Upside-Down Caramel Latte Bake Fabulous, fabulous DESSERT!!!! Note, I said "dessert", not "breakfast". I used an artisan bread that had raisins, apricots and pecans baked into it. Ditched the maple syrup and used Karo syrup, instead. I skipped the step with the added butter, brown sugar and pecans. Made the custard but allowed it to come to room temperature with a slight "set" and then poured the cooled custard on top of the espresso bread mix. I then tossed some cubes of torn bread on top, that had been dusted with a sugar/espresso powder mixture. Baked it, made standard whipped cream/espesso powder (minus the butter!). Allowed the "bake" to become warmish after taking out of the oven and served in tiny slivers with the whipped cream and almonds on top. Folks went INSANE for it...as a dessert, mind you! Everyone wanted the recipe so I shared my version. Think of it as a bread pudding, folks, and you won't object so strongly. And delete layers, substitute items to make it your own. :)

Double Almond Wedding Cupcakes I already reviewed this recipe back in April but this site doesn't allow for editing, so here comes an addendum. I have made this recipe no less than TWENTY times since I received the recipe in a Betty Crocker email! These cupcakes have become a Legend within my friend's minds and is the MOST requested baked good that I make. I continue to add 1/2 milk/water and have also discovered that adding 1 teaspoon of vanilla to BOTH the cake mix and frosting really amplifies the almond flavouring. I've made it with and without the vanilla and the reaction is much more favourable to the vanilla version. Just passing on this Field Tested info.

Peachy Orange Cream Cocktail ~sigh~ Well, I guess I like this recipe if for no other reason, it inspired me to make a cocktail for my husband and myself that actually TASTED like a Peachy Orange CREAM cocktail! Rather than muddling a peach and orange together, I simply used peach nectar and squeezed a fresh orange, then added a tablespoon of Half & Half to get a creamy flavour and blend the tastes. And, rather than using a Lemon-Lime soda, I used plain flavoured Perrier. The juices and simple syrup made the cocktail sweet enough to enjoy. We loved my version, not so much the original one which was like a boozy fruit salad with fizz. :(

Strawberry-Orange Smoothies I received the email featuring this recipe at 11:22 a.m. on Friday and by 11:32, I was grinning from ear to ear, sipping this most delightful and tasty treat!!! We have been experiencing a killer heat wave in Chicago (3 days of 103 degree heat) and my appetite has been destroyed because of it. I've been living on iced tea and yogurt so THIS recipe came in the nick of time! I didn't change a thing and was so pleasantly surprised at the *pop* of flavour the orange juice made! My next attempt had me using honey-flavoured Greek Yogurt instead of plain and orange-mango juice instead of regular; it was equally enjoyed. I highly recommend this simple, tasty, and in my case, life-saving recipe. :)

Red and Blue Lemonade Cocktail What a GREAT Summer Cocktail!!! Since it's just my husband and I who enjoy cocktails (everyone else here likes beer/wine) I had to do the math to break this drink down to individual units. So, in a highball glass, I place 2 oz. of frozen lemonade, 1 oz. of homemade Limoncello, and either/or lemon-flavoured Perrier or plain. I then skewer the berries, starting with 2 blueberry, a strawberry and ending in 2 blueberries, so it's easy to not only stir the drink but also to eat the berries without fishing them out of the drink when they end up at the bottom of the glass. Highly recommend as a simple, delightfully refreshing drink.