desserts

Chocolate Brownie S'mores

We had a fabulous family weekend at the lake.  Fishing, sports, nature, boat rides...and all I can think about is the dessert we had!  It was our friend's turn to provide the dessert and no ordinary s'more would do.  Sure, you can get the original recipe... but I dare you to make these ones and eat just one!!

 brownie s'mores

 

Ingredients:

marshmallows (extra large ones work the best)

two-bite brownies (or go homemade)

melted butter

crumbled graham crackers or Oreo cookie crumbs 

large sticks or fire skewers

 

Directions:

1.  Cut up the brownies in tiny pieces.  Set aside.

 

2.  Cut an opening in the middle of the marshmallow and push in a small piece of brownie.

 

3.  Coat the outside of the marshmallow in melted butter and roll it in the graham or oreo crumbs.

 

4.  Put your marshmallow on the stick and hold over the fire.  You can also make these on a BBQ using a foil tray or sticks.

 

Enjoy....don't say I didn't warn you!

 

Posted by momstown team on 05/21/2013 - 17:28
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Easy Low-Fat Berry Cobbler Recipe

Need a quick go-to recipe for guests this summer?  Try this easy recipe that uses many items that you already have in your kitchen!  Don't tell your guests how easy it was and watch them praise you and ask for the recipe!

 

easy berry cobbler with sprite

Ingredients:

Two 12-oz bags frozen mixed berries

1 box white cake mix (no pudding)

1 can of diet 7-up or similar (clear soda)

 

Directions:

Place frozen fruit in a 9x13 baking dish. Add dry cake mix over the top. Pour soda slowly over cake mix. DO NOT stir the cake mix and the pop - this will give you a 'crust'. If you stir the two, you will have a cake like topping.

 

Bake 350 for 45-50 min.

 

You may be able to use frozen peaches instead of mixed berries.

 

Serves 16- 4 PointsPlus on Weight Watchers

 

Posted by momstown team on 05/15/2013 - 13:11
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Two Great Cool Whip Desserts for Summer Entertaining

Warm weather is upon us and maybe we'd all like to "lighten" up a bit on eating!  While the calendar is filling up with more entertaining than winter months, we need to come up with some new desserts to WOW the guests!

 

Here are two amazing recipes that use Cool Whip and make warm nights very cool!

 

Healthy "Ice Cream" Sandwich

 

graham cracker, cool whip frozen treats, healthy

 

Ingredients

 graham crackers
 cool whip
 strawberries

 

Directions

1. Blend cool whip and strawberries

2. Apply a thick coat to gram crackers and make sandwich

3. Freeze, and enjoy!

 

Recipe inspired by: Jenuine 's Journey to Health

 

 

Chocolate Oreo and Cool Whip Lasagna

 

chocolate lasagna

 

Ingredients:

1 package regular Oreo cookies (Not Double Stuff) – about 36 cookies
6 Tablespoon butter, melted
1- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons cold milk

1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided
2 – 3.9 ounce packages Chocolate Instant Pudding.
3 1/4 cups cold milk
1 and 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

 

Directions:

1. Begin by crushing 36 Oreo cookies (use a food processor or crush them in a plastic bag with a rolling pin).


2. Transfer the Oreo crumbs to a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter and use a fork to incorporate the butter into the cookie crumbs. When the butter is distributed, transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you work on the additional layers.


3. Mix the cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 tbsp of milk, and sugar, and mix well. Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust.

4. In a bowl, combine chocolate instant pudding with 3 and 1/4 cups cold milk. Whisk for several minutes until the pudding starts to thicken. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the previous cream cheese layer. Allow the dessert to rest for about 5 minutes so that the pudding can firm up further.

5. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

 

Adapted by a post on Facebook

 

 

Posted by momstown team on 05/09/2013 - 10:32
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Nanna's Lemon Meringue Pie

When I met my husband, he did not eat desserts. He would rather have an apple after dinner – ugh. Anything I baked would go to waste, or I should say, go to my waist, as someone had to finish it. Then one day Nanna made her famous Lemon Meringue Pie. He was in heaven! Why? Because it was tart - imagine that! I found it a bit too tart and after a polite taste, ended up passing it to him to devour. I have come to love this pie over time and highly recommend it for as an elegant ending to a delicious dinner- and a sweet reminder of my Nanna.

