Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Éclair Dessert


Every year our son, Ben, wants a chilled dessert for his birthday.  No baked cake or ice cream for him!  He always wants a make-ahead pudding dessert called,"Eclair Dessert".
  I got this recipe years ago from my church friend, Pat Hose.  She was in charge of planning the menu for our Ladies' Day luncheon one year and this is the dessert that we served.  I was one of the dessert makers, so luckily, I walked away with this great recipe!  I have changed the chocolate topping from the original recipe and added extra pudding to the filling.  I hope you like this as much as our family does.  Happy birthday to Ben!

Eclair Dessert

2 large pkg. vanilla instant pudding mixed according to direction on the box (for pie)
1 box of graham crackers
1 tub of Cool Whip
Fold 1/2 tub of Cool Whip into the prepared pudding.  Mix until thoroughly blended.  In large glass casserole place a single layer of graham crackers.  Spread a thick layer of pudding.  Repeat with layer of crackers and thick layer of pudding.  Top with layer of crackers.  Pour icing over the top and make that chocolate swirly and pretty!  Add candles if it's for a birthday :)  Chill until ready to serve.

Chocolate Icing
In heavy pan on the stovetop melt 1 stick butter.  Add 3 TBSP cocoa and 5 TBSP buttermilk.  Cook for a few minutes.  Remove from heat and beat in enough confectioners' sugar (and 1 tsp vanilla extract) to make a spreadable icing consistency.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Hearty Hash Brown Sidedish



  Our family filed into the house last Sunday afternoon after morning church service.  As usual, everyone was hungry!  
  I had thawed some salmon filets to put in the oven, but what did I have that would make a hearty sidedish?  This crew of guys has big appetites when it's cold out and they haven't eaten yet!  
  I pulled a bag of hash browns out of the freezer and put together a potato casserole using what I had.  It was very popular!  At the end of lunch, every bit was gone.  Hubby even had seconds...and he's the picky eater!


Marcia's Potato Casserole
1 pkg.  Frozen hash browns
1/3 C finely-chopped onion
1 can of low-fat cream of celery soup
1/2 C milk
1/2 C. Low fat sour cream or plain Greek Yogurt 
1 8 oz. pkg. shredded cheddar
Salt and pepper (garlic powder) to taste

Mix thoroughly and put in a greased casserole dish.  Slice Roma or cherry tomatoes on top.  Bake in 350-400 degree oven until cheese is golden on top and casserole is hot and bubbly around sides of the cheese -about 20-30 min.


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Warm Peach Turnovers in Minutes!


I make really easy and quick desserts on weeknights.  Even though I don't want to devote a lot of time, that doesn't mean that we don't want something warm and delicious with our hot tea in the evening. 
        
Last night I threw together a quick little treat that made the house smell yummy and made everyone happy.  It was so easy and only took 4 ingredients!

Quick Peach Turnovers
1 can of refrigerated crescent rolls
1 can of peach (you could use any fruit pie filling here, including sugar-free)
Butter
Powdered sugar

Spread out roll dough onto a greased baking sheet.  Put 1 TBSP of peach filling on the wide end of the triangle and roll it up.  Continue until all crescents are filled and rolled.  (You could sprinkle with a little cinnamon if you like it!). Bake in a 350 oven.  Ice with a  glaze (of powdered sugar and butter) or just sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Eat while warm!