Last week, I mentioned I was in a s’mores whirlwind creating s’mores recipes for various projects. I created this recipe for S’mores Milkshakes in my guest blog post on a really fun website “Makes and Takes“. It’s as yummy as it looks and so easy. This version on my site is the “lightened up” version.

I’m shooting 4 television shows this week so my life is beyond nuts. But, look for my upcoming television show on NBC 13 “Daytime Alabama” featuring fun s’more’s recipes coming soon. Date to come…

Come see me this Saturday, June 12th at Pepper Place Farmers Market and my Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips Cookies. It’s a great way to spend saturday morning purchasing the best of the best in fresh produce, flowers and other great items. I went last weekend, and I purchased the most delicious and fresh blackberries, squash, tomatoes and peaches. Hope to see some local friends there.

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.

When I was coming up with recipe ideas for my “Healthy Baking Cooking Class” for kids, I knew I needed to be creative and offer a few no-bake items since there was only going to be one large oven. These No-Bake Granola Bars were a huge hit! They have wonderful, kid-friendly and healthy ingredients, and adults as well as kids, love them. Feel free to use any of your favorite dried fruits, blueberries, cranberries, cherries, etc. Enjoy, but beware: they are very addictive!

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.

I’m very excited about the upcoming cooking class at Studio B in Alys Beach. It’s almost full, so if you’re interested act fast and send me an email. I will be teaching “Healthy Baking for Kids and the Secret Ingredient”. We will be using Greek yogurt, Gluten-free brown rice cereal, mashed bananas, Gluten-free, organic candy, peanut butter and more create incredible confections for kids!

Wow, what a busy weekend! I don’t think I realized how busy until just now when I sat and thought about it. Between baking dozens and dozens of Valentine cookies (i think 25 dozen?), working on a recipe contest that I’m judging, taking 8 of my daughter’s friends to dinner for her birthday and a Valentine cooking class, need I say more? I also ran a part in the Mercedes Marathon, tested 2 grilling recipes for a grilling project and oh, I forgot more and more laundry from the kids playing out in the snow. One of the highlights of the Kid’s Valentine Cooking class (and my daughter’s party), was when they decorated cupcakes with all types of Valentine Candy. This one was the hit (by my daughter, Leigh). Sorry, I can’t share the recipe for the cupcake. It’s a hidden treasure.