Cheesecake Trifle

I was really lazy when I took this picture and left it in the fridge. It was mostly because my trifle bowl isn't quite big enough and it was overflowing down the sides a little bit. As I was growing up, my mom made this for special occasions.  It has always been one of my very favorite desserts. And it looks awesome too!! I think my mom's trifle bowl is bigger and so it looks better. I kind of have to squish mine in, so it doesn't look quite as good.

Cheesecake Trifle

Cream together:
16 oz. cream cheese
2 c. powdered sugar

Add:
1 c. sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
Fold in 1/2 pint whipping cream (whipped)

Add to cream mixture:
1 (16 oz) cubed angel food cake

Sauce :
2 (10 oz pkg strawberries, drained and thawed) or 8 cups fresh strawberries
Add to 2 pkgs. Danish dessert (made according to pudding directions on back)

Layer in a clear, glass bowl starting and ending with strawberries.

* Can substitute raspberries for strawberries

Loaded Chicken and Potatoes

This dish was absolutely delicious. It is pretty easy to put together, it just takes a while to cook, so it's not really a last minute dinner idea. When I was putting all the spices in, I was thinking, wow, this is a lot of spices, but the flavor was really good. I only put in 1 tablespoon of hot sauce and I think it was perfect.

Loaded Chicken and Potatoes
Source: Singing Through the Rain

1 lb boneless chicken breasts, cubed (1″)
6-8 medium skin on red potatoes, cut in 1/2″ cubes
1/3 c olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp paprika
2 Tbsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp hot sauce (more if you like it HOT) (I only put in 1 T)

Topping:
2 c fiesta blend cheese
1 c crumbled bacon
1 c diced green onion

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9X13″ baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix together the olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and hot sauce. Add the cubed potatoes and chicken and stir to coat. Carefully scoop the potatoes and chicken into the prepared baking dish..
Bake the potatoes and chicken for 55-60 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes, until cooked through, crispy, and browned on the outside. While the potatoes are cooking, fry your bacon (about half a pound). Once the potatoes and chicken are fully cooked, remove from the oven. Top the cooked potatoes with the cheese, bacon, and green onion. Return the casserole to the oven and bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Zucchini Fries

Last year I grew some zucchini in my garden and I needed some recipes to use them. I came across this recipe for zucchini fries. They are seriously so good. I am not a huge vegetable fan, but I can eat these like crazy. They are delicious. And my kids like them too. Baked Zucchini Fries 3 zucchini 1/4 c. parmesan cheese 1 pkg. shake n bake 1 egg Pre heat oven to 450 degrees. Trim zucchini-cut crosswise in half, then cut each piece into 1/4 inch sticks. Add cheese to coating mix in shaker bag; shake gently to combine.Whisk egg in medium bowl. Add zucchini; toss to coat. Use tongs to place 1/4 of the zucchini in bag, close bag, toss to coat evenly. Spread on baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Repeat with remaining zucchini. Bake for 12-13 minutes, rotating baking sheet after 7 minutes, until zucchini are golden brown, and evenly cooked.

Oatmeal Carmelitas

My sister-in-law made these a long time ago and they have been one of my favorite desserts ever since. They are a little messy, but the perfect combination of all yummy things!!

Oatmeal Carmelitas
2 cubes butter, melted
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 c. flour
2 c. oatmeal
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix together and put more than half of mixture in pan. Pat down to make bottom crust. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

50 caramels
1/2 c. evaporated milk
1 c. nuts
chocolate chips
Melt caramels and milk together, then put caramel mixture on top of crust and sprinkle on chocolate chips and nuts. Sprinkle rest of crust mixture on top and bake at 350 f0r 15-20 minutes.

Baked *Fried* Chicken

This chicken was so yummy. My kids loved it and it's so easy to make.

 

Baked *Fried* Chicken
Source: Bakerette
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2  teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon seasoned salt

¾ teaspoon pepper

2 teaspoon paprika

½ stick butter

Buttermilk

Place thawed chicken breasts in a bowl of buttermilk, cover, and let soak 20-30 minutes in the refrigerator..

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine and mix thoroughly flour, salt, seasoned salt, pepper, and Paprika in a gallon-size Ziploc bag or bowl. Cut ½ stick of butter into a few pieces and place in a 9- x 13-inch pan. Melt butter in preheated oven. Spread melted butter around the bottom of the pan. Lightly spray the pan with cooking spray, if needed, to make sure that there are no dry spots. Shake excess buttermilk off of chicken and completely coat each piece in flour mixture. Either shake in the bag until coated or dip each piece in the bowl until coated.

Place each piece of chicken in the preheated pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn each piece of chicken over and continue baking for 20 minutes more, or until cooked through (170 degrees F).

Caramel Pretzel Magic Bars

My brother actually introduced me to these, but since he never posts on here (hint, hint) I decided to just put them on myself. These were really good. They were actually a lot better when my brother made them, so I'm not sure what I did wrong, but I need to try it again so I can get it right.

Caramel Pretzel Magic Bars
Source: Dessert Now, Dinner Later
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
6 Tbsp butter, melted
1-14oz can sweetened condensed milk
50+ pretzels (I used Snyder's Snaps)
20 caramels, unwrapped & cut in fourths (*They now sell caramel bits at the store near the chocolate chips!  So much easier than unwrapping & cutting up caramel squares.  I would try 1 cup of caramel bits if you aren't using the squares.)
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs with melted butter & press in a sprayed 13x9in pan.
2. Pour about half the can of condensed milk over crust.
3. Layer your pretzels as close together as you like over the condensed milk/crust.
4. Sprinkle caramels, chocolate chips, & coconut flakes.
5. Pour remaining half of condensed milk on top.
6. OPTIONAL:  Break up some extra pretzels to put on top, with a few extra chocolate chips so you can see all the colors above the condensed milk.
7. Bake at 350*F for 20-30 min until lightly brown.  Let cool completely before cutting & serving.

Smore Bites

Summer is the perfect time for smores. I feel like I have seen more different kinds of smore recipes this Summer than ever. This one is really yummy. I made them in a mini muffin tin, but I think they would be just as good in a normal size muffin tin.

Smore Bites
Source: Sweet Pea's Kitchen
7 whole graham crackers (1 cup), finely crushed
1/4 cup powdered sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
4 bars (1.55 oz) milk chocolate candy, divided
12 large marshmallows
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place graham crackers into a large resealable plastic bag. Finely crush into crumbs. Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and butter into a small bowl. Evenly divide crumb mixture into each cup of a 24 cup mini muffin pan. Press crumbs to form shallow cups. Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling. Meanwhile, break two of the candy bars into rectangles. Remove pan from oven; place one rectangle into each cup.
Cut marshmallows in half crosswise using scissors dipped in cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are just slightly softened. Cool on a cooling rack for 15 minutes before carefully removing cups from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
Break remaining candy bars in small pieces and place in a small bowl. Microwave on high 1 minute-1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 20 seconds. Dip the top of each marshmallow into the melted chocolate. Turn top-side up and let stand until set.
Recipe Note: Store the cups in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Freezing is not recommended.