Gingerbread Pear Upside Down Cake

Warm gingerbread cake baked in a skillet on top of a sweet mixture of caramelized pears and flipped over to reveal a stunning presentation, fancy enough for a Thanksgiving dessert. Gingerbread Pear Upside Down Cake The pairing of gingerbread and pears brings this cake to the forefront for the fall.   The pears hold up exceptionally well and complement the cake's warm spices nicely. Upside down cakes are famous here in the south, with pineapple being the most traditional.    This Gingerbread Pear Upside Down Cake tastes and looks impressive, and is made using a simple shortcut to save time and effort in the kitchen. The cake is moist and dense, just like I like it.  Usually, gingerbread cakes get better with age, but you will want to eat this cake in a day or two since the pears begin to soften.   The structure of the pears changes when cooked more than other fruits used in upside down cakes, such as pineapple, peaches, and apples. Serve thick cake slic...

Epic! Pumpkin Roll Bread Pudding

My love for a pumpkin roll and bread pudding is the inspiration for the recipe.   The flavors of fall spices in the tender pumpkin roll cake and the sweetness of the cream cheese frosting are the beginning of an epic bread pudding.     Pumpkin Roll Bread Pudding  The bread pudding takes on a whole new level of deliciousness using a pumpkin roll cake cut up into cubes, and to add more richness, a pumpkin puree custard is poured over all the cubes.  It is served with the Ultimate Custard Sauce, made with a secret ingredient.  

Smoked Salmon Roll Appetizer

Smoked Salmon Roll Appetizer sounds fancy, you might say.  Well, they are, yet they are straightforward to make. Do not be intimidated. Give them a try! SMOKED SALMON PINWHEELS   Make this elegant appetizer at your next gathering.   All you need is a few ingredients rolled into one fantastic bite, presliced smoked salmon, cream cheese, wasabi paste, cucumber, and avocado match sticks.    Be sure to make a double batch for your guest. They will go fast.   These Smoked Salmon Pinwheels are the perfect make-ahead appetizer, even a day ahead.  Keep them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  There are so many variations you can make.   I think adding dill sprigs, pepper flakes, red onions, and what about capers?  Just go with it.  Make it your recipe for the occasion. I love recipes like this.  The add-ons are endless.   The whole recipe is leisurely.   I hope you will try making these Smoked Salmo...

Air Fryer TikTok Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

For a quick and easy breakfast, you don't have to heat up the oven. Try making these Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls in the air fryer. You will not be disappointed . No Yeast Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls In this recipe, there is no yeast to rise. I combined the viral Tic Tok cinnamon roll hack ingredients of heavy cream, brown sugar, and sweetened pumpkin puree with store-bought canned biscuits. They have all the flavors of homemade cinnamon rolls that are made with yeast. I use my air fryer nearly every day in the summer months. There is not much that I can't cook, bake, or grill in it.  I have been seeing the TikTok sensation for canned cinnamon rolls on every social media platform lately, so I wanted to give them a try in my air fryer using sweetened pumpkin puree.  The viral TikTok cinnamon roll hack uses heavy cream, brown sugar, and cinnamon.   They are truly delicious, with pumpkin pie filling and cozy pumpkin pie spice in every bite, then topped with brown butter icing; oh ...

Irresistible Symphony Cake

Irresistible Symphony Cake, devil's food chocolate cake mix infused with sweetened condensed milk, topped with whipped topping, drizzled with caramel ice cream topping, and sprinkled with chopped chocolate symphony candy bars.  Delectable. SYMPHONY CHOCOLATE CAKE Symphony Chocolate Cake  is utterly decadent and a perfect treat to serve for any special occasion, but don't pass up any reason to make one.       My daughter-in-love made this one as a request from my grandson for his birthday, with a scoop of ice cream on the side for a truly indulgent celebratory dessert. This is a moist, semi-homemade cake that everyone will love.   The rich, sweetened condensed milk adds to the moist texture of this confection.   Then there is the topping, with whipped topping, more richness with caramel sauce, and more richness with chopped Symphony candy bars.  Heavenly.

Patriotic Cheesecake Parfaits

Patriotic Cheesecake Berry Parfaits are a perfect dessert for summer and cookouts with extreme layers of yumminess.   BERRY CHEESECAKE PARFAITS The parfait starts with a spoonful of leftover cheesecake, fresh berries, yogurt, and berry jelly.  Don't forget to top it off with a generous spoonful of granola.  Did I mention these are extreme? Are you looking for an easy and quick no-bake dessert for the summer? Try these Extreme Patriotic Cheesecake Parfaits.

No Fuss Blackberry Sweet Rolls

No Fuss Blackberry Sweet Rolls, a soft, tender dough swirled with a mixture of vanilla, brown sugar, butter, and a generous layer of luscious, whole blackberries all throughout and topped with a cream cheese frosting. BLACKBERRY SWEET ROLLS Your weekend will get a lot sweeter with these blackberry sweet rolls, which are so delicious. Blackberry season is just around the corner, and the first thing I want to make is the  Blackberry Dumpling Cobbler .   Last year, I couldn't stop buying the large cartons of blackberries at SAMs.   The price always drops around this time of year, so it is worth buying several cartons and keeping them in the freezer for later in the year to make these Blackberry Sweet Rolls. Sweet rolls are a favorite weekend breakfast treat. My go-to recipe is Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. They rise for 30 minutes and bake for 15 minutes, making them perfect, no fuss sweet rolls.

Roasted Whole Caramelized Carrots

Fun and Easy Roasted Whole Caramelized Carrots are a classic, super simple side dish for holiday meals and family dinner tables.  Fun and Easy Caramelized Whole Carrots  The dish calls for a few straightforward ingredients that enhance the purest flavor of the carrots. I love everything about roasted root vegetables, especially how easy and quick they take to roast. While they are hanging out roasting in the oven, I can prepare other dishes to go with them. These roasted whole carrots are fun to make. Peel them and toss them in a mixture of seasonings, brown sugar, and avocado oil.   The carrots' natural sweetness and the deep seasoning flavor are excellent.   The small amount of brown sugar complements the mild sweetness of the carrots. Honey is also an option.

How To Cook A Whole Bone In Ham

A Whole Bone-in Ham recipe is so simple, with no glaze, no clove studding, and no fuss. It uses the low and slow cooking method and a blast of high heat at the end to caramelize the outside. The results are excellent, juicy, tender, and with superb flavor. WHOLE  BONE IN HAM With so many varieties of hams in grocery stores today, it can be daunting to know how to cook one. I share secrets for buying, preparing, and cooking the juiciest ham ever.  A whole bone in ham is the most effortless meat to cook for a holiday meal.  Preparation is equally as easy.   A whole ham is larger than needed for a regular meal but perfect for a large gathering or save and have for those wonderful leftover ham recipes. Most hams you buy are fully cooked, and all you do is score the ham and, if you want, add a simple glaze.  My family prefers the natural juices from the ham to baste the ham instead of a glaze.   By scoring a diamond pattern in the ham into the fat and ...

Bunny Lofthouse Cookie Pops

Bunny Lofthouse Frosted Sugar Cookie Pops, frosted sugar cookies, and cream cheese combine to make the most amazing delicious no-bake pops.    Bunny Cookie Pops Start with flattened cookie pop, dip it in melted candy melts, and then decorate it with bunny ears and whiskers.   After seeing someone on TikTok make Lofthouse Frosted Sugar Cookie Pops, I had to give them a try.   With Easter around the corner, I decided to make some with bunny ears and whiskers.  The only difference is the shape. I have to say they turned out so cute, not to mention delicious.  I even had some help from my little grandson.  He enjoyed the time making them and gave a thumbs up on the taste.   We put them in cute little containers and shared them with my neighbor's grandchildren. WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE?  TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR BUNNY LOFTHOUSE COOKIE POPS Below, under the next heading, I give a list of preferred ingredients, tips, and cooking i...

Brownie Bundt Cake

Brownie Bundt Cake is a chocolate fudge cake mix and fudge brownie mix that comes together to make the most scrumptious chocolate cake you will ever eat.  The chocolate ganache icing sends the chocolate love over the top.    HOT COCOA BROWNIE CAKE I like to call this cake Hot Cocoa Brownie Cake.  The rich chocolate taste in this bundt cake reminds me so much of a sheet cake I grew up eating in the 60s.    Don't wait to make this cake.  The Hot Cocoa Brownie Cake brings back so many memories of my mother's chocolate cake growing up.  The Hot Cocoa Brownie Cake has a rich, and I mean rich, chocolate presence in the cake from the two mixes, chocolate fudge cake mix and chocolate fudge brownie mix.  The cake is dense while tender and moist yet smooth.  The recipe has only five ingredients, so do not add the ingredients on the back of the mix boxes.   I used Hershey Milk Chocolate Frosting  and microwaved it for 30 seconds to m...

Standing Prime Rib Roast

Standing Rib Roast is succulent, exceptionally flavorful, and looks stunningly elegant on the holiday table.  This prime cut of meat can be intimidating to cook, but rest assured, it is effortless. HOW TO COOK THE EASIEST PRIME RIB ROAST The easiest method of cooking a prime rib roast is oven searing, which reduces the chances of overcooking it. Prime rib roast is the perfect choice when you need a celebratory centerpiece for your holiday table. For our Christmas dinner, we have enjoyed Standing Rib Roast, also known as prime rib roast, for several years now. This past year, I decided to make Popovers to accompany our meal. They turned out fabulous, a perfect addition, so I think I will try the Yorkshire Pudding this year. We decided to keep the sides simple, too.  We served  Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes and my Magic Green Beans . Simple is always best.

How To Grill Whole Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers

Whole Jalapeno Poppers are a spicy, cheesy, grilled appetizer that will wow your guests.  The recipe is straightforward with few ingredients, jalapenos, cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and, of course, bacon. Jalapeno Poppers These Jalapeno Poppers are straightforward with just a few ingredients featuring whole jalapenos, cream cheese, white cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and of course, bacon. Stuffed jalapeno peppers are one of those foods I have been intimidated to cook.  I have eaten many and love them, but I thought they were too much trouble to make for some idea.   I am mainly talking about making them for our Super Bowl parties or family gatherings.

Easy Jello Peach Icebox Pie

Easy Jello Fresh Peach Pie, three ingredients make a fresh peach filling, and a homemade buttery pecan shortbread crust will create a no bake icebox pie you see in your beloved diners.  Be sure to use fresh peaches. Peach Icebox Pie There is no need to heat up the oven with this dreamy peach icebox pie, featuring a nutty crust.   If you love peaches as much as I do and can not bring yourself to turn the oven on for a fresh peach cobbler , lattice top peach pie , this foolproof no bake pie is the perfect summertime solution. The best part of this fresh peach icebox pie is you can make it in the morning and serve it by dinnertime, or you can make it a day ahead before serving it. For an easy crust with a taste of a pecan sandie, I use my  no fail buttery shortbread crust recipe  and add 1/4 cup of toasted minced pecans.   There are only three ingredients in this nutty pie crust, yet it gives your favorite icebox pies a familiar sweet and salty combinatio...

Pork Belly Baked Beans

 Pork Belly Baked Beans, pork and beans enhanced with a glorious slab of pork belly chunks, rich molasses, chopped onions, bell pepper, and ever so slight sprinkle of red pepper flakes deliver these traditional baked beans to an umami adventure.  These Pork Belly Baked Beans are one of the most delicious ways to enjoy pork belly and baked beans, simply delicious. I made a spin on my traditional  Southern Baked Beans for the recipe for the bacon; I switched for a slab of pork belly that I cut up into 1/2-inch chunks.  The pork and beans need to be drained really well to start off with. And the pork belly needs to cook low and slow until done and golden brown, stirring and watching closely not to burn.  If you try to cook it faster, it will present chewy and dry results.

Lemon Bars Recipe

Old Fashioned Lemon Bars are the quintessential southern dessert at teas, luncheons, and showers.  The only recipe you will ever need, a simple, straightforward method.   My Lemon Bars sings the praises of spring coming.  They are so easy to make and are bursting with so much lemon goodness. After you make my recipe, you will not want to go back to store bought or packaged ones again.   My recipe uses a buttery shortbread cookie crust and a rich tangy sweet lemon curd filling. The combination is amazing.

Copper Pennies {Carrots} Recipe

Copper Pennies Carrots, a vintage salad recipe, are mainly known as Marinated Carrots, Sweet and Sour Carrots, but we affectionately referred to them as Magic Carrots.  Perfect for the holidays, potlucks, and even an elegant dinner. Magic Carrot Salad All the magic happens in these carrots when they are marinated in a sweet and sour mixture overnight, yielding a delightful taste of my childhood. Magic Carrots are a unique side dish that brings memories of my childhood.   Back in the day when I was growing up, it seemed mother would bring these carrots out around the time spring came; to me, they screamed Easter.  

Super Easy Homemade Marshmallows

Homemade Marshmallows have become the gourmet confection of the decade.  And it is no surprise that only a few ingredients are needed to make this candy. Not only do homemade marshmallows taste 100% better than store bought, they are also easy to cut into any size.   With Easter around the corner, using cutters in the shape of eggs, bunnies, little chickens, and tulips will wow your children.  

Homemade Buttery Flaky Pie Crust

Homemade Pie Crust is made with a few simple ingredients, such as flour, butter, shortening, and salt.  This recipe is so forgiving that you will never use another recipe again. PERFECT HOMEMADE PIE CRUST Deliciously tender and buttery, our pie crusts are easy to make and perfect for even the most experienced cooks or if you are making your first pie crust. Transform your holiday dessert table with these simple delights! Homemade Pie Crust can seem daunting if you have never made it.  At least, that is how I felt the first time I wanted to make a pie using homemade crust.   I promise you that it will get easier and more comfortable the more you make it homemade. As my mother used to say, "Practice makes perfect."   For years, I used to make my homemade pie crust with just shortening, and I still do occasionally, but I find the added butter gives the pie crust an excellent, rich taste.   In my early years in home economics, "now you know how old I ...