Sopapilla Cheesecake

So I was looking for a dessert type recipe for a family get-together tonight and came across one on allrecipes.com. It looked pretty good, but didn't have any idea how it would turn, but decided to try it anyways. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of it before it got cut into, and almost all gone, but I did get one afterwards. Hubby said it didn't look good, but he ate about 3 bowls full!! I have to admit, it's awesome! The person that came up with this recipe deserves BIG props!! I thought I would share it with you guys:

3 (8 ounce) packages softened cream cheese
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoonfuls vanilla extract
2 cans crescent rolls (or recipe creations)

1/2 cup melted butter
1 teaspoonful cinnamon
1/2 cup white sugar
1 small package sliced almonds


Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Blend together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Roll out 1 can of crescent rolls and place in bottom of 9x13 greased pan. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over the top. Place second can of rolled out crescent rolls on top of dish. Drizzle melted butter evenly over top, then sprinkle with mixed together cinnamon and 1/2 cup white sugar. Top with sliced almonds and bake in preheated oven until top layer is puffy and golden brown, about 40-45 minutes. Enjoy!!!


Yields 12-18 squares

~Chef Shauna taken from allrecipes.com

Cherry Cream Cheese Pie

1 Graham Cracker Crust
1 (8 oz) Package Cream Cheese
1 Can Condensed Milk
1/3 Cup Lemon Juice
1 Teaspoonful Vanilla Extract
1 Can Cherry (or any choice) of Pie Filling

Beat cream cheese and then add milk and beat until smooth. Add juice and vanilla. Mix well. Chill until firm than top with filling. Enjoy!

Yields 1 Pie

~Chef Shauna taken from my MIL

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
1 Bag Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Place into greased mini muffin pans. Bake for 8 minutes exactly! Dough will not quite be done. Make indention into dough balls and place 1 unwrapped peanut butter cup into them. Freeze unwrapped cups while cookies are baking for easier handling. Let cool or eat right away. Either way, Enjoy!!

Yields 3 Dozen

~Chef Shauna

Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1 1/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Teaspoonful Baking Powder
3/4 Teaspoonful Baking Soda
1/4 Teaspoonful Salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix shortening, peanut butter, sugars, and eggs throughly. Measure flour by dipping method, blend dry ingredients, stir into shortening mixture. Bake 10-12 minutes or until done.

Yields 3 Dozen

~Chef Shauna

Banana (Nut) Bread

1/3 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 3/4 Cups Sifted Flour
1 Teaspoonful Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoonful Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoonful Salt
1 Cup Mashed Bananas
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together shortening and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Sift together dry ingredients. Add to creamed mixture alternating with bananas. Blending well after each addition. Pour into well greased 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on cooling rack. Enjoy!


Yields 1 Loaf

~Chef Shauna taken from my mom

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot Cake

3 Cups Grated Carrots
1/2 Teaspoonful Salt
2 Teaspoonful Baking Powder
3 Cups Sifted Flour
2 Teaspoonful Cinnamon
1 Cup Oil
4 Eggs
2 Teaspoonful Baking Soda
2 Cups Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour (or spray) bundt cake pan. Mix all ingredients together and pour into pan. Bake for 30-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (3 oz) Package Cream Cheese
1 Teaspoonful Vanilla Extract
2 1/2 Cups Sifted Powdered Sugar
1 Tablespoonful Milk
Dash of Salt

Combine cream cheese and milk. Add sugar gradually blending throughly. Add vanilla and salt. Mix well.


Yields 12-15 pieces

~Chef Shauna taken from my mom

Chocolate Chip Turtle Cookies

2 1/2 Cup Flour
1 Teaspoonful Baking Soda
1 Teaspoonful Salt

Combine in small bowl and set aside.

1 Cup Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
3/4 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoonful Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
1 Package Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 Package Chopped Nuts
1 Package Caramels


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Unwrap caramels and cut into fourths. In large bowl, combine butter, sugars, and vanilla. Beat until creamy then add eggs. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Stir in chips, nuts, and fourth caramels. Drop onto un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for aproxamitly 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove and cool on cooling rack.

Yields 2 1/2 Dozens

~Chef Shauna

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 Cup Flour
1 Teaspoonful Baking Soda
1 Teaspoonful Salt

Combine in small bowl and set aside.

1 Cup Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
3/4 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoonful Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
1 Oz Pack Chocolate Chips
1 Package Chopped Nuts (Optional)

Preheat oven 350 degrees.
In large bowl combine butter, sugars, and vanilla. Beat until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture. Mix well. Stir in chips and nuts. Drop onto un-greased cookie sheet. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Yields 2 1/2 Dozen

~Chef Shauna

No Bake Cookies (Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies)

2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Cocoa
1 Cube Butter (1/2 Cup)

Combine and boil hard for 1 minute.

Stir in:

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Teaspoonful Vanilla Extract
3 Cups Oatmeal

Drop on waxed paper by spoonfuls and let stand.

Yields 2 Dozen

~Chef Shauna taken from my mom

Cinnamon Pinwheels

My mom has made these every since I was little. She would make them out of the scraps of dough left over from making a pie or turnovers. I loved (still do) more than the pie or turnovers themselves!
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Roll out dough, you can use homemade dough mixture or the refrigerated kind. Spread butter on rolled out dough. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon and sugar. Roll up dough. Cut ends off, then slice roll into about 1/2 inch sections. Place on greased cookie sheet. You can place them with bottoms down, or place them on their sides and kinda smash down. Sprinkle with sugar and place in oven. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Place on cooling rack. Enjoy!!


Yields 2 dozen or so


~Chef Shauna taken from my mom