Homemade Strawberry Oreos

Ok, so I found myself recently with a whole bunch of extra cream cheese frosting. I know, quite the dilemma. My first impression was to just eat it with a really big spoon, but then I thought better of myself it being the new year. So I decided to put it to good use in a tasty cookie. You may have made homemade oreos before, but I love to mix it up by using different mixes. I have used lemon, confetti cake and yes strawberry. These were delish, although adding a cookie to the frosting probably didn't help my new years resolution much. Oh well, this is just the perfect color for valentines which will be here fast. Whip up a batch for someone you love!!

Homemade Strawberry Oreos

2 Strawberry Cake Mixes

4 Eggs

1 Cup Shortening

Mix and drop into balls on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. Cool and slather with some tasty frosting.

Lego Batman Birthday!

So, it was my special nephew's birthday just recently and he had a special request. I had made cakes for all of his siblings birthdays and it was finally his turn. After much deliberation he decided on an awesome Lego batman cake. All he asked was that it had the Joker and Batman. I added Robin and some Lego's just because I love him. It was fun to make, but even more fun to see his reaction. Happy B-day Spencer!!

Happy 90th Again!

So, here is a cake I made this weekend for a dear woman who just turned 90 years old!! She is a sweetheart and definitely deserved a sweet cake. They wanted something feminine and simple yet celebratory. I was so honored to make this cake because I had made her husbands 90Th birthday cake about a year and a half ago. The cake was my special lemon filled. What a way to celebrate. Happy Birthday!!

Cinnamon Sour Cream Raisin Bars

So whatever happened to our friends the raisins? I am so surprised these days that when people order cinnamon rolls they usually don't want any with raisins. I have always liked raisins in baked goods. I think it stems from when I was little and my Mom would buy me a cookie at ZCMI. If she wouldn't let me have an eclair (which she usually didn't because I had a bad habit of squirting filling all over myself) then I would pick a m&m cookie or a raisin filled cookie. They were sweet, and gooey and chewy. All the things that kids love. I obviously have carried that love into adulthood. The sugar cookie version of raisin cookies can be a bit tedious, so I came up with a cookie bar version to make things more simple. I love it if any cookie I like can be made into a bar!! So here is my "healthy" recipe for the new year, and let's hear it for raisins!!

So here are all the components together. The baked crust then the filling and the crumbly top. MMMM.

Spread out the filling and if there is extra you know what to do with it.

Sprinkle on the rest of the crumble, bake and finish off with an icing drizzle.

Cinnamon Raisin Bars

Filling -Place the following ingredients in a small pot.

5-6 Cups Raisins

1 Cup Sugar

3 Eggs

2 1/2 Tbs Cornstarch

1 1/2 Cups Sour Cream

1 tsp. Cinnamon

Cook over low heat until raisins are plumped up, sugar is dissolved and mixture is heated through thoroughly and well blended. Stir well so you don't get scrambled eggs. Set aside while you get your crust together.

Crust

2 Cups Flour

2 Cups Quick Oats

1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 1/2 tsp. Salt

1 Cup Melted Butter

1 tsp. Cinnamon

Press half of the crust mixture into a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for about 8 minutes. Remove and spread raisin mixture all over the top, then sprinkle with the rest of the crust crumbles. Bake again for another 8-10 minutes. Cool and drizzle with vanilla frosting.