spread the cookie dough onto it. I used my hands to press it out evenly. Leave a one inch border to avoid the dough spreading beyond the pan as it rises.
• Bake on the bottom rack of your oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove it from the oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes
• Spread the peanut butter evenly over your now cooled giant cookie.
• Sprinkle on the peanut butter chips, m&ms and any and everything you see fit.
• Use your pizza cutter to slice it up into wedges.
• Drizzle some hot fudge over each slice before serving.

Scotcheroos

What do you do when you come home from the grocery store and realize that you bought butterscotch chips instead of peanut butter chips? Well, first you curse your stupidity, then you search the 27 page list of links you've saved over the months for a recipe that will use up those butterscotch chips. It will take a while because you're not really a butterscotch type of person. But you have people coming over for dinner, and how can you, the self-proclaimed baker, not have something for dessert? Eventually, though, you'll find these.

Scotcheroos are a crisp rice treat mixed with peanut butter and topped with a layer of chocolate and butterscotch. My dinner guests each had seconds. Judging by the yummy sounds and the rapid succession with which they were consumed, especially by my husband, who ate three in a row the next day, I'd say they were a success for just about everyone.

If you are a butterscotch person, try these scotcheroos.