No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

Today is my birthday, and I love chocolate.  .... Who doesn't?!  Check out this amazing recipe.  This isn't a hint or anything to drop off sweets at my office.  Really.

-John Morgan, Web Editor  (1334 Second Street, Mason)    ;-)

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter

Directions

1. Grease a 9x9 inch square pan.
2. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla. Mix in the oats. Cook over low heat 2 to 3 minutes, or until ingredients are well blended. Press half of mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Reserve the other half for topping.
3. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture over the crust in the pan, and spread evenly with a knife or the back of a spoon.
4. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate layer, pressing in gently. Cover, and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or overnight. Bring to room temperature before cutting into bars.

Lemon Cream Cheese Bars

Recipe Shared by Janet May

Nothing brings a recipe to life like fresh lemons! For a change of pace from the standard Southern-style lemon bars, you need to look no further! This recipe is easy and the taste is divine.

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent roll dough, divided
• 2 lemons, zested and juiced, divided
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. Press 1 can crescent roll dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish, stretching to the edges.
3. Mix the zest of 1 1/2 lemons and juice from 2 lemons together in a bowl. Beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar into lemon zest mixture using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy; spread over crescent roll dough layer.
4. Unroll the second can of crescent roll dough and layer over cream cheese mixture, gently stretching dough to the edges. Brush melted butter over crescent roll dough layer. Mix remaining lemon zest and 3 tablespoons sugar together in a bowl; sprinkle over butter.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes. Lift dessert from baking dish using foil; transfer to a cutting board. Cut into squares, leaving on foil. Return dessert to the baking dish and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.

Death by Chocolate Zucchini Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 c. melted butter, plus more for brushing pan
• 1/2 c. cocoa powder, plus more for dusting pan
• 1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 c. grated zucchini (from 1 large or 2-3 small)
• 2/3 c. chocolate chips
• Flaky sea salt, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and dust a loaf pan with cocoa powder.
2. In large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In another large bowl, stir together sugar and egg and egg yolk until smooth, 1 minute. Add melted butter and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. Add zucchini, then add flour mixture in 3 additions. Fold in chocolate chips.
4. Transfer batter to prepared dish and bake 50 minutes.
5. Let cool slightly in pan, then transfer to a cooling rack. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and serve.

Pistachio Fluff Fruit Salad

This is a light and fluffy dessert salad based on pistachio pudding; the pudding is made lighter with the addition of whipped topping. Add an extra can of mandarin oranges, if you like.

Ingredients

• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
• 1 (3 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix
• 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 2 large bananas, sliced
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 (15.25 ounce) can fruit cocktail, drained
• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

Directions

1. Dump instant pudding into a large mixing bowl.
2. Add pineapple, and mix well.
3. Mix in whipped topping.
4. Stir in bananas, marshmallows, fruit cocktail, and mandarin oranges.
5. Cover, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Valentine Night Strawberries

Strawberries stuffed with lightly-sweetened cream cheese and walnuts are perfect for that romantic evening. They go great with champagne! Pecans also work well in this recipe.

Ingredients

• 20 fresh strawberries
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
• 1 1/2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Dice two strawberries and set aside. Cut the stems off of each of the remaining strawberries, forming a base for strawberries to stand on. Starting at the pointed ends and cutting most of the way, but not completely through the stem end, slice each strawberry into four wedges.
2. Beat the cream cheese until fluffy; stir in the diced strawberries, walnuts, and powdered sugar. Spoon or pipe about a teaspoon of mix into each strawberry.

Cream Cheese Cut-Outs

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the creamed mixture. Divide dough into two pieces, cover and chill until firm, about 1 hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut in to desired shapes using cookie cutters and place the cookies at least 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes in the preheated oven, until bottoms are lightly browned and cookies are firm. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.