 

lemon meringue pie recipe

 

 

Ingredients: 


1 ½ cup sugar
1/4 cup + 2 T. cornstarch
¼ t. salt
½ c. lemon juice (fresh squeezed lemon is best)
½ cup cold water
3 large egg yolks, well beaten
2 T. butter
1 ½ c. boiling water
1 T grated lemon peel
pre-made pie shell

 

Directions:

In medium saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch & salt. Add juice, water & yolks stirring until very smooth. Add butter then gradually stir in boiling water. Over medium heat bring to boiling, stirring constantly (can take about 10 minutes) Boil 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in peel. Pour into prebaked pie shell. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

 

Meringue: In small bowl with electric mixer at medium speed beat 3 egg whites with ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar until frothy. Gradually beat in 6 T. sugar, 2 T at a time beating after each addition. Then beat at high speed until stiff (takes about 10 minutes)

Spread over filling. Bake 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 2-3 hours.

 

A tip I learned from Nanna: dip the knife in cold water to slice through the meringue easily.

 

Check out Nanna's Pumpkin Chiffon Pie - a traditional for Thanksgiving (or anytime!)

 

Submitted by momstown Brampton

Posted by momstown team on 04/28/2013 - 13:15
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Scone Recipe Perfect for a Tea Party

Tea has long held a great meaning and significance in my family.  As children, my mother would tell us how important it was for us to sit down together and enjoy a hot cup of tea. Our child version of tea would be mostly water, nonetheless, we would feel special as though we were a part of an exclusive experience. Congregating together on a Sunday afternoon wearing pretty clothes, we would sip tea and eat sweets. To this day, I'm very fond of the tea ritual and will create any excuse to pull out my tea set and get out my baking wear in the goal of ultimately spreading butter over a warm scone.

 
I'm sharing a recipe that have become an important part of my child-mother bonding relationship with my own children.

 

scone recipe


Raspberry-Hazelnut Scone Recipe

 

This recipe was given to me a lovely lady who attended a moms/babies gathering that I held years ago when my first child was 5 months old. Although we've moved away from that town, I'll never forget the moments of new mother bonding and yes, we even relaxed for a little bit as the babies played on the floor...

 

Ingredients:

1/3 cup hazelnuts

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking power

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup fresh raspberries

 

Directions:

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly butter a large baking sheet. Toast the hazelnuts in a small cake pan for about 12 minutes or until fragrant and the skins blister. Transfer to a kitchen towel and rub the nuts together to remove the skins. Coarsely chop the nuts and let cool.


2. Raise the oven temperature to 400F.

 
3. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking power, baking soda, salt and hazelnuts. In a large measuring cup, combine the buttermilk and butter. Stir the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients just until combined. Scoop 8 equal spoonfuls of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the scones are golden. Let cool slightly before serving.

 

photo: dianasbakery.com

 

Submitted by momstown Milton

Posted by momstown team on 04/28/2013 - 13:07
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Mom's Sour Cream Coffee Cake Recipe

 

This Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe will forever remind me of my mom.  This was a staple in our kitchen growing up - we always had some for Christmas morning and there was usually always one in the freezer ready to take out at any moment when friends stopped by.  

My mom would always bake one ahead of time and bring it when we traveled to the cottage or went boating in the summer on the Great Lakes.  I'm pretty sure my brother would still eat an entire cake in one sitting - it's so yummy!

 

sour cream coffee cake

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sour cream

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Topping

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoon butter, melted

*want to make this extra special?  Double the topping ingredients!

 

Preheat oven to 350° F. Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Add vanilla and stir in sour cream. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients and stir into wet ingredients until just incorporated.

 

In another bowl, combine all ingredients for topping. Pour half of the coffee cake batter into a greased 8-inch square cake pan. Sprinkle half of the topping over cake and cover with remaining batter.

 

Sprinkle the top with the remaining topping and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

 

This cake is amazing served warm right out of the oven.

 

Submitted by momstown Oakville

 

Posted by momstown team on 04/22/2013 - 08:55
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Shreddies No-Bake Peanut Butter and Chocolate Squares

If you like peanut butter cups or peanut butter and chocolate ice cream, you have have the recipe for you!

 

My kids and I wanted to try something new on our snow day and we found a cool new recipe on our Shreddies box.  The instructions seemed long, but it was really simple to make and so delicious, we instantly feel in love.  I kept half to enjoy and froze the rest!

 

Shreddies no-bake squares

 

 

Ingredients
3-3/4 cups Post Shreddies Cereal, divided
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 cups icing sugar, sifted
8 squares (225 g pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped or 3/4 of a 350g pkg of chocolate chips

 

Directions

1.  Lightly grease 13x9-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper, 2 ends extending over edge of pan.

2.  Let your kids help count out 60-80 (approx. 3/4 cup) whole Shreddies for topping.

3.  Place remaining Shreddies in a resealable plastic bag and crush by hand to yield 1-1/2 cups coarse crumbs.

4.  Microwave peanut butter and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 45 sec., or until butter has melted; stir to combine.

5.  Stir in sugar and crumbs.

6.  Spread mixture into prepared pan, patting down to form a firm crust.

7.  Microwave chocolate in medium microwaveable bowl on MEDIUM 2-3 min., stirring once. There should still be some unmelted chunks. Stir until all chocolate is melted and smooth.

8.  Spread evenly over crust.

9.  Arrange 60 Shreddies over top, forming rows of approximately 12 x 20.

10.  Cool at room temperature 20 min.

11.  Using sharp paring knife, score chocolate along rows, to form single or double squares. Refrigerate 1 hour. Using parchment paper ends, carefully lift mixture from pan and place on cutting board. Cut into squares.

 

ENJOY!!!

Posted by momstown team on 02/27/2013 - 15:46
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Heart Healthy: 5 Minute Chocolate Desserts

Let’s talk about Valentine's Day. Historically a day to celebrate love (often forbidden) and fertility. Then, in the late 1800s, Richard Cadbury took this day to a whole new level with the introduction of the heart-shaped box of chocolates. Today, it is a day abundant in love messages (Valentines), chocolate and candy.

 5 minute chocolate desserts

 

Did someone say chocolate?! Healthy? Yes and no. First, it is important to note that not all chocolate is created equal. Many chocolate treats are also accompanied by high amounts of sugar and unhealthy fats. And over consumption can lead to weight gain.

 

Cacao/cocoa powder contains flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidins), which are antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Flavonoids have been shown to help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to the heart, by upregulating nirtic oxide production.

 

Before you stock up on this heart healthy ingredient, stop and read the label. If the label reads Dutch or alkalinized put it back and look for a raw or nonalkalinized product. Flavonoid antioxidants give chocolate its characteristic dark color. Processing reduces the antioxidant content of the final product, making it lighter in colour.

 

Here are three 5-minute Valentine’s Day treats you can whip up in just a few minutes with your newly acquired cacao powder.

Say “I love you” and with a healthy, flavonoid rich treat, on Valentine’s Day.

 

Heart Chocolates


Ingredients
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (over low heat)
3 tablespoon raw cocoa powder (or regular cocoa powder)
2 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
orange zest, chili powder optional

 

Instructions
1.Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
2.Using a spoon, gently add chocolate mix into heart candy mold.
3.Freeze for 10-15 minutes.

 

 heart chocolates

 

Raw Chocolate Truffles

Yield: 18 truffles

 

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups dates, medjool
1/2 cup coconut, unsweetened
1/4 cup hemp hearts
2 tablespoons cacao powder
2 teaspoon vanilla

 

Instructions
1.Using a food processor, combine all ingredients until are well mixed (and for a 'dough' ball).
2.Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Eat immediately or freeze.

 

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

 

Ingredients
2 ripe avocadoes
1/4 c maple syrup
1/4 c coconut milk (or to desired consistency)
3 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder
pinch of sea salt
cacao nibs for garnish

 

Instructions
1.Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.
2.Add more coconut milk, if pudding is too thick.
3.Garnish with cacao nibs and strawberry slices.
4.Serve immediately or store in the fridge for 1-2 days.

 

Submitted by Jayda Siggers, nutritionist, Eat Whole, Be Vital

Posted by momstown team on 02/12/2013 - 18:30
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6 Polar Animal Snacks to Make with Kids

After you have made your Polar Animal crafts, you need to make your polar animal snacks!  Here are some fun ways to take this Polar theme from adorable to a delicious!

 

While you are making these cute polar treats, you can watch and learn the actions to this cute Penguin Song or read some polar animal books!

 

1.  Polar Bear Rice Cakes are a fun and healthy treat to make with kids for a meal or snack, using foods they already love!

 

Ingredients:

Rice cake or English Muffin
Cottage cheese or Cream Cheesepolar bear snacks for kids
Raisins, Chocolate Chips, Cereal "Os"
Oreo cookie
Banana
Plastic knife

 
Directions:

Let children spread cottage cheese or cream cheese on a rice cake or english muffin. Use an oreo cookie for the polar bear's nose and black olives, cereal "Os", chocolate chips or raisins for the eyes. 

Add two banana slices for the eyes and enjoy!

photo credit: Twiggle magazine

 

 

2.  Penguin Cookie Treats are easy to make!

penguine snack from cookies

 

Ingredients:

Oreo or other white and black sandwich cookie

Candy corn, Smarties, marshmallows or Hershey's kisses

 

Directions:

Open the cookie and try to spread the cream filling on both halves.  Place one cookie above the other on the plate.

Decorate with eyes, beak, wings and feet (using marshmallows or candy corn).  You can also cut a "kiss" in half for the wings.

photo credit

 

 

3. Pear and Chocolate Penguins are healthy-ish and are fun to make!  Be sure to follow instructions for melting chocolate.  This snack is really fun because you can decorate your plate with jello for ice blocks and shredded coconut for snow! 

pear and chocolate penguin snack

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Penguin- Using Hard Boiled Eggs, Olives or Timbits!

 

Olive Penguin (photo credit)

penguin snacks

 

Ingredients:

Two jumbo olives

Carrot

Veggie dip or cream cheese

 

 

Directions:

You will create the feet from a round slice of carrot. Lay the slice flat on cutting board and starting in the center make two diagonal cuts to the sides in the shape of a "V".

For the body, take a jumbo black olive and cut a slit in it from top to bottom. Fill the slit in the olive with veggie dip or cream cheese and place it on top of the carrot feet.

Place the "V" that you cut out of the carrot feet into the other olive to create a beak and set it on top of the stuffed olive.

Hold the snack together by inserting a toothpick through the whole creation, from the head, through the stuffed olive body, down to the carrot feet for a delightful and healthy creation for your preschoolers.

 


 

You can also make a fun penguin dessert using two chocolat timbits, white icing and some candy!

 

 

Or

Create a cute penguin with a hard boiled egg!

 

hard boiled egg penguin

 

 

5.   Seal Sandwich

cute seal sandwich for kids

 

Ingredients:

Any sandwich
Peeled clementine or cherry tomato
Pretzel stick
Black sprinkles or a chocolate chip
cream cheese

Instructions:

Put two slices of bread together and cut out the shape of a seal.

Stand the seal on crust end. (The crust gives it a sturdy base.)

Use pieces of leftover crust for the flippers and tail.

Stick a pretzel into the center of the clementine.


Place the clementine or cherry tomato on top of the nose of the seal, pressing the pretzel stick into the sandwich for sturdiness (add cream cheese as glue if necessary). 


Using cream cheese as glue, glue a black sprinkle or chocolate chip in place for the eye.

photo credit

 

6.   Polar Bear Cupcakes are so adorable with stacked large and mini cupcake and top with coconut!

 polar bear cupcakes

 

 

 Enjoy! 

 

Posted by momstown team on 01/29/2013 - 13:44
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10 Sweet Valentine's Day Treats for the ones you LOVE

If you want to celebrate a fabulous Valentine's Day with your kids, momstown is the place to find the perfect ideas!

 

We have all you need to celebrate from Valentine's crafts to books about love and now we are sharing our favourite treats from our own recipes and our fave Pinterest boards to look at new and creative ways to celebrate the holidays with our kids.

 

This year, we have found our Top 10 Valentine's Day Treats!

 

top 10 valentine's day treats

 

1.  Blonde brownies are a huge hit at any dessert table, but these Brown Sugar Blondies with the perfect Valentine's Day decadance!

 

2.  Have you ever wanted to make a heart-shaped cookie, cake or cupcakes?  Follow these simple steps for How to make a heart-shaped cake or cupcakes and muffins with a simple marble! So easy and you don't need the heart-shaped pan!

 

3.  Be Mine!  Remember those cute hearts with the sayings on them? Try smashing them to create these Heart Cookie Pops with conversation hearts!

 

4.  A perfect ending to a Valentine's Day with your sweetheart.  Make him this Chocolate Heaven Dessert!

 

5.  How could you resist this Valentine's Day Popcorn with the perfect mix of salty and sweet!  Melted white chocolate and m&ms what a sweet treat!

 

6.  Wake up Valentine's Day morning to create a fun and memorable breakfast (or better yet, get Dad and the kids to try these).  Follow these simple tricks for heart pancakes, heart bacon and heart-shaped egg yolks for a Valentine's Day breakfast with the ones you love!

 

7.  Try to keep it healthy or have a little fun with candy, but either way, the kids will LOVE to create these Red and Pink Candy and Heart-shaped Fruit Kabobs all by themselves and serve them up for mom and dad!

 

8.  No time to bake for Valentine's Day?  No problem!  Try these Heart-Shaped Oreo Cakesters rolled in sprinkles or these dipped pretzel ideas and look like a baking superstar!

 

9.  These are just too easy and cute for words.  Valentine's Pretzel and Hershey's "Hugs" buttons will be a huge snacking hit!

 

 

10. A simple but cute twist on the classic macaroon is added a sweet treat on top, like these Macaroon Kiss Cookies.

 

 

Have a SWEET Valentine's Day!

 

Posted by momstown team on 01/23/2013 - 13:16
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