chocolate chip filled raspberries

Frozen Banana bites

What you'll need . . .

• 2 large bananas
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup peanut butter
• Unsweetened coconut flakes

Method . . .

1. Set out a large plate or bowl with a piece of parchment or wax paper on it.
2. Cut up the bananas into good-sized chunks. Each banana should give you around 5 to 6 pieces.
3. Heat the peanut butter and chocolate chips in the microwave on high for about a minute. Then stir until smooth.
4. Dip the banana pieces in the chocolate-peanut butter mixture. Lay them out leaving some space between them on the parchment/wax paper. Then when you've "covered" them all, use the remaining mixture to spoon over the tops (for even more chocolate-y goodness).
5. Then sprinkle the unsweetened coconut flakes on top. Transfer to the freezer for about an hour until hardened.
6. You can enjoy them like this (but they really aren't frozen yet -- and when they're frozen, the banana tastes like vanilla ice cream) . . . I suggest then covering with some plastic wrap (or really you can do all of this in some kind of Rubbermaid container) and let freeze overnight.

Fourth of July Strawberries

Peanut butter pretzel bites

Ingredients:

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons softened butter
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• Pretzels
• 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat peanut butter and butter until combined. Scrape down bowl, add sugars and beat until combined. You should be able to roll the mixture into balls without sticking to your hands. If needed, add more powdered sugar until you reach a consistency that is easy to roll.
3. Roll the mixture into small balls, about 1 teaspoon of mixture for each ball, and place on prepared baking sheet. Sandwich the balls between two pretzels and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
4. Melt the chocolate in a metal bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth, and remove from heat. Dip each pretzel bite halfway into the melted chocolate and place on the prepared baking sheet. Chill in refrigerator until chocolate is set.

Source: Two Tiny Kitchens originally from Foodaphilia

Frosted Banana Bars

Recipe:

For the Bars:

1/2 cup butter (softened)

2 cups Sugar

3 eggs

1-1/2 cup mashed banana (about 3 ripe bananas)

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 cups All Purpose Flour

1 tsp. baking soda

Pinch of salt

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8oz) pkg. of cream cheese

1/2 cup butter (1 stick softened)

4 cups Powdered Sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, bananas, and vanilla. Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda and stir into the creamed mixture just until blended. Now take a greased (I like to use Bakers Joy for this dish) 15-inch x 10-inch x 1-inch jelly roll pan and lightly sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on to the bottom of the greased pan. Now pour the batter onto the pan and Bake @ *350 for 18-22 minutes.

For the Frosting, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Spread over the cooled bars and serve. Makes about 3 dozen bars.

luscious layers

Recipe:

3-4 pkgs. of Graham Crackers

1 (4oz) packet of Instant Vanilla Pudding

1 (4oz) packet of Instant Cheesecake Pudding

4 cups Cold Milk

8 oz cool whip

1/3 cup un-sweetened cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1 stick (8tbsp.) butter

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine both packages of puddings together with the 4 cups of cold milk and whisk together till it becomes a thick consistency. (about 3-5 minutes). Once the pudding is all set up, fold in the cool whip.

Layer the graham crackers, then pudding, and repeat till there are 3 layers of pudding and finish with a layer of graham crackers.

Next, bring the cocoa, sugar, butter, and milk to a boil over medium heat for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Pour the chocolate sauce over the top of the graham crackers. Refrigerate until ready to serve.