Mormon Life - Desserts tag

{Food Dish} Best Dessert Bar Contest: 2nd Runner-up + Recipe

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We're getting close to revealing the winner of our contest, but let's not forget about the delicious dessert that came in as the third favorite: Butterscotch Nutella Bars.

Two finalists down (see our other favorite dessert bar recipes so far); three more finger-licking recipes to go.

This week, meet our voters' third most favorite recipe from the 30+ that we received: Butterscotch Nutella Bars, by Sharon Leigh Painter of Aloha, Oregon.

Nutella. Need we say more? Combined with the slightly nutty flavor of butterscotch and fluff of marshmallow, these were irresistably sweet. The texture was also perfectly flakey. It's no wonder they were so close to receiving the top honor.

Butterscotch Nutella Bars

Crust Ingredients
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
2 eggs

Filling Ingredients
½ cup Nutella
1 cup mini marshmallow over Nutella
1/3 cup butterscotch chips

Crust:
Using a spoon, mix sugar, flour, salt, and baking powder. Using a pastry blender add butter. When well mixed add eggs. Stir with spoon and then mix with hands until well incorporated. Reserve 2 cups (loosely packed) of this mixture for topping. Press the remainder in a sprayed 9 X 13 glass dish. Bake at 350 for 10-13 minutes until lightly golden on edges (do not over bake).

Filling:
While the crust is still hot, spoon on Nutella. Sprinkle marshmallows over that, and then sprinkle butterscotch chips. Finish by sprinkling reserved 2 cups of dough. Bake for 10-13 minutes until marshmallow and crust are lightly browned.

Enjoy warm or cooled.

Other winning recipes from this contest:

Fourth Runner-up: Strawberry Limeade Bars

Third Runner-up: Chocolate Orange Bars

{Food Dish} Best Dessert Bar Contest: 3rd Runner-up + Recipe

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We continue to unveil the most delicious dessert bars of all today with another winning recipe: Chocolate Orange Bars, which received the fourth most votes.

Do you think you can handle the deliciousness?

Last week we started to announce the best recipes we came across during our recent Best Dessert Bar Contest with our fourth runner-up: Strawberry Limeade Bars (click here for the recipe).

Now it's time to get the delicious details on the third runner-up: Chocolate Orange Bars, by Barbara Lee Parsons of Huntsville, Alabama.

We loved the perfectly chewy texture of these bars (just what a bar should be) paired with the perfect balance of sweet chocolate to citrusy orange. The flavors were just a great combination; we couldn't get enough!

Chocolate Orange Bars
(Welcome to the Neighborhood Treats)

Layer #1
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

Layer #2
3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1 (6-ounce) package of chocolate chips
1/4 cup coconut, flaked style
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Orange Frosting:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp butter
1 tsp grated orange rind
2 T orange juice

Layer #1: Cream the butter and the sifted flour and salt and mix thoroughly. Line an 8-inch square pan with wax paper and spread the mixture into pan and press down with a spoon. Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Layer #2: Blend together the sugar and eggs and stir in 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips. Add coconut and vanilla. Mix in the flour and salt Mix well and spread over first layer that previously you baked. Bake again for 15 minutes in a 375 degree F oven. Remove from oven, cool and then remove from pan.

Frosting: Cream butter and gradually add the sugar. Blend thoroughly. Add orange rind and orange juice. Frost the bars with orange frosting. Melt the remaining chocolate chips and drizzle on top of orange frosting.

Other winning recipes from this contest:

Fourth Runner-up: Strawberry Limeade Bars

{Food Dish} Best Dessert Bar Contest: 4th Runner-up + Recipe

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Choosing our favorite dessert bars was hard – there were so many delicious options! But we did what had to be done, and now it's time to start meeting the winners. Today: Strawberry Limeade Bars, which received the fifth most votes.

A couple weeks ago, we held our dessert bar competition here at corporate headquarters. We had quite the task in front of us, since we received so many recipes (and all of these sounded delicious). We enlisted the help of co-workers, family members, and friends, and finally came up with a list of our favorites.

