Sugar & Spice by Celeste

  How was your Valentine's Day, friends?  Hopefully it was filled with lots of love (and chocolate!).  We have a tradition of this homemade spaghetti on V-Day (for at least 14 years running), and I usually whip up some sort of chocolatey dessert to go with it. This year, these dark chocolate brownies with strawberries and a dark chocolate ganache made a beautifully decadent dessert.  These are basically chocolate covered strawberries in brownie form, and are rich with a perfectly dense, fudgy brownie.   Don't wait for a special occasion to make them, though.  Whether it's Valentine's Day or some random day in the middle of winter, these make an equally wonderful indulgence!   Enjoy! Strawberry Brownies with Dark Chocolate Ganache Adapted from:   Southern Living Ingredients: 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 3/4 tsp kosher salt 1/2 tsp baking powder 2 large eggs 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar...

Do you like pineapples, bananas and shredded coconut? Do you like deliciously layered cakes? If you answered yes, then you are going to be in love with this cake.  A cake SO good, that it has actually become the most requested recipe in Southern Living magazine history !  It was o riginally submitted by Mrs. L.H. Wiggins of Greensboro, NC and featured in the February 1978 issue of the magazine. I can remember my mom and grandmother making this years ago, and it has always been one of my favorites.  My Aunt Sheila also made it every Thanksgiving.  There's just something about the bananas mixed with the crushed pineapple in the yummy cake batter, and don't forget the scrumptious cream cheese icing smothered over each layer.  The chopped pecans on top add the perfect nutty crunch, and I like to add a little shredded coconut to mine. I made this particular cake for my wonderful mom-in-law's birthday recently.  Everyone loved it, and several folks...

***For years, my Mom has always made one of the most amazing Italian Cream Cakes...It is spectacular!  It's filled with pecans and flaked coconut, and the cake itself is moist and delicious...with cream cheese icing to finish it all off.  It's always been one of my favorites.  So, you can imagine my delight when my sister-in-law, Christine, surprised me with this Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake for my birthday.  This recipe from Southern Living takes everything you love about traditional Italian Cream Cake and kicks it up about 100 notches!  In fact, Southern Living describes it as one of their "most showstopping cakes ever"...take a look HERE ! The Fresh Orange Curd is the star of the show.  It is spread in between each of the cake layers and adds the most amazing flavor...It's sweet, but not too sweet.  The orange juice and orange rind adds the perfect hint of freshness, which will make it hard to resist a second piece.  The...

***This, my lovely readers is one decadent cake !!! Recently, we celebrated Brad's mom's birthday. She gave me a birthday cake challenge, and I was so excited to try something new. She requested a chocolate and coconut cake....something inspired by a delicious Mounds Bar. Well, below you'll see my final creation. I used this Coconut Cream Cake as the basic cake recipe, which is simply divine. The texture is wonderfully scrumptious and it has just the right amount of coconut flavoring. Instead of the usual coconut icing in between the layers, I did something extra special. Over a double boiler, I melted chopped Mounds Bars, added some marshmallows and heavy cream...and Voila! The chocolate filling turned out A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!! I was so thrilled with the results. This cake didn't last long! I love the coconut icing on this cake because it isn't very heavy. It's made with freshly whipped cream. I do have to add a disclaimer, though...if you're on a diet, stay a...

***I recently got the opportunity to make these cheesecake pops and a star-shaped Red Velvet Cake for a friend's baby shower. The theme was: "You're a Star Sebastian!" It was so much fun! I was worried about the star-shaped pan...I was nervous that the cake would stick to the sides & bottom, and I wouldn't be able to get it out all in one piece. However, if you know the correct way to grease and flour a cake pan, you'll never fail! The secret is using solid Crisco shortening to grease the pan...not butter...and not Pam! The shortening makes a big difference for some reason. I also always put a round (or in this case, a star!) of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, and add a dusting of flour. The results couldn't have been better. The cake slipped right out with no problems. This red velvet cake recipe was divine! It was moist and delicious, with just the right amount of yummy cocoa. I can't wait to make it again for Christmas. And as always, ...

***In my opinion, you can't go wrong with Southern Living recipes. Time and time again, they get rave reviews...this one included. I imagine this dish is going to make an appearance at future family gatherings...it will make the perfect pot-luck dish. It's light, healthy and delicious, plus the preparation couldn't get any easier. I am extremely picky when it comes to mayo. I actually used Kraft's new Mayo w/Olive Oil for the dressing in this dish. It was perfect...not too heavy. I also made a few changes, which are noted in the ingredients list below.*** Ingredients: 4 cups small fresh broccoli florets 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (I used sliced almonds) 6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled (I cheated and used Bac-Os) 2 large Red Delicious apples, diced 1 small red onion, chopped (I left this out) 1 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sugar (I only used about 1/4 cup) 2 tbsp. cider vinegar Directions: Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Combine mayo, s...

