Recently, Naturally Nora, a company specializing in all natural baking mixes, asked me to experiment with some of their mixes. Their cake mixes, brownie mixes and frostings have no artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives or hydrogenated oil. I was so excited to try their mixes. My kids went nuts over their brownie mix, and it worked great in this simple Brownie S’mores recipe. It was so fun to make these with the kids-a wonderful summertime afternoon project.

I have been on a S’mores kick lately as you will see in the coming days. I came up with this recipe by accident. I was trying to get rid of some ingredients from another s’mores recipe project I was working on for “Makes and Takes”, a great website for craft ideas, kid’s craft ideas, food and fun, and I ended up with this. When I put the photograph up on twitter and facebook, everyone went nuts. So here it is. It’s not a “light” recipe, but here are some ways to lighten it up and make it a tiny bit healthier. Use a store-bought reduced-fat graham cracker crust.  Use dark chocolate morsels instead of semisweet. Otherwise, take small bites and enjoy. Trust me, adults as well as kids will love it! As for the other s’more recipe, I created for Makes and Takes, it’s coming soon.

My daughter’s Leigh’s favorite dessert is Petit Fours, and these remind me just like her: sweet, pretty and incredible! I thought for Easter and spring, I would offer this recipe from Land O Lakes butter that I use when I’m short on time. It uses a cake mix which really cuts down on the work. These are light and taste as good as they look.

Lots of you have been writing to me asking for awesome Easter dessert ideas so how about these Easter Cupcakes? This recipe comes from “The Pioneer Woman Cooks” cookbook, and it is fabulous. If you’re short on time, I have also included a “cupcake express” recipe to save you time. Either way, I just simply sprinkled mine with spring sprinkles, a perfect look for this time of year.

Every year my sister, Julie, bakes with her college friend, Toby, and they make dozens and dozens of wonderful Passover desserts. I’m in awe when I go see what they have cooked up in the kitchen in just one day. They are always trying new Passover dessert recipes, but some have been passed to them by their other college friend, Elaine. Elaine’s mother, Joan May, told them about this recipe for Crescent Cookies a few years ago. Since then, this recipe has been a staple dessert on Passover in Julie’s and Toby’s homes.  Sometimes they dip them in chocolate, but I personally like them with a small dusting of powdered sugar. They are airy, light and so incredibly addictive. They taste nothing like a Passover cookie (no offense to Passover). They are great and only 5 ingredients. Thank you Toby, Julie, Elaine and Joan for letting me share this recipe with my readers.

I have made this Flourless Chocolate Torte for several years for my wonderful family for Passover. It’s been a treasured recipe that I haven’t shared. When I got a note from my friend, Robin, saying that her son’s birthday falls on Passover this year, I knew I had to give her the recipe. So here it is…..You can substitute bittersweet chocolate for semisweet or mix the two. It is really easy to prepare and only a few ingredients. Just take your time and follow the directions very carefully. I was in a hurry and unhooked my springform pan too soon (trying to make it to my son’s baseball game) and it came out looking like a chocolate souffle as seen above. Still wonderful and sinfully rich.

Yesterday I has the awesome opportunity once again to be on “Talk of the Town Newschannel 5 in Nashville making this recipe for Chocolate Chipotle Cookies. I developed this recipe for Wisconsin Milk and Marketing Board and http://butterisbest.com working on a “regional holiday cookie” recipe project. This recipe represented the Southwest with the chipotle chocolate twist. Everyone at the station went wild over these cookies. They are wonderful for Christmas gifts or for a holiday cookie swap . Here’s the link from the television spot.

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/category.asp?C=85286

I was asked by the family this year to make something “chocolate” for dessert in addition to our Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie-I know, enough is enough. My good friend Sheila, who works for Favorite Recipes Press, gave me the book “Recipes Worth Sharing” last week. I found this recipe for Chocolate Chip Pie, and I had to try it. It’s so easy, and my daughter, Leigh, helped me make it in no time. We will be indulging in it on Thanksgiving, but it is wonderful anytime of the year (the kids love it!). Happy Thanksgiving to all my blog fans, family and dear close friends. You all know who you are!

One of the best parts being a food blogger is when some of my favorite media writes about me, and it’s just out of the blue. Yesterday, a very famous food blog, “The Kitchn” listed their favorite top 10 Brittle and Bark recipes. I made it on the list in great company with Martha Stewart, Bon Appetit, Epicurious and many others. Check out the post http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/break-off-a-piece-barks-and-brittles-101614

This recipe ran last year during my first month of my blog. It’s 3 ingredients and fabulous. I will be making it on television next month in Birmingham NBC 13 “Daytime Alabama” and NewsChannel 4 CBS “Talk of the Town” in Nashville, Tennessee.

I live in interesting (and fortunate) life as a Recipe Developer creating Christmas recipes in the heat of July and summery recipes and grilling during winter. I created this recipe last summer for a “REAL BUTTER” recipe project coming up with “regional” cookie ideas and recipes. I’m not from the west, but I thought a touch of chipotle mixed with chocolate in a shortbread-type cookie would rock. They did! My assistant, Alacia, has been a fan of chipotle ever since. You can’t go wrong with Chocolate Chipotle Shortbread Cookies. They are perfect for holidays or anytime of the year.