The Dallas News recently posted an article about some easy dessert recipes involving store bought ginger snaps.  Talk about simple!  Half the work is already done for you and none of these recipes require any baking.  There is some “melting” involved, but that’s about it as far as having to cook is concerned.

Of course, my favorite recipe is the one that involves ice cream.

Check out these quick and easy dessert recipes at Dallas News.

Oh, one more thing, the article says “5 Easy Desserts” but if you also read the comments left by visitors, you’ll find a 6th bonus recipe involving banana pudding!  Pretty cool huh?

Technorati Tags: Easy Dessert Recipes, ginger snaps, no bake dessert, No Bake Dessert Recipes

Posted under Dessert News, Easy Dessert Recipes, No Bake Dessert Recipes, Tips and Tricks

fruit dessert

Every now and then you crave a dessert that isn’t so….”sweet and sugary.”  Fruit desserts can be the answer for your not-so-sugary dessert craving.  Of course, we have a number of fruity easy dessert recipes here that you can make use of when you get those cravings.

But I’ve also come across some simple fruit dessert tips that you can use when making your fruit desserts.

Tip 1: Poach!

Poaching is a great way to prepare fruit for dessert purposes. Why? Because it infuses fruit with a delicate flavor and helps it retain its shape.  All you need to do is put a little liquid in a sauce pan (i.e., fruit juice, wine, water, etc.) then gently put your peeled fruit in.  Let your fruit simmer approximately 20 to 30 minutes.  Fruits that poach well include pears (peeled or unpeeled), apples, peaches and plums.

Cool benefit: guess what?  You can then re-use the poaching liquid for other fruits or even meat.  With meat, simply pour the liquid over pork chops or any other meat to down the fibers and make your meat unbelievably soft and tender.

Tip 2: Fruit Selection

When looking for that perfect fruit, here are a few things to keep in mind.  Your fruit should be bright, shiny and as free of blemishes as possible.

When evaluating melons, keep in mind that the heavier the fruit, the riper the flesh.  Also a melon should have a strong melon smell.  When you put your thumbs on the “belly button” area of a melon and push in, it should give a little.  That’s a sign the melon is ripe and ready to use.

For apples it’s a bit easier.  Simply look for bright shiny skin with no bruises.

With lemons look for bright color.  The brighter the color the better.  Older lemons will be darker than younger ones.

Look out for bruise marks with Asian Pears because they tend to bruise easily.

Come back in a few days because I’m going to put up a couple of VERY simple fruit dessert recipes for you.

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Posted under Dessert Recipes with Fruit, Tips and Tricks

Cupcakes Are The Perfect Dessert For All Occasions

by Mikahamilton

Trying to come up with the perfect dessert? Have you baked more cookies than Pillsbury makes dough? Have you scooped more dishes of ice cream than your aching arm could prevent? Time and time again, for birthdays and other such dessert driven events, you made the same dessert, experimented on other such treats, but have always wanted to have a sort of “go to” dessert that can be used for all occasions and never gets old and is easy, yet makes a statement and looks like time has been well-spent on them.

Cupcakes are the perfect dessert for all occasions; from weddings to birthdays, from simple get-togethers to celebratory events. They seem to always be able to fit the bill, perfectly!

Why is this? Because they seem to have a way of lighting up any mood, for some reason when they are brought into the room they always manage to bring smiles to the faces of those who can see them. Their shape is small, they are usually decorated in a cute fashion, there is something so light and easy about them, even the biggest calorie counter looks at these mini cakes like they are friendly treat. Their minds smartly calculate: the smaller the package the more harmless it will be and the fewer calories to consume.

Cupcakes are great because they require little to no plates, depending on one ’s agenda and venue. At a picnic, one may simply need napkins as crumbs that fall on the grassy ground below are harmless. In one ’s own kitchen a small napkin held below the cupcake can still suffice if one is on a small budget or likes to keep things as low maintenance as possible. Clean-up happens in a snap allowing more time for other enjoyable activities. They are also easy to pack up in a small Ziploc bag or box for one ’s guests to take home and enjoy! In addition, most local grocery stores have a plentiful supply of them on hand already. The convenience of this product is wonderful!

Also, if you are lucky enough to find some that are not already decorated, you can purchase the decorating tools: frosting, sprinkles and other such items and have this be one of the many fun events at your party! This can be a great bonding experience and a memory that is quite unique, a memory that will certainly be fondly held in your guests memories for years to come.

In addition, whether one decides to make them themselves or purchase them, they are an inexpensive dessert! The low cost of these desserts, however, does not de-value their worth. They remain a fun, creative treat enjoyable by even the most conservative of souls. He or she will even be tempted like the rest of us, to lick the frosting, lick the wrapper and feel like a youthful child again. With a cup of milk he or she may even boldly don a milk moustache smiling broadly with half eaten cupcake in hand, feeling quite satisfied and ready for the next one decorated with vanilla frosting! It is clear to see, they truly are the perfect dessert for all people and all occasions!

About the Author

Mika Hamilton runs a website about gourmet cupcake recipes, visit: http://www.cupcake-recipes.com

Article Source: Content for Reprint

Technorati Tags: baking, cooking, cupcakes, desserts, food

Posted under Dessert News, Tips and Tricks