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My son’s birthday happens to fall on Memorial Weekend every year.

So, we basically get to have a party for him and for the holiday all wrapped into one. It was only a few years ago that he even realized that it was Memorial Day. I often wondered if we would get such a big crowd showing up if it wasn’t a combination of events. Either way, we always have a nice turnout and good time. This year, we decided to skip the whole birthday cake thing. The kids usually eat the ice cream and the cake goes to waste.

My boy has recently decided that he loves cheesecake, and I happened to see this recipe for a patriotic version on Facebook and decided that’s what we were going to do. Adults usually reach for a piece of cheesecake before they do the regular cake.

This went over so well, there wasn’t a single crumb left on the plate. I think everyone that wanted some got some so at least that was good. Next time I just might have to make up two of these!

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Quick Tip: More cinnamon can be used if you like the flavor in your cheesecake.

When my mother was coming for a visit from her new home in Arizona, I was over the moon excited to see her.

I remember the day that she moved like it was yesterday. She wanted to retire someplace where it was warm, and she already had friends that had headed out that way. Anyways, as I watched her drive away with that trailer full of her belongings, I was devastated. She had lived so close all my life, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do without her.

In order to take up some of my spare time, I decided that I would start baking. She was always an amazing baker, so I figured it was in my blood. I had come up with a lot of great cakes, pies, and cookies, but my favorite was a carrot cheesecake that I had seen on Facebook. It was three layers of heaven that were almost too good to make for no reason at all.

Now that Mom was on her way, I had a reason to put it together. When she showed up and saw it, she couldn’t wait to get her hands on it. Between her the kids, and my husband, I was lucky to even get a piece of it. I love making people happy with food, and this is a surefire way to do it.

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Quick Tip: Try with pineapple or additional carrots if you want to leave out the apples.

My daughter has probably the biggest sweet tooth out of everyone that I have ever met.

If there is candy in the house, and you want to eat it, it has to be hidden. I always tell my other two kids to stash their sweet treats away if they