Ice Cream Cake

This dessert is so easy to make, but you will still be getting raves long after everyone has finished eating it. My neighbor first introduced this to me and I was sure that it was time consuming to make. I also assumed it would probably call for lots of different ingredients. Wow! Did she ever have me fooled! It is so easy to do, and is made using only 5 ingredients. You will also get lots of servings out of each cake. Everyone I have ever served this to, says it certainly gives Dairy Queen a run for their money!. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with a Dairy Queen cake, cause we all know they are delicious! All in all though, they are probably a little more costly than this cake. Another good thing with this cake, is that it can be made ahead of time and kept in the freezer covered. No need to be rushing around the day of the event when you have a hundred other things to do, and then having to worry about fixing a mouth watering dessert. The easy part of this cake is the main ingredient is one box of ice cream sandwiches. These usually are chocolate sandwich cookies with vanilla ice cream, but I have run across ones made with strawberry ice cream. It is truly a matter of preference, as either one is quite delicious.

Ingredients Needed:

1 Box of 10 Ice Cream Sandwiches (Rectangular)
1 Jar 11.75 oz. Hot Fudge Topping
1 Jar 11.75 oz. Carmel Topping
2 Small containers 8 ounce of Cool Whip
1 Small Bag of chopped Walnut pieces or Pecans.

Unwrap the sandwich cookies and place 5 of them side by side on an aluminum foil covered cookie tray.

Next warm the hot fudge in the microwave until it is easy to spread. Spoon a layer of hot fudge over the top of the cookies. Place in freezer for 5-10 minutes until the hot fudge sets. Next spread a layer of cool whip over the cookies, and also up over the sides, like you were icing a cake Again replace in the freezer for 5 - 10 minutes. Now you will place the other 5 ice cream sandwiches on top of the previous layers. This time heat the Carmel topping in the microwave until it is easy to spread. Spoon this over the sandwiches. Return to freezer for 5-10 minutes until it sets. Next place more Cool Whip on top and spread sides as in icing a cake. Sprinkle the top with nuts and your masterpiece is finished. I have made this cake using the strawberry ice cream sandwiches, and exchanging the Carmel topping for strawberry topping. Don't be afraid to experiment-it is so easy and so delicious!

Dessert Pizza Recipes

The humble but delicious pizza pie recipe began as a means of checking an oven long ago to make sure that it was hot enough to cook the foods that were being prepared. Most often, the dough that was cooked this way was a peasants meal and most likely they were thrilled to have something good to eat at that time. They may have eaten it plain or with some type of meager topping. However, as time passed the many different tastes and themes have evolved into the types of delicious dishes we love to eat today.

For centuries, the pizza pie has been popular in many different regions. The ingredients may vary from one area to another as well as from one family to another. They are made of so many different types of ingredients depending on the taste preferences of those eating it as well as the types of ingredients that are available to any specific region or family.

Enjoying a Dessert Pizza Recipe Anytime

Do you realize that people all over the world are eating pizza as they please? Some eat it as a breakfast meal, others like it for lunch and many families share one or two at the dinner table each evening. Some people even enjoy eating different flavors on it as a dessert. These types of recipes are not limited to tangy and savory dishes; you can make them smooth and sweet in taste and appearance as well. They are great holiday treats as well as something the younger crowd will enjoy during parties and sleepovers. The best thing about them is they are so easy to make that even the kids can get in on making their own favorite dessert.

Adapting Dessert Pizzas is Easy

When you find the dough recipe you like for dessert you can begin adapting such a recipe by including the types of fruits and sweets that you might enjoy eating for any special occasion or as an everyday treat.

Recipe for Fruit Dessert Pizza

What You Need

1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough 18 ounce1 small container thawed whipped topping 8 ounce? cup sliced strawberries? cup sliced bananas? cup sliced seedless grapes? cup drained crushed pineapples

How to Make It

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Press the thawed sugar cookie dough evenly on to a 12 inch cookie sheet or pizza pan.

Place in oven and bake for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown in color. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

Using a spatula spread the container of whipped topping over the cool pizza crust evenly. Then you will arrange the various fruits in a festive pattern and place in the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.

Pizza is delicious in many different ways, it just depends on where you are and where you are eating. When you learn how to make your own pizzas as well as learning to make a pizza dough recipe the sky is the limit when it comes to the various ingredients you can include. Make your family happy tonight; visit our website to find even more great recipes you can try.

Wedding Cupcakes

The fad is cupcakes and if you haven't given it a thought sit back and enjoy the reasons why you should choose gourmet cupcakes for your wedding instead of the traditional wedding cake. If you are reading this then you're most like about to celebrate a special and an important day in your life's journey. I congratulate you in your impending marriage.

For those of you who are looking for a change of pace for that big wedding, you may want to consider wedding cupcakes. This definitely puts a whole new twist on things and can give a wedding the edge to make it more unique. Wedding cupcakes are the answer! What a fun way to add spice and pizzazz to a wedding. They can be done to fit the needs of the wedding whether it's casual or formal.

There are a few advantages as well to having wedding cupcakes as opposed to a traditional cake. First off, you can have as many or as little as you want based on the guest list. Cupcakes are the new wedding cake alternative and can be easier to deal with in some cases. Decorate them all the same or you can decorate each one with a different design. You can even find fancy wedding cupcake liners as opposed to wild colors they sell in the stores.

Wedding Cupcake Flavors

When it comes to wedding cupcake flavors, there is a wide variety to choose from. Choose from strawberry, chocolate, marble, carrot, banana, coconut and much more. There are even newer flavors including mocha, vanilla milk chocolate, and pumpkin. No matter what your taste buds crave, there is a wedding cupcake recipe that suits you.

