Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Believe or not I had never had or made anything red velvet before this. I wanted to make them last year for valentines day but was so pregnant I didn't have the energy. I can't believe how good they are. Light and spongy and the cream cheese so good. I'm already dreaming of all the different things it can go on.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
2 eggs at room temperature
4 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Make It:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffins cups. In a big bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa and salt. In a mixing bowl gently mix together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vanilla and vinegar. After all is combined on low speed slowly add in dry ingredients. Add about a half cup and allow to incorporate before adding another. After all is combined, fill each cupcake liner 1/2 full. Bake for 20-22 minutes based on your oven. When a toothpick can be inserted in the center and come out clean they are done. Allow to cool completely before frosting. Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
1 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups sifted powdered sugar

Make It:
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar a little at a time until completely incorporated. Turn mixer to high speed and beat until fluffy. Enjoy!

Peach Shortcakes

Not sure if that is a good name for these but I was trying to be creative. Whatever you want to call them they are delicious!

14 biscuits, homemade or from a can

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

4 tablespoons cornstarch

3 bags frozen peaches, partially thawed

1/2 cup good spiced rum, I used Captain Morgan Preferred Stock

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons honey

Whip cream

Make It:

Preheat oven to heat called for on biscuit recipe. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add butter and stir until melted. Add brown sugar, stir until mostly dissolved. Add rum, cinnamon, honey, and vanilla, stir to combine, allow to cook over low heat stirring occasionally. In another bowl, sprinkle cornstarch over peaches, stir until completely combined. Pour peaches into brown sugar mixture, stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and turn heat down, leave at a low simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened. Pour sugar into a flat dish(pie plate or tupperware)dip each biscuit top and sides into melted butter then press into sugar, place on baking sheet. Repeat with all biscuits. Bake for time specified on biscuit recipe. To serve take a biscuit, slice it in half, place on a plate and spoon a good amount of the peach mixture over biscuit. Top with whip cream. Enjoy!

Oreo Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients:

12 ice cream sandwiches

1 tub cool whip

8 oreos crushed

1/2c. chocolate syrup

1 small package pudding

Make It:

Whisk pudding, chocolate syrup, and 1 cup cool whip until combined(if it is not smooth add a little milk). Stir in crushed oreos. On a large plate lay 4 sandwiches side by side, spread 1/2 of the pudding mixture on top of the sandwiches. Lay the next 4 sandwiches on top of the pudding side by side. Spread on the rest of the pudding mixture. Put on the last 4 sandwiches side by side, Spread the rest of the cool whip over the whole cake. Cover with foil, put in freezer for at least 2 hours, slice and Enjoy!

Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

3/4 cup rolled oats

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 teas. cinnamon

1/2 cup butter

4 cups peeled, chopped apples

1 cup sugar

2 tablsp. cornstarch

1 cup water

1 teas. vanilla

serve with vanilla ice cream or whip cream(optional)

Make It:

Preheat oven to 350. In a mixing bowl, combine first four ingredients. Cut in butter until crumbly. Press half into a greased 9 inch baking dish. Cover with apples. In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, water and vanilla. Cook and stir until thick and clear. Pour over apples. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Bake for an hour, until apples are tender. Serve warm with toppings. Enjoy!

Kili's Chocolate Cake

Every year kili's school has a cake contest that she enters. This year was sick and could not enter a cake in the contest. So she just made it for the family to enjoy. Lucky us!

Turtle Brownies

Ingredients:

1 box brownie mix or 1 batch homemade brownies

1/2 bag packaged caramel candies

1c. chopped pecans

Make It:

Preheat oven to 350. Unwrap caramels and put in a small saucepan add 1tblsp. water and cook over med-low heat stirring constantly until melted. Prepare brownies, add pecans, pour into greased 13 x 9 casserole dish. Pour caramel in strips onto brownie mix, use a butter knife and drag back and forth to swirl caramel throughout. Bake at 350 for 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out almost clean. Enjoy!