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Chocolate lava cakes are everything in my book. They are the perfect dish to serve to guests for dessert because first, they are individual portions, and not only is that convenient, but it is cute, too! Secondly, they are so impressive. One little pop and this little amazing cake oozes out chocolate juices unlike any other. It is runny and totally perfect and probably the only time you can eat an undercooked cake without being judged.

I have found the perfect recipe for two lava cakes, one for me and one for my husband. They are a bit difficult to make, but are worth it because they turn out beautifully. Now this recipe, not only does it turn out beautifully, but it is EASY! I am going to be switching to this recipe starting from today. No need to go through so much work to wreak results that can be made so easily with this recipe. This is the perfect recipe to make for houseguests, or just for a lazy evening all on your own. It has lots of chocolate in it, and topped with some whipped cream, you cannot go wrong! Give this a try and you might find yourself making it daily.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Buzz Feed.

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Quick Tip: Sift powdered sugar over the top and serve with berries.

I get so bored with regular ol’ cookies. I know I have mentioned before that I am a cookie lover, but I love to switch it up and find new and improved recipes to really get me going and crave more than just regular chocolate chip cookies. Many recipes that I find that are not chocolate chip are just oatmeal or sugar. They are plain and honestly, pretty boring. That is why I was thrilled when I found this recipe!

When you take a bite out of this, you get the flavors of a cheesecake and cinnamon roll all in one cookie. It does not feel like the texture would work for all these flavors, but it does and it is absolutely amazing. This is the perfect dessert to make for any occasion, whether you are just watching a Hallmark movie all by yourself, or you have a room full of kids at a party, these are sure to be a hit. Everyone loves a good cookie, so you cannot go wrong with making these for your special occasion. Do not be afraid to try something new either. Play with the flavors, add some chopped strawberries over the top, or add a bit of peppermint extract to the glaze. It can all turn out to be delicious!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Wine & Glue.

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Quick Tip: Serve with ice cream and chopped strawberries if you want a fancier dessert.

Cheesecake. One of my favorite desserts! Now, for it to qualify as a favorite, it needs to follow a few rules: it has GOT to have a crust. A buttery, sugary, full of graham cracker crust (the thicker the better!). It has to be fluffy (you know, whipped egg white folded in there to make it airy and light). And it has to have strawberry topping. Without the strawberry topping, a cheesecake is nothing. Do not even try to fool me by topping it with cherries, I do not want that at all!

Now, I recently discovered the joy and wonder of cheesecake bars. They are easier to serve and eat. You do not need a spoon; these bad boys can be popped straight into your mouth if they are cut in a perfect size. You do not even need a plate (a napkin will do just fine). These are the perfect treat to make at a party so you do not have to worry about serving and making a mess. Now, let’s talk toppings. I know I said strawberry topping is the way to my heart, but I have to admit, these have a perfect topping that I would be willing to take.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Easy, Peasy, Pleasy.

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Quick Tip: If you do not like pecans, feel free to substitute for any nut you do like.

Coconuts. Man, I used to hate them when I was little! I live in coconut paradise: Miami, Florida. We practically have fresh coconuts to enjoy year round, and everyone takes advantage of it. When we traveled, it was always to the Dominican Republic and that is where coconuts are famous. You just sit on the beach, relaxing and a guy who sells coconuts will stop by and if you want one, he will crack it open, peeling the skin back until it is just barely open, and the pop a straw right in. It is pretty cool.

Nowadays, I am more of a coconut fan. To be honest, I still do not like to drink the juice (although the little coconut preparing bit is awesome!) but I do like shaved coconut flakes, or coconut flavored foods. That is why I am thrilled to share this recipe with you. This creamy coconut pie reminds me of summer days on the beach, basking in the sun and splashing in the ocean. So if you are missing those summer days on this cold winter morning, feel free to make yourself this pie, turn the heater on, and watch a beach movie while you take bite after bite!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Bunny’s Warm Oven.

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Quick Tip: Top with cherries for a pop of color.

I had never even heard of the term poke cake until one day that I was just relaxing with a friend of mine on a couch and she told me about the new poke cake she discovered. You see, she is a great baker and loves to try her hand at new recipes that are usually plain and make them a little more exciting. One of her favorite new styles of cakes is poke cakes and I had no idea what they were.

I asked her what in the world that was, and with a laugh she explained that it is simply a cake baked in a brownie dish and then poked to infuse with some sort of delicious liquid or frosting. It is almost the same process of making a Tres Leches (a vanilla cake that is poked to infuse cow’s milk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk), but even easier. This specific one she was referring to was chocolate and I was amazed at all the amazing tastes that could come together from one simple poke cake. This was almost like two cakes in one here and I was thrilled to give it a try! I was elated and could not wait to get my hands on that recipe!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Spend With Pennies.

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Quick Tip: Feel free to top it off with chocolate chips and festive sprinkles.

As a kid, my mother would make us oatmeal on cold days.

She would add in things like applesauce, fruit compotes, and chocolate chips to jazz up the flavor a bit. Mom was always a very good cook. My sister’s and I looked forward to eating mom’s oatmeal. especially before we had to board the bus in the blistering Michigan-winter cold. Imagine how nice our bellies felt as we made our way down the crisp and cool driveway.

I love sending my kids off to school on a cold day knowing that they are well-fed and feeling cozy from the inside out, don’t you? Anyway, this recipe for homemade pumpkin spice oatmeal is just what the mother ordered lol! It’s Cinderella approved 🙂

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Quick Tip: I like to add a splash of vanilla to the recipe. It’s very yummy!

Breakfast Bakes. A man’s (or woman’s) best friend. There is nothing more comforting when you wake up than knowing that you have a bake in the fridge and all you have to do is pop that in the oven and it will be good to go. It is easy, simple and usually very comforting food that is perfect for getting yourself going on a lazy morning. Also a perk, these are quite filling and kids tend to love them! You can fix this up in any way you want, so do not be afraid to get creative with your preparation of this dish.

A great way to make your kids eat their veggies is to hide them in these! The kids love this because it is all their breakfast in one dish, so it will all be in one bowl and easy to chow down with a spoon. They also cannot really tell what is in it, so they eat it thoroughly, enjoying the potatoes and bit of cheese on the top, so it really does make it the perfect dish to sneak some of those veggies they would not eat otherwise. Do not let this fool you, it is easy to prep and delicious to enjoy.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Plain Chicken Mom.

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Quick Tip: Replace ham with chicken if you’d like.