‘Dessert Recipe’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Recipe: Almond Joy Cake Bites {International Delight Coffee Creamer}

July 9, 2013 · Ad-Free, Narrative

What’s Your ID? International Delight is looking for their most passionate flavor fans. Put your ID on the map to enter to win a Magical Trip, play games and discover more unexpected delight. Share your ID flavor at http://whatsyourid.com.

Did you know that International Delight has a line of gourmet flavored coffee creamers? Like a Caramel Macchiato one? And an Almond Joy one, for example? Yep, news to me too. Mostly because I don’t experiment too much with my iced coffee. Extra light, no sugar. Clearly I’ve been missing out.

But how about a little out of the box thinking when it comes to the creamers?

Like baking with them?

Which is exactly what I did when the folks at International Delight asked me to come up with a recipe using their fancy creamers. How about some Almond Joy Cake Bites for something completely unexpected?

And the best part? No sifting or dirtying tons of bowls. One saucepan. One baking dish. One small bowl to mix the frosting. That’s it.

And, including baking and cooling time, you can be eating these babies in under an hour … and using ingredients (aside from the creamer) that you likely have in your pantry already.

Let’s get started.

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Recipe: The Best Chocolate Pudding You’ve Ever Had {Dinner: A Love Story}

March 18, 2013 · Narrative

Bar none.

And I know that’s quite a claim.

But I feel confident enough that you’ll agree after you try this recipe.

When it comes to pudding, I can take it or leave it. I definitely don’t seek it out. But the kids? Well, they’re a slightly different story.

When Madeline sees the ready-made packages in the dairy section of the grocery store, she, more times than not, will ask me to buy them. Usually I beg off and buy the box mixes instead. Because it’s considerably cheaper.

But filled with a lot of unpronounceable ingredients.

So it is barely a once-in-awhile treat.

And, for some reason, I’ve never thought to find a recipe to make it from scratch. But then I spied this recipe from Dinner: A Love Story last week, and it looked like the perfect little after dinner treat for the kids, and something I can easily include in their lunch containers.

And so it was.

And after tasting this recipe, I will never buy the box or pre-made pudding packages again.

I can guarantee it.

Smooth, deep chocolate-y flavor that is rich, but oh just perfectly so.

And the bonus? I bet you have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now.

Make this. For the kiddos. You. A neighbor you need to thank. It’s too good not too.

More recipes we’ve loved from Dinner: A Love Story:
These pan-roasted chicken thighs with mushrooms were completely family-approved.
This fruit cobbler recipe is the perfect way to celebrate whatever fruit-is-ripe season.

Don’t have their book yet? BUY IT. Trust me.

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Recipe: Caramel Apple Cheesecake {A Beautiful Mess}

November 30, 2012 · Narrative

My Google Reader overfloweth.

(*for those that don’t know, Google Reader is a place where you can read all your favorite blogs in one spot*)

I’ve heard stories of some people needing a clean slate, and they reset their Google Reader back to zero, wiping away all those unread blog posts from their favorite bloggers, so they can begin anew.

And I just can’t.

I mean, what if my newest favorite recipe is lurking around that unread corner?

Or the next end-all-and-be-all craft?

Or a great new photo idea?

So I plug away at it, bit by bit, and catch up on my favorite blogs as I can.

And resign myself to the fact that my Google Reader will always contain “1,000+ unread blog posts.”

To compensate, I do go through periods where I delete a ton of blogs.

Because I just have to. And keep only the best of the best.

When it comes to visual prettiness, A Beautiful Mess is one such blog. Powered by two sisters, Elsie and Emma, I’ve been reading their blog for quite awhile now. And although I have never made a recipe they’ve shared. Or a craft or home decor project. I keep reading.

Because they are inspiring. And their photography? Gorgeous.

I finally broke that no-recipe-made spell this past weekend. When I spied their take on Paula Deen’s Caramel Apple Cheesecake, I knew it would be the perfect thing for our second annual Apres Thanksgiving Bloggers Feast.

Because it screamed Fall (and I’m in denial about Winter. Is it even officially Winter yet?).

And it was super easy.

And it was decadent.

You know, all things you generally want from a dessert, right?

Truth be told, I’m not even that much of a cheesecake fan. I can take it or leave it, and generally leave it. But the crust and the topping on this one did me in.

At which point, after serving it at our dinner, I promptly brought it into the office the next day.

Because I didn’t want to be picking at it at home. Eating it because it was there.

Because it kind of really is that tempting.

It is the perfect dessert when you’re entertaining guests.

Or yourself.

Happy weekend!

*Will be back tomorrow with a special Saturday night post, and a craft to share (although not yesterday’s bumped craft). So.very.behind.

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Recipe: Hot Fudge Pie

September 12, 2012 · Narrative

I suppose it kind of tells you what kind of recipe this was.

When the only picture I have to offer you is one of its empty plate.

After it was ravaged in mere minutes.

Ok, not really mere minutes.

But in under an hour.

True story.

I found this recipe a few weeks ago when someone I follow on Twitter linked to it. It was rather fortuitous timing because my stepdaughter was coming over for dinner, and I had all the pieces of our meal planned … except for dessert.

With ingredients I already had on hand, it was pretty much a no-brainer. And then only compounded when I saw the words “hot fudge” in the title, since Nick pretty much loves those words when it’s attached to something he can put in his mouth.

So make it.

Whether you’re dealing with a broken dishwasher, a broken heart, or a broken moment in a crazy schedule when you have a few minutes to whip something up for an impromptu dessert.

This is that.

And now it’s yours too.

PS – Do take a moment to read the story behind the recipe at the link below; it’s too sweet not to.

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Brownie Goody Bars

May 19, 2010 · Narrative

“No thank you.”

That was the first thing my Dad said when he saw this dessert sitting in front of him Saturday night. He took one look at it and wouldn’t touch it. He, who has been within 5 lbs of his thin college weight, since he graduated eons ago. “It looks too sweet. No thank you.”

Fine then. More for us. Can’t say the kids said “no thank you” when they saw it. They couldn’t have shoveled it in fast enough (I gave them small pieces, I swear), but then they also have my Mom’s sweet tooth and there might not be a “too sweet” treat for them.

Was it sweet? Sure. But not like a cavity-seeking-missile sweet. It’s fine in small doses, and the perfect thing for your resident chocoholic. Recent break-up? Singing the unemployment blues? Need to bring something to a potluck? This recipe just might be your new best friend. Until the next new recipe comes along anyway. With the sweet, slightly crispy topping, a little bit of saltiness from the peanuts, the next layer of frosting, and the bottom brownie layer, it’s got something to please every sense along the way.

Project 365
May 19, 2010, Photo #98

First, even though there is a nice big bottle of Vodka in the background of this picture, I promise that’s not what’s in Madeline’s cup. Just had to get that out of the way for those that take things at face value or too seriously. Last week, The Neighbor Wife taught Madeline the word “Cheers!” and of course, the fun clinking glasses gesture that goes along with it, and it’s something she’s delighted in doing ever since. Last night, I may or may not have inadvertently taught Madeline the word “crap.” As in, I feel like crap. Of course, she didn’t miss a beat and repeated it ad nauseum. Nick tried to cover my tracks and tell Madeline that it was a bad word that Mommy shouldn’t have said, but you know that only makes her say it more. Ooops.

P.S. Thanks for all the well wishes. Today I feel like crap, which is a modest step up from feeling like death yesterday. Penicillin is clearly a wonder drug.

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