***This is an incredibly easy dinner idea. I found this in the new "Southern Living" Homestyle Cookbook . The prep was quick and the results were very good!*** Ingredients: 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 tablespoons milk 5 cups cornflake cereal, crushed (about 2 cups crushed) 6 boneless pork chops (about 3/4-inch thick) 2 teaspoons lemon pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 large lemon, halved Garnish: halved lemon slices Directions: 1. Stir together eggs and milk in a shallow dish. Place cornflake crumbs in a separate shallow dish. Sprinkle pork evenly with lemon pepper, salt, and garlic powder. Dip pork chops in egg mixture, and dredge in cornflake crumbs. Place chops on a lightly greased rack on a baking sheet. 2. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Squeeze lemon juice evenly over chops, and garnish, if desired. Source: "Southern Living" Homestyle Cookbook

***I recently got a great cookbook called " Southern Living Homestyle Cookbook." I highly recommend it...it's wonderful. One of the first recipes that I've tried in the book is this broiled mahi mahi dish. I was very pleased with the results. As I've mentioned before, Brad and I love Greek-style food, and this is certainly in that category. It's packed with flavor...from the tomato/onion mixture on bottom, to the tender fish and cheese sprinkled on top...you'll definitely enjoy this one!*** Ingredients: 2 medium onions, sliced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1/4 cup white wine 1 tablespoon tomato paste 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon pepper, divided 6 (6- to 8-ounce) mahi-mahi fillets 1 (4-ounce) package crumbled feta cheese Garnish: lemon slices Directions: Sauté sliced onions in hot olive oil over medium-high heat 8 minutes or until tender. Add chopped tomatoes, ...

***It's definitely not a birthday around this house without a scrumptious, homemade birthday cake! My sweet mom-in-law recently celebrated her birthday. Her request?...A cake with chocolate and coffee flavors reminiscent of the groom's cake at our wedding. I searched and searched, determined to find the perfect recipe. I hit the jack-pot with one of my Southern Living cookbooks. The cake was a tremendous success! The Kahlua adds the perfect little "something" to the cake, without being overpowering. The cake was so good, that I just made it again for Jessica's birthday. When making this cake, or any other cake for that matter, a good tip is to always have all of your ingredients at room temperature before starting. This includes eggs, cream cheese, milk, etc.*** Chocolate Kahlua Cake The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook Ingredients: 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 3/4 cups sugar 4 large eggs 1/4 cup Kahlua 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powde...

***I've always been a huge fan of Southern Living magazine...I was even fortunate enough to land 2 consecutive, very competitive internships in the SL Marketing Deparment. I also love their recipes...they never disappoint! This is probably one of the easiest dinners that I've made in a while. Going by the name, you'd think it would be complicated, but that's just not the case! It's packed with flavor, too. I think it would even be good with chicken added.*** Ingredients: 1 (20 oz) package refrigerated 4-cheese ravioli 1 (16 oz) jar Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo sauce 2 Tbsp. White Wine 2 Medium Fresh Tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup chopped fresh Basil 1/3 cup Parmesean Cheese, shredded (I used freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese) Directions: Prepare pasta according to package directions. Pour alfredo sauce into saucepan. Pour white wine into jar, cover tightly and shake well. Stir wine mixture into saucepan. Stir in chopped tomatoes and 1/2 cup chopped basil. Cook ov...

2 cups butter, softened 2 3/4 cups sugar 6 large eggs 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/8 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg (I substituted the nutmeg with cinnamon) 1/2 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla extract Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Combine flour, salt, and nutmeg in a large bowl; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix at low speed after each addition just until mixture is blended. Stir in vanilla. Spoon batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan, and cool completely on wire rack. Source: The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook

I just finished making this cake for Brad's birthday tomorrow. I usually make a carrot cake, but he wanted something a little different this year. He requested a coconut cake, and I couldn't think of a better place to find a good recipe than Southern Living . They seem to have the very best cakes. I can't wait to try this tomorrow! I'll post more pics once we cut it. I hope it tastes as good as it looks! 1 cup butter, softened 2 cups sugar 3 large eggs 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. butter flavoring (I couldn't find this at the grocery store, so I substituted it with a little extra vanilla extract) 1/2 cup water 1 tbsp. sugar Coconut Frosting 3 cups flaked coconut Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 2 cups sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Combine flour and baking powder; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning ...