Category Archives: Sweets: Desserts

Sweets: Desserts

valentine’s day cake pops

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Feb 1, 2011.

In honor of National Cake Pop Day, I had to share this throwback to 2011!

My non-baby days are absolutely impossible to imagine. Honestly, there is no way I would use up my precious “free time” to make cake pops ever again, haha!

But those days were a blast. Remember, Bakerella and I go way back. #winkwink

She has dozens and dozens of ideas, beautiful creations and tips on how to make the best cake pops. There’s no way I could duplicate it and no reason to! Click to check out her site.

Happy February and Happy Cake Pop Day!!

Sweets: Desserts

butter nut truffles

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Dec 25, 2010.

These were a hit at a Christmas dinner party a few years ago. I recall that they were pretty rich for me, but I think they would be perfect with coffee!

Yet, others just scarfed them up like nobody’s business. :)

This was from Southern Living’s Ultimate Christmas Cookbook, one of my holiday favorites. I wish I had it in Ecuador!

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Sweets: Desserts

pumpkin cake pops

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Oct 11, 2010.

I sure was cake pop crazy back a few years ago! These ones I copied from , but I’d bet they tasted just as divine.

Spearmint tic tacs didn’t appeal to me as a flavor/texture I wanted to include in my cake pop experience, so Mike & I went to the candy store. He found the perfect solution, which I humbly say looks more stem-like than Bakerella’s! Apple-flavored licorice – it’s even a “fall” flavor. ;)

Cake pops take a small eternity to make, so you better make a lot of them and then share them… Several dozen of these went to a big party (with zero photos!), but I managed to save a basketful for some close friends we saw the next evening.

Make sure you check out  for better instructions on how to make them. She’s the creator and pro!

Sweets: Desserts

4th of july cake pops

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Jul 8, 2010.

The first time I posted this over four years ago I wrote out and shared photos of all my steps. I subsequently made cake pops several more times over the years and realized my original instructions had flaws.

So now I am just going to point you to the creator of cake pops, ! Her site has much better examples, pictorial instructions and not to mention fantastic ideas.

Did you know she and I go way back? Oh yes – we met in October 2010 and I’m sure she remembers it.  ;)

Oh, and one more cool thing – check out on her website. I’m in the first photo!!

Anyway, cake pops are fun… and I’ll share other posts from the past in which I shared different ones I made… but I am not sure I’ll ever make them again. It might be fun one day, but first of all, they take too much time and second, I can’t get all the goodies to make them down here in Ecuador. :)

 

Sweets: Desserts

queso helado arequipeño

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Looking Back: Originally posted on Feb 17, 2011

Verbatim from the original post:

It has been a COLD last several days here.  Not only that, but after receiving our first electricity bill since 9 months ago, our mouths gaped open and we turned down the heat even more.  I spend my days in at least 3 shirts, sometimes 4 – two of which are usually a thick sweater AND a heavy hooded sweatshirt.  A little crazy, right?

Well, I suppose there’s something even crazier…as you can see, I made ice cream.  It wasn’t on a whim and it wasn’t because I was needing a cool-off.  There actually was a reason for making it, but still – what kind of crazy person makes ice cream on a wet and frigidly cold Oregon day in the middle of winter?

I guess me.

So, my friend Erica asked us to help with her kids’ missions lesson on Peru this month.  Long story short, this was the reason I made Peruvian ice cream – for the children!  It is called Queso Helado Arequipeño, which literally means Cheese Ice Cream from Arequipa (the city we lived in).

Don’t worry, there is no cheese in it, although I’m not so sure how bad that would be?

 

It was fun to mess with the kids just a little bit, along the lines of “fear factor,” by pretending that this ice cream was really made from cheese.  We dared them to try it, and after the first one did [and loved it] they all suddenly were brave enough to try it, too.

I never perfected my Spanish vocabulary in the “food” realm so when I asked my dear friend Lely for her recipe, I definitely had to look up some words to make sure!  But, alas, I have it properly translated for you in an easy format.  And it’s authentic because she is, of course, Peruvian!

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Make sure you turn up the heat to enjoy this…or save it for the summer!

Note #1: For any of you who are mostly lactose intolerant (or just want to be), I actually made this with Lactose-Free milk and it turned out well!

Note #2: Have I mentioned how much I love my kitchen scale?  It’s just fun.

And, last but not least, check out  I found on YouTube to watch the more authentic way of making Queso Helado.  You can find these ladies in many places around Arequipa, Peru!