National Pumpkin Day

 It seems like every day is some type of "day".  Today, October 26th is National Pumpkin Day!  In honor of this special day, I whipped up some yummy Pumpkin Crescent Cups.  These are so easy to make!

Pumpkin Crescent Cups

Ingredients:

1 Can Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough sheet

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 pkg cream cheese (divided)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1/8 tsp ground ginger

1/8 tsp vanilla

3/4 c powdered sugar (divided)

1 tsp milk

Directions:

Preheat oven 375º 

Unroll crescent dough and with a round biscuit cutter, cut out rounds of dough.  Press rounds into small muffin tin, making sure sides are covered.  

Next mix the filling.

Filling:

1 cup pumpkin, 1/2 pkg cream cheese, spices, vanilla and 1/4 cup powdered sugar.  Mix well.

Fil the cups with the mixture.

Bake 375º for 12 minutes.  

Top with glaze.

Glaze:

1/4 c powdered sugar

1/2 pkg cream cheese

1 tsp milk

1/8 tsp vanilla

mix together and drizzle on top of the crescent cups. Serves 24

Fresh Strawberry Cake

Fresh Strawberry Cake

Today I made a fresh strawberry cake for a customer.  This is one of my favorite cakes to make.  It's just so pretty and taste delicious!  I mostly go by Paula Deen's recipe but instead of using the frozen strawberries in syrup, I use fresh strawberries with a little sugar to make my own syrup.  

Homemade Banana Pudding

Homemade Banana Pudding

One of my customers ordered homemade banana pudding.  I was so excited to make it because it was the first time that I have had it on the menu.  In the past when I made banana pudding, I would use vanilla flavored Jell-O pudding and add banana and Nilla Wafers and then top it off with some Cool Whip.  Not any more!  

I discovered this recipe on Pinterest for "The Best Banana Pudding" and that it is!  I have to admit that I am intimidated when it comes to making meringue.  But this recipe is great, no problems.  I made a small pudding for me and the kids, I mean, I can't make something and not try it myself , right?

I would love to make one for you! If you would like to make one for yourself, you can find the recipe here

Homemade vanilla pudding, bananas, Nilla' wafers and meringue.

Treasured Recipes

One of the things I cherish most are old family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation.  I am fortunate enough to have my dad's Sour Cream Pound Cake recipe.

 I remember him making these every year for Christmas to give to family and friends.  Even though my dad "Big John" is gone now, his recipe lives on and I am so happy to be able to share it with you.  This is truly a fantastic pound cake.

One of the things I love is that I have his recipe in his own handwriting.  With today's technology, and the printers that we use, handwritten letters and recipes are becoming a lost art.  I would encourage you to write recipes down for your family and friends, they will be treasures one day!

The smell of this pound cake baking his heavenly.                                     

Although the pound cake recipe is perfect in every way.  I have added my own secret touches through the years.  I like to add 1/2 tsp of "Butter flavoring" it gives the pound cake a nice butter-enriched flavor and I add 1/8 tsp of Lemon flavoring, this is not noticeable, but I think tastes better with it.  

My secret ingredients

Enjoy!

Chocolate Sheet Cake

This dessert will be my dessert of the week soon, but today I just had to  bake one for my open house tonight!  It is a chocolate cake from scratch that is so delicious!  The homemade icing is something special.  I usually add finely chopped walnuts or pecans, but I was out.  Even without the nuts its still the best.  Recipe courtesy of Pioneer Woman: Recipe