Because your submissions were just so tasty, we're publishing more than the usual three recipes online. So, today, meet our 5th favorite recipe: Strawberry Limeade Bars, by Julie Egan of Flower Mound, Texas.

We loved the refreshing, slightly tropical twist of these bars. They taste just like the drink!

Strawberry Limeade Bars

Crust:
1 strawberry cake mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 tablespoons lime zest

Topping:
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup lime juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix crust ingredients and press into 9x13 pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

Mix together topping ingredients and pour over crust. Bake for an additional 25 minutes, until set.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar while warm. Cool. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Check out the links below for other finalists from the dessert bar contest:

3rd Runner-up: Chocolate Orange Bars

{Food Dish} Muffin Tin Meals

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:25:00 -0600

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Try one of these yummy meals made in muffin tins. They're easy to make and easy to clean up!

Photo from Can You Stay for Dinner?

Petiti Lasagnas

Photo from The Comfort of Cooking

Vegetable and Bacon Frittatas

Photo from Hispanic Kitchen

Muffin Tin Tacos

Photo from The Comfort of Cooking

Bacon, Eggs, and Toast Cups

Photo from Make and Takes

Mini Pumpkin Pies

Photo from Johnny and Ashley in Real Life

Mini German Pancakes

Photo from Pillsbury

Chicken Alfredo Pasta Pies

Photo from Muffin Tin Mom

Toddler Snacks

Photo from Real Mom Kitchen

Yorkshire Pudding

Photo from There's Always Thyme to Cook

Muffin Tin Potato Gratins

Photo from Week of Menus

Mini Calzones

{Food Dish} Best Frozen Dough Recipes

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:04:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Delicious bread recipes all using one of the modern miracles of baking: pre-made, frozen dough.

Every Monday, we include a recipe from Rhodes in our FHE e-mail (click here to sign up). Yes, Rhodes is one of our sponsors, but very often I find myself making mental notes to come back later, when I'm off the clock, and try them out. These are my top picks from that list.

A warning to low-carb or gluten-free readers: You may not want to tempt yourself by reading further. This is sweet, bready heaven.

Braided S'more Bread

Family Size Italian Club Calzone

Coconut Lime Blossoms

Cream Cheese Onion Swirls

Cinnamon Slices

BBQ Chicken Stromboli

Orange Butterflake Rolls

Pumpkin Pecan Cream Cheese Rolls

Turkey Rosemary Turnovers

{Food Dish} Fab Five: FHE Lessons and Matching Desserts

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:10:00 -0700

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: These are a five of our most popular FHE lessons and coordinating desserts to match the topic.

Good for the sweet tooth and for the soul. Yum.

Photo from Pinch of Yum.

1. FHE: Time Management

Make the most of your time with this quick and delicious Lazy Chocolate Cherry Fudge Cake.

Photo from Pham Fatale.

2. FHE: Light

Mango Cream Cheese Mousse: a beautiful, light dessert (both in color and texture). Like a little bowl of sunshine.

Photo from SemiSweetie.

3. FHE: Agency

These Unique Cakes in Mason Jars let your family or friends make their own choice.

Photo from Food Network.

4. FHE: Character

You'd be hard pressed to find a dessert that's both as effortless and cool as this Peanut Butter and Banana Semifreddo. (Note: recipe calls for liqueur; you can omit it.)

Photo from Create with Mom.

5. FHE: Humility

Yes, another banana dessert, but there's a purpose behind it: it may just be simple Chocolate Banana Popsicles, but it shows that Humility can be just as wonderful as Character. (Ba-dum-ching!)

{Food Dish} Ultimate Guide: Decadent Desserts

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:05:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: A list of indulgent dessert ideas for your night of fun with the girls, while the men are away at general conference priesthood session.

I know Saturday during the priesthood session of general conference is traditionally a girl's time, so I thought it would be fun to compile a list of awesome desserts for you ladies to enjoy with your gal pals. (Though, if you're more charitable than I, you might wait until the guys get home and enjoy them all together.)

A warning: I love desserts. And I tend to love rich desserts, so (per the title) this post is not for the faint of heart.

Peanut Butter Stuffed Hot Fudge Cupcakes (from How Sweet It Is)

(I may or may not have made them three times since finding them a month ago.)

Ultimate Chocolate Chip n' Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar (from Kevin and Amanda)

Dena's Chocolate Cake with Real Fudge Frosting (my own image)

(My own combination of Dena Kennedy's chocolate cake recipe with Cook's Country's Real Fudge Frosting from their "Wellesley Fudge Cake" recipe – you have to sign up for a free trial to get the recipe, but the fudgy goodness is worth it.)

Banana Parfait (from Framed Cooks)

Red Velvet Brownies (from Pass the Sushi)

Grasshopper Pie (from Feasts and Fotos)

(Easy. Decadent. Delicious.)

Happy eating!

{Food Dish} Favorite Summer Dessert

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:05:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: When I think of summer, I think of this refreshing dessert. There’s something about this recipe that just whispers to me across the sands of time. From summers spent eating it on the patio at my grandma’s house to stealing an extra piece after our Fourth of July celebration when I was 9 (and owning up, unsolicited, to the pilfered piece later, like a good little Mormon girl)—it just speaks of summer throughout. Maybe it’s the freshness of the lemon. Maybe it’s the cold sensation of ice cream. But I have a theory that it’s both.

It’s super easy:

1 box Nilla wafers
¼ cup butter, melted
1 ½ tablespoons sugar
½ gallon vanilla ice cream (softened)
8-ounce pink lemonade from freezer section (thawed)

Pulse 1 box (or about 36 cookies) of Nilla wafers in food processor until pulverized (like what you would expect in a graham cracker crust). Add butter and sugar and stir. Press into bottom of 9x13-inch pan.

Stir softened ice cream and lemonade in a large bowl until well combined. Spread over crust and allow to freeze until hardened, about 3 hours.

I really, really want some now. (Too bad any dairy makes my nursing baby sick. Boo.)

For the life of me, I can't find a photo of it. And since making it would be a waste in a house where one adult can't eat it and the other is apathetic to non-chocolate desserts, I found a photo of what it (almost) looks like:

(Just take off the toppings and imagine it in a square, and voila.)

Here are some other ways I’ve tried to stay cool in a tasty way:

{Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches, courtesy of America’s Test Kitchen}

{Mango Frozen Dessert with Macademia Crust, courtesy of Martha Stewart}

{Grasshopper Ice Cream Pie, Cook's Country}

{Peanut-y Banana Pudding, Cook's Country}

As you can see, we're serious about dessert in our house.

What’s your favorite summer dessert?

{Food Dish} Cookie Recipe Contest Winner + Recipe

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:06:00 -0600

by LDS Living staff
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Introducing the winner of our first ever best cookie recipe contest: Lemon Crinkle Cookies. They're probably the best cookie we've ever tasted - absolutely delicious. This was a tough decision, but with the help of our colleagues at Deseret Book Corporate and our celebrity judges, including Lion House head baker Brenda Hopkin, we narrowed down the field and we have a winner for the best cookie recipe.

3rd Runner Up
2nd Runner Up
1st Runner Up

We are pleased to announce the winner of best cookie is the Lemon Crinkle Cookie by Lauren Brennan from Hood River, Oregon. Congratulations!

We loved how they tasted both fresh and sweet, had the right amount of chewiness, and we couldn't help going back for seconds and thirds.

Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Makes 2-3 dozen

Ingredients:
½ cups butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 whole egg
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
¼ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoons baking powder
⅛ teaspoons baking soda
1-½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cups powdered sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease light colored baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Whip in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and juice. Scrape sides and mix again. Stir in all dry ingredients slowly until just combined, excluding the powdered sugar. Scrape sides of bowl and mix again briefly. Pour powdered sugar onto a large plate. Roll a heaping teaspoon of dough into a ball and roll in powdered sugar. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until bottoms begin to barely brown and cookies look matte {not melty or shiny}. Remove from oven and cool cookies about 3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

*If using a non-stick darker baking tray, reduce baking time by about 2 minutes.

Lauren Brennan; laurenslatest.com

So, that's the end of our first-ever Best Cookie Contest! We hope you had fun following the process. And a BIG thank you to everyone who participated!