Blueberry & Blackberry Cobbler

Summertime is here and it is the perfect time for sweet & easy recipes.  When I have guests, this is one of my favorite desserts to make.  Scoop it up and add whipped cream and garnish with fresh mint leaves and you're good to go.  

My dad and my sister were recently here visiting for a week and my sister loves desserts, so I just had to whip up some goodies along with sweet purchases.  This recipe is basically the same as the previous blackberry cobbler that I made, but I added blueberries to the mix.  For the ingredients, scroll to the end of the post.

Instructions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Wash the berries and lay them on a paper towel to dry a bit.  Lightly grease an 8-inch baking dish.
Place the berries in the baking dish and sprinkle the berries with the lemon juice.
In a mixing bowl, stir in the egg, flour, & sugar until it resembles a coarse meal.
Sprinkle the mixture over the berries.
Drizzle melted butter over the mix.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until lightly brown and bubbly.  let stand for 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

4 cups of fresh blackberries and blueberries

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 large egg

1 cup of sugar (if you like it extra sweet, add more sugar)

1 cup of all-purpose flour

7-8 tablespoons of butter

Whip cream (optional)

Garnish: fresh mint sprig

Hope that you enjoy!


Linked to:
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Easy Strawberry Donut Cake

So it’s after dinner and you forgot to make or buy a sweet dessert for your friends or loved ones, or you just want a late sweet snack, no problem.

A quick and easy way to satisfy the sweet tooth is by having a package of fresh, ready made donuts available, fresh strawberries, whipped cream and it’s optional to have some strawberry glaze…this adds extra flavor and sweetness to this dessert.  This is so easy. that your little ones can do it. 

Grab your favorite donuts and either cut it in half or leave it as is, then layer the strawberries in the center hole, on top, and sides of donuts.  If you have glaze, go ahead and sprinkle glaze over your strawberry donuts.  Lastly, cover with whipped cream.  For those who really want sweetness…a little side of ice cream wouldn't hurt…oh yeah! 

If you do not have donuts on hand, perhaps fried biscuits like the ones made here, and then the above can work too! 
I hope that you enjoy!!!

Heart Donuts

After searching for some inspiring sweets for Valentine's Day, I hit jack pot and got inspired to make my own heart glazed donuts from here. Not only did I make glazed, but I sprinkled some with cinnamon sugar too, oh yum!  Those may be viewed on behind the scenes on my instagram.

I used a different glaze for this recipe.  I have to say, the kids were excited to see these.  Who would have thought to use biscuit mix to make these lovelies?  Love that!

For these donuts I used Biscuit Grands Flaky Layers.

I use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut my hearts out or any shape you wish.

I used the same Heart Cookie Cutter that I used to make my heart shaped pancakes.

When you are done cutting your hearts, fill a pot with about 3 cups of vegetable oil,

enough to cover your dough when frying. 

Amount depends on the size of your pot, it should be about 3 inches deep.

Warm your oil on medium heat, set about 350 degrees. 

Fry the donuts for about 1 minute or so on each side.

Remove from heat and set on paper towels to soak excess oil.

Let your donuts cool.

In the meantime, make your glaze.

 

Ingredients:

 

1 1/4 cup Confectioners sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2-4 tsp milk

drop of red food coloring for pink coloring

 

Place sugar in bowl, add vanilla and milk, slowly mix until you have your desired consistency.  You will want your glaze to be thick.  When you have reached your thickness level, put aside a bit of the glaze in a small bowl to mix with food coloring to add pink design to the donuts.

When the donuts have cooled off, dunk your donuts halfway into the glaze mix then pull up.

Allow excess to drip off into the bowl.  Put aside and continue to do the same to each one.

For your pink glaze, take a plastic zip lock bag and pour your glaze into it.

Cut a small hole on a corner forming an icing bag.  This will help you add the pink icing to your donuts with ease.

Let your glaze cool and enjoy the donuts!

Happy Valentine's Day!

©2010. http://www.inspirationsbyd.blogspot.com. All Rights reserved.

My First Pumpkin Glazed Scones

A few of my favorite blogs have made scones this fall and I just had to give it a try.  I finally made my very first scones, not just any scones, but Pumpkin Glazed Scones.  The triangular shapes were not perfect, but the taste was oh so sweet.  These are suppose to be double glazed, but I ran out of powder sugar and made it a single glaze instead.  Double glaze is probably better, but we loved it regardless.  I found the recipe on Pinterest which led me to this blog.  Have you tried making scones this Fall?  You should give it a try, it's pretty simple and tasty too.  Here is a gluten free recipe to try as well.  I hope that you enjoy!  The recipe is at the end of the post.

Scones Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
9 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
6 Tablespoons cold butter
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3 Tablespoons half-and-half
1 large egg

Sugar Glaze Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons whole milk

Spiced Glaze Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons whole milk
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Scones Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Lightly grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

3. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices in a large mixing bowl.

4. With a fork, pastry knife, or food processor, cut butter into the dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly and no chunks of butter remain. Set aside.

5. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk pumpkin, half and half, and egg.

6. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Form the dough into a ball.

7. Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a 1-inch thick rectangle (about 9 inches long and 3 inches wide).

8. Use a large knife to slice the dough into three equal portions. Cut diagonally to produce 6 triangular slices of dough.

9. Place on prepared baking sheet from step 2.

10. Bake for 14–16 minutes until scones turn light brown.

11. Place on wire rack to cool.

Sugar Glaze Directions:
1. Mix the powdered sugar and 2 Tablespoon milk together until smooth.

2. Brush glaze over the top of each cooled scone.

Spiced Glaze Directions:
1. As sugar glaze firms, combine the spiced icing ingredients.

2. Use whisk to drizzle over each scone and allow to dry before serving.

Makes 6 pumpkin scones.

Linked to:
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The Dedicated House

©2010. http://www.inspirationsbyd.blogspot.com. All Rights reserved.

Slow Cooker Raisin Bread Pudding

This is a slow cooker recipe, but I'll share a little secret 

with you.  If you want it done fast, pop it on the stove and 

it will get done a lot quicker than the slow cooker.  

When you are planning something sweet after a good meal, 

this is a no brainier.  But what's that?

The doorbell rings and you have guests?  

This recipe can be done fast on the stove with minimal ingredients, 

it's delicious, simple, and it makes the house smell so good!

To make this yummy raisin Bread Pudding, you will need the following:

8 slices of bread, cubed

4 eggs

2 cups  milk

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter or margarine melted

1/4 cup raisins

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

SAUCE:

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup water

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place the bread cubes in a greased slow cooker: 

In a bowl, beat the eggs & milk; stir in the sugar, butter, raisins & cinnamon.  

Pour over the bread cubes; stir.

Cover & cook on high for 1 hour.  Reduce heat to low; cook for 

3-4 hours or  until a thermometer reads 160 degrees. 

Just before serving, melt the butter in a saucepan.  Stir in the flour until it is smooth.

Gradually add the water, sugar & vanilla.  Bring it to a boil; cook & stir for 2 minutes

or until thickened.  Serve with warm bread pudding.

Makes 6 servings.

For on the stove top use same method, but cook for less time, 

about 15-30 minutes or until it reaches 160 degrees, on medium heat. 

Cook & stir  Make sure you stir occasionally, so it does not stick

to pan.  You will notice the bread will expand and it will get thick.

Then follow the sauce directions & enjoy!

Linked to:
The Dedicated House
The Thriftiness Miss
Glamorous Affordable Life
The 36th Avenue
Live Laugh Rowe
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Salt Tree
I Gotta Create
The Farmhouse Porch

White Hot Chocolate

 We had guests arrive by surprise a couple of days ago, but it was much to their surprise that we had our roof replaced during their stay.  I wish we had known that they were coming, then we could have changed the repair date.  Can you imagine the chaos that was going on at our house, mostly outdoors?
Oh it was musical with the bang, bang here, and the cong, cong there, magical I tell ya,
I thought that the ceiling was going to fall on our heads.

Our guests were staying over for two nights, so I tried to make their stay as comfortable as possible.  I managed to make everything comfy & cozy to make them feel at home.  I also decided to make a decadent drink for us all and since we all love chocolate, I made it extra special. I decided to make my hot chocolate "white chocolate"  instead of dark chocolate and boy was it ever good.   

If something in this big wide world can be referred to as 'perfection in a glass', then it must be this white hot chocolate drink.

Oh the thoughts of a crackling fire on a cool breezy night holding this warm and delicious delight.
Oh cool air come soon!

Ingredients:

3 cups half & half or light cream

2/3 cup white baking pieces or chopped white chocolate baking squares.

1 3 inch piece of cinnamon stick

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Ground cinnamon (optional)

Whipped cream (optional)

This drink is so easy to make, but I must warn you, it is rich.  If you are looking for something that is not as rich, I would add less white chocolate to the recipe and for those who prefer slim and skinny drinks, I would substitute the half & half with fat free half and half or skim milk.  So are you ready?  Here is what you do:

In a medium saucepan combine 1/4 cup of the half and half, the baking pieces of chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Stir over low heat until baking pieces are melted.  Add remaining half & half.  Cook and stir until heated through.  Remove from heat.  Remove and discard cinnamon stick.  Stir in vanilla and almond extract.  If desired add whipped cream and cinnamon to top it off.  Enjoy!

Linking to:
Craftberry Bush
Home Stories A 2 Z
Tip Junkie 10/2
The 36th Avenue 9/27
SITS Girls
Crystal and Co.#63
Crazy for Crust
I Should be Mopping the Floors #35 

Blackberry Cobbler

 This is the easiest blackberry cobbler ever!  This is truly delicious!
I found this recipe in Southern Living a few of years ago and I've been making this dessert ever since. Share this dessert with your family and friends the next time you want to entertain.

I'm all about simple, so this is a lovely fit to my simple lifestyle, fresh fruit and 5 easy ingredients. 

Ingredients:

4 cups of fresh blackberries

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 large egg

1 cup of sugar (if you like it extra sweet, add more sugar)

1 cup of all-purpose flour

7-8 tablespoons of butter

Whip cream (optional)

Garnish: fresh mint sprig

Preparation:

Preheat oven 375 degrees.  Place blackberries in a slightly greased 8-inch square baking dish, sprinkle with lemon juice.  Stir together egg, sugar, and flour in a medium bowl until mixture resembles coarse meal.  Sprinkle over fruit.  

Drizzle melted butter over topping.  Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.  Let stand 10 minutes. 

Serve warm with whip cream and garnish with fresh mint sprig, if desired.

{TIP}For a cute presentation, bake for the same amount of time 6 (8oz.) ramekins
on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet as I did above and serve cute individual servings.

Serves 6
Enjoy!

Madeleine Sandwich Cookies Dipped in Chocolate & Sprinkles

Have you tried a Madeleine cookie? 

These shell shaped cookies are rich, and cake-like in texture.   

They're often flavored with lemon, orange, chocolate, or almonds.  

If you have never had one, you must, they are delicious! 

You may acquire these at your supermarket, bakery or bake them yourself.

There are many recipes online that you can try.  I purchased my cookies from

my local supermarket and I wanted to add some richness to them.

I sliced them in half and layered some with raspberry jam and the others with 

cream cheese frosting.

I closed them up again.

I melted plain milk chocolate and dipped the cookies only half way 

covering only half of the cookies.

Then I added sprinkles for color, texture and extra flavor.  Oh, the goodness!

Voila!

They are so good; I just can't get enough of these.

To make your own, you will need:  

Madeleine Cookies. 

Chocolate for dipping (Hershey's Milk Chocolate)

Sprinkles Raspberry jam (or your favorite flavor), or cream cheese frosting.

A Knife for cutting in half.

If you make your own, you will need a Madeleine Pan.

Hope you enjoy!