Wedding Cupcake Decorations

There is a wide variety of ways to decorate your wedding cupcakes. Think of the theme and determine decoration items and frosting. You can use fondant icing, whipped cream icing, and butter cream icing to just name a few. There are several others to choose from so find the one that you like the best. Another neat idea is to add some coloring and flavoring to the icing.

Use sprinkles and candies in the shapes of roses and other things. Use glitter dust as well or sugar that sparkles. There are hundreds of creative ideas for decorating your wedding cupcakes to be as formal or casual as you want. Always keep the theme of the wedding in mind as well as the colors.

Displaying Your Wedding Cupcakes

As far as decorating your cupcakes, there are many ideas available as well. There are things such as tiers and other cupcake stands to use to display them nicely. Nowadays, there are even stands sold that are electrical and have a variety of colors that shine on them. Can't find anything that works best for you? Get creative and design your own stands.

Cupcake Wedding Cakes

A cupcake wedding cake is also another great idea. You can have a few tiers of cupcakes and add a sense of class to any wedding. This is becoming a more and more popular idea among brides. Not only can you have more options available to you, but you can also make something beautiful and out of the ordinary. No matter what the theme, wedding cupcakes can add that extra bit of uniqueness to your wedding, and with all the potential designs and ideas available, you are sure to find what fits you the best and your wedding.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

1 cup finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup finely ground ginger cookies, store bought or homemade
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
4-5 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine, melted

Cheesecake:

2/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup pumpkin puree, canned or homemade
1 pound low-fat plain cream cheese, room temperature
3 extra-large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup pecan halves for decorating top of cheesecake

1. Preheat oven to 350?F and place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Grease an 8 inch spring form pan with either non-stick cooking spray or butter.

2. For Crust: In a medium sized bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, ginger cookie crumbs, finely chopped pecan pieces, granulated sugar, and melted butter or margarine. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared spring form pan. Cover the crust with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator while you make the cheesecake filling.

3. For Cheesecake: Place the cream cheese into the blender and mix until smooth (about 2 minutes). Gradually add the brown sugar and spices, and beat until smooth and creamy (1 to 2 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well (about 30 seconds) for each addition. Use a spatula to scrape any ingredient that didn't get combined off the sides of the blender. Add vanilla and pumpkin puree and mix well.

4. Pour the pumpkin filling over the chilled ginger crust and place spring form pan on top of a baking sheet to catch any drips. Decorate the top of the cheesecake with pecan halves. Place a cake pan filled half full with hot water on the bottom shelf of the oven to add humidity to the air inside the oven and keep the top of the cheesecake from cracking. Bake the cheesecake for 30 minutes at 350?F, then reduce the oven temperature to 325?F and bake the cheesecake for another 10-20 minutes until the edges are puffed but the center is still slightly jiggly when the pan is shaken.

5. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Loosen the cake from the spring form pan by gently running a knife around the inside of the pan. Set the cake back on the wire rack (free of the sides of the spring form pan), and cover loosely with aluminum foil. The foil will allow the cheesecake to cool slowly. Once the cake is completely cooled, cover and place in the refrigerator to cool for at least 8 hours, or overnight, prior to serving.

'Cake Boss' to chat with Jay Leno on 'The Tonight Show'

Mark Maurer/Hoboken Now"Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro and "Jersey Shore"'s Snooki at Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken. Tonight the "Boss" will sit down for a chat with Jay Leno on NBC's "The Tonight Show." Hoboken's own "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro will sit down for a chat with fellow Italiano Jay Leno on NBC's "The Tonight Show."

Valastro will be Leno's second guest tonight at 11:30 p.m. following Christina Aguilera who will be offering a musical performance from her new movie "Burlesque."

The proprietor of Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop and star of the TLC reality series "Cake Boss" has been busy lately promoting his new book and wrapping up filming on his spin-off competition series "The Next Great Baker."

'Cake Boss' to be named New York Times best-selling author

Jersey Journal file photoValastro's Baking with the Boss Tour, promoting his now New York Times best-selling book, took him to 20 cities, including Jersey City, earlier this fall. Here, he holds a tour poster from The Jersey Journal during his stop at the St. Joseph Parish festival.

Hoboken's "Cake Boss,'' baker Buddy Valastro, is about to be a New York Times best-selling author.

Valastro, who runs Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop on Washington Street, just tweeted the news to supporters.

"Just found out I am going to be an NYT Best Selling Author!'' he wrote. "This is one of the biggest accomplishments - thanks to every1 who bought a copy!"

The book, "Cake Boss," named after his reality show on the TLC network, combines stories of Valastro's family, which is featured prominently on the show, and includes recipes.

'Cake Boss' chef to design cake for Taste of the NFL

"The Boss" is coming to the Fort Worth Convention Center.

No, not that Boss, but the Cake Boss.

Buddy Valastro, a pastry chef who specializes in cakes and stars on the "Cake Boss" reality show on the TLC network, is designing the cake to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Taste of the NFL, which will be at the Convention Center on Feb. 5.

Taste of the NFL has been one of the signature events associated with the Super Bowl for two decades, with proceeds going to local food banks in the city or region hosting the Super Bowl, as well as national food banks.

Chefs from all 32 NFL franchise cities create a signature dish, which guests sample and wash down with wines provided by the Gallo Winery. Since its inception, Taste of the NFL has distributed more than $10 million to food banks around the country to fight hunger.

Valastro will be at the Convention Center for this year's Taste, which is the night before Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium.

In a press release, he is described as a fourth-generation baker who inherited the family business when he was only 17 and his father died. Carlo's Bakery is in Hoboken, N.J.

Taste of the NFL is from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 5, with tickets priced at $500.

A VIP ticket is $600 and a corporate table seating 10 is $6,000. VIPs and those who purchase tables are admitted at 6 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tasteofthenfl.com. Looking for comments?