Okay, I know I have said this before, but I love anything chocolate orange! Especially around the holidays.  I think the two flavors that come to my mind first when I think of Christmas is chocolate orange and chocolate peppermint. So naturally after realizing that, I didn’t have a chocolate orange cookie recipe I got to work in the kitchen and came up with one. I only add 1 tsp. of orange extract to the cookies. I like the mild orange flavor. I felt that any more was too overpowering. If you like a stronger orange flavor go ahead and add 1 & 1/2 tsp. of orange extract. You might want to make sure to hit the gym before you make these babies. I guarantee you won’t be able to eat just one. These cookies would be perfect for a cookie exchange, neighbor gift, or as a after school snack for the kiddos. After all, what better way to show somebody you love them than with a batch of chocolate orange cookies!

Until next time,

Carrie

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Do you need an crowd pleasing cookie recipe this holiday season? Nothing screams Christmas like the heavenly combination of peppermint and chocolate. This recipe starts out with a super soft chocolate sugar cookie. Then you spread some silky smooth peppermint chocolate guanche. Next you pipe on some velvety chocolate mouse and you top it off with a sprinkling of crushed peppermint. These cookies will not disappoint! The only problem with these cookies is that they tend to bring out the selfish side in people because once you taste these babies, you will want to eat them all yourself!

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Here is a great recipe if you don’t like the tartness in a lemon meringue pie but love the lemon flavor. Growing up we always had a lemon meringue pie for Thanksgiving because it was one of my Dad’s favorite pies. I love lemons but the lemon meringue pies are too tart for me. When I tried this recipe, I thought it was the perfect compromise!  It is also a pretty simple pie to throw together if you are in a pinch or just don’t want to spend a lot of time making a pie. This recipe is a keeper for sure!

Until next time,

Happy Eating!

Carrie

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5 Ingredient Key Lime Pie is heaven sent! You will be floored at how such a simple recipe can taste so amazing! The filling is smooth and creamy and sets up beautifully in only 10 to 12 minutes. You can whip this 5 Ingredient Key Lime Pie up in under 20 minutes.

Key limes are hard to find where I live so I use regular limes. I also prefer to use homemade graham cracker crust and homemade whipped cream. I have included the recipes for homemade graham cracker crust and homemade whipped cream below. The homemade graham cracker crust and homemade whip cream are completely optional, you can use store bought if you prefer. It is a matter of personal preference.

I love this pie so much I created a recipe for Raspberry Custard Pie, Strawberries and Cream Bars,  Apple Pie Cream Bars, and Easy Flag Cream Bars using the base of this recipe. They are also very simple and delicious! You can find the pictures and the links to the recipes at the bottom of this page.

The most popular recipe on my site is the Italian Lemon Pound Cake, if you love the sweet and tart combination of the  5 Ingredient Key Lime Pie, you should try this cake! I promise you won’t be disappointed!

With love from my kitchen to yours,

Carrie

 

5 Ingredient Key Lime Pie

One 9- inch prepared graham cracker crust

2 cans of sweetened condensed milk

1/2 c. sour cream

3/4 c. lime juice

1 tbsp. of fresh lime zest (about 2-3 limes), finely chopped

Directions

1. Mix the sweetened condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice, and lime zest in a bowl. Mix until smooth and creamy. Pour the mixture into the prepared graham cracker crust.
2.  Bake the pie for 10 to 12 minutes or until the tiny little bubbles burst on the top of pie. Do not let it brown when you bake it! Chill the pie completely before serving. Garnish the pie with lime slices and whipped cream if you want.

Recipe adapted from Key Lime Pie VII  at allrecipe.com.

 

Homemade Graham Cracker Crust (Optional)

8 full sized graham crackers

1/4 cup of butter, melted

1/4 cup of granulated sugar

1. Blend the graham crackers and sugar in a food processor until it resembles sand. Add the melted butter and blend until mixed well. Firmly press the graham crackers evenly into a 9-inch pie tin. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes before you fill the crust with the key lime filling.

Homemade Whipped Cream (Optional)

2 cups of heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. of vanilla

1 tbsp. of granulated sugar

1. In a medium-sized bowl, whip the cream, vanilla, and sugar until the cream forms stiff peaks. Add the whipped cream to the key lime pie after it has cooled completely.

 

Here are a few other recipes you should try.

Raspberry Custard Pie

Strawberries & Cream Bars

Apple Pie Cream Bars

Easy Flag Cream Bars