November 6, 2009

How am I ever going to get through this Holiday Season without gaining a pound or two, or ten? Seriously!

I don’t even have a sweet tooth, but lately I find myself drooling, (literally) over the lavish amount of desserts featured on some of my favorite food blogs!

I’m one of those people who never thinks about making a dessert when I host a party or have friends over for dinner. (I know, I know, that’s rude.) I guess since I don’t eat dessert, I forget that for some people, dinner just isn’t complete without dessert. Now, when I have a get together, my friends and family will usually call and offer to bring the dessert. (Because they know if they don’t, then we won’t have one.) I’m going to try to work on that.

If I made a dessert every night, I’d probably be as big as a house, but I do need to treat my guys, who both have a sweet tooth, to an occasional treat. I’m also going to try some of these recipes for the holidays and maybe even surprise my friends with a dessert at our next dinner party. (They would be shocked!)

In no particular order, here are several “to die for” desserts that I can’t wait to try. If these don’t make you drool, nothing will!

• Argo Classic Cheesecake from Cookie Madness

• Upside Down Apple Pie by Noble Pig

• Oatmeal Maple Bars from Lisa is Cooking

• Coconut-Crusted Sour Cream Pound Cake from A Southern Grace

• Coffee-toffee Pecan Pie by Evil Chef Mom

• Deluxe Pumpkin Cheescake from Culinary Covers

• Vanilla Yogurt Cake with Orange Glaze from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody

• Apple Walnut Gorgonzola Rustic Tart from Simply Recipes

• All in One Holiday Bundt Cake from Baking and Boys

• Brown Sugar Pear and Cranberry Bars from Peanut Butter and Julie

• Pumpkin Swirl Brownies from The Kitchen Sink Recipes

• Blueberry Pound Cake from My Wooden Spoon

• Tunnel of Love Apple Spice Cake from Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice

And last, but not least,

• Texas Sheet-Not Cake by BigSis

(Yeah, I know BigSisLilSis isn’t technically a food blog, but she is my sister and this is my post so I’m including her cake recipe. )

It would appear that maybe I do have a sweet tooth, after all!

Could someone please tell me how you can make such amazing, tempting desserts on a regular basis and keep from eating half of it yourself? Do you share it with neighbors, take it to work or invite a bunch of teenagers over to devour it? Or is it just plain and simple will power? I’d love to know your secret!

~LilSis

May 12, 2009

we all scream for ice cream!

I have great childhood memories that include some favorite ice creams. Before I started working at Six Flags over Texas, we had season passes every year and would go to the park almost every day in the summer. We always went to the cute little ice cream parlor there and I always got the pink peppermint ice cream with the red and green peppermint candies in it. When we went to Baskin Robbins, I loved the Pralines and Cream! And, on a really special Sunday afternoon, SisMama and Daddy would take us four kiddos to a local spot for a gargantuan Banana Split.

Of course, at home, we always made homemade vanilla ice cream. We had one of those ‘old timey’ ice cream makers where you put the rock salt and ice inside the tub all around the stainless steel container. We would take turns turning that thing for what seemed like hours. But it sure made some excellent homemade ice cream.

After years of not eating sugar, I just don’t have a desire for ice cream anymore… Well, I should rephrase that and say, I haven’t had a desire for ice cream until now! I’ve recently come across some amazing ice cream recipes on some of my favorite blogs that have really peaked my interest in purchasing an ice cream maker.

Roasted Banana Ice Cream with Walnut Praline and Toasted Coconut by Evil Chef Mom

• This Roasted Banana Ice Cream with Walnut Praline and Toasted Coconut from Evil Chef Mom makes me drool!
• The Almond Butter Ice Cream from A Southern Grace looks so creamy and yummy! I especially like it because it doesn’t have chocolate!
• Strawberry-Sour Cream Brown Sugar Ice Cream is another that I found via Evil Chef Mom. (Yum! The strawberries soak in a little vodka!)
• I can’t wait to try this Pomegranate and Blood Orange Sorbet from Recipe Girl.

Maybe these recipes give you a little glimpse as to why I’m now in the market for an ice cream maker. I’ve asked a few people and done a little research and the Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure-Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker seems to be a favorite.

So, it’s standing by in my Amazon shopping cart at this very moment…If my guys are on their best behavior, this little puppy is only a click away from being shipped to us!

~LilSis