Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

In our household, my children are Sweet Mr. 8, Salty Miss 6, and Sour Miss 4.

Give them their choice of a brownie, chips, or fruit snacks, and Mr. 8 goes for the brownie while Miss 6 grabs the chips and Miss 4 takes the fruit snacks.

Though they will eat chocolate, my girls prefer fruit-based desserts like strawberry shortcake or a bowl of fruit. They both also like jello and vanilla or strawberry ice cream.

On the other hand, my son likes fruit but prefers to create his dessert with fruit on top of ice cream with a brownie. 😉

If you have a chocolate-lover in your household and need a bit of inspiration, then check out these 3 homemade chocolate desserts that look amazing:

3 Homemade Chocolate Desserts

• Brownie Bottom Ice Cream Cake
• Oreo Ice Cream Cake
• Pan Éclairs

The pan éclairs are one of our favorite desserts. Though I’ve never tried it, one can make homemade graham crackers. If you make your own graham crackers, please leave a comment to let us know the results.

To chocolate-lovers everywhere, enjoy these delicious, refreshing, and sweet desserts. Happy creating!

Question: What is your favorite chocolate dessert? 

I’ve been baking up a storm in our new oven. Having replaced our range during my daughter’s teacher’s last week of school, we had to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with her which had to include a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

As I have been asked more than once for our chocolate chip cookie recipe, I will document it and share it with you.

Now, this recipe was passed down from my grandmother to my mom, from my mom to me, and I will pass it along to my children as well.

I am not sure where my grandmother received the recipe, but it is delicious. In addition to making chocolate chip cookies, I use this recipe for our M&M cookies, butterscotch chip cookies, and the white chocolate chip cookies.

Using our KitchenAid mixer makes whipping up a double batch of these chocolate chip cookies a breeze. Once the batter is made, I form the cookies using a melon baller to keep the cookies uniform in shape. I then slightly press the round ball of dough into a cookie shape and bake. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes approximately 4 ½ dozen cookies

Ingredients

½ c. shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
½ c. sugar
¼ c. brown sugar
1 well-beaten egg
1 ½ c. flour
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
½ – 12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ c. chopped walnuts or pecans, optional

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Thoroughly cream shortening, vanilla, sugar, and brown sugar.
3. Add the egg, beat thoroughly.
4. Add the dry ingredients.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.
6. Drop from a teaspoon or melon baller onto greased cookie sheet.
7. Bake in 375° oven for 11-12 minutes.
8. Wait about 1 minute after baking before moving to a cooling rack.
9. Let cool and then store in an air-tight container or cookie jar.

This recipe has brought our family hours of bonding time and enjoyment. We make dozens of cookies throughout the year and find this recipe worthy of repeating year after year.

As my daughter’s teacher requested this recipe, I was thrilled to share it while breaking in our new range with multiple batches of chocolate chip cookies. If you are getting an urge to bake, then your family and friends will help you devour these amazing chocolate chip cookies. Happy baking!

Question: What recipe do you have passed down through your family’s generations? 

As I write this post, I smell the sweet fragrance of pumpkin spice wafting from my lit candle. Though not a fan of the pumpkin taste, I love the smell of pumpkin and other fall scents.

If you dropped in for a visit at my house, you would smell my pumpkin candle unless I am cooking or baking in the kitchen. 🙂

Moving my summer recipes to the side, I welcome the comfort foods of fall. One of our family’s favorite fall recipes is a simple Warm Mexican Dip. The below recipe is not my own. One of our neighbors blended the ingredients, and I enjoy the non-spicy version of his concoction.

With only 5 ingredients, this Warm Mexican Dip is great for parties, heavy snacks, or a meal. Yum!

Warm Mexican Dip

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb. mild rolled sausage
• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 2 lb. Velveeta cheese
• 1 jar mild salsa

Instructions:

1. Brown the sausage and hamburger in a skillet.

2. Add cream of mushroom soup and salsa.

3. Slice Velveeta and add to warm mixture.

4. Stir over medium heat until cheese is melted and heated through.

5. Serve with tortilla chips.

If you enjoy a bit more spice to your Mexican dishes, then choose a spicy sausage and hot salsa to add more kick. When serving this hearty Warm Mexican Dip, I include corn bread and fresh vegetables.

This recipe fills my Dutch oven which our family does not eat in one meal. Therefore, I freeze the leftovers saving me money, energy, and time on a future busy day.

As you prepare your family’s favorite recipes, consider making extra to freeze. Then on busy nights, you only need to add a few extras to feed your family while using time wisely. Happy planning!

Question: What is one of your family’s favorite fall recipes?

Today, I am sharing one of our family’s favorite summer dessert recipes.

These pan éclairs are not my original recipe. Since I am a baker (follow recipes exactly) and not a cook (adjust recipes to taste, what’s on hand, and spontaneity), I received this recipe from a friend a few years ago. I have seen similar recipes in magazines, but this particular recipe is my favorite.

Pan Éclairs

Ingredients

• 2 packages instant vanilla or cheesecake pudding, 4-serving size
• 2 cups milk
• ¾ box honey graham crackers
• Cool Whip, 8 oz.
• Chocolate frosting (optional)

Directions

1. In medium mixing bowl, mix pudding and milk. Let it set for 5 minutes. Add Cool Whip and mix.

2. In a 9”x13” pan, put a layer of graham crackers, then ½ of the Cool Whip/pudding mixture, then a layer of graham crackers, then rest of Cool Whip/pudding mixture, and then graham crackers. Top with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. Refrigerate.

3. Make 1 day ahead and then cut into serving-size portions.

By allowing the mixture to cool for 8 to 24 hours before serving, the pudding mixture firms while the graham crackers soften which makes this dessert a crowd pleaser. This dessert must set, or you will have a runny mixture that will not cut into portions for serving.

Besides family gatherings, this dessert is great for parties, picnics, and cookouts. Made with milk, these pan éclairs are light, creamy, and delicious. Yum!

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In using time wisely, prepare your pan éclairs a day ahead, and you will have a fantastic dessert without the fuss on party day. Enjoy!

Question: What is your family’s favorite summer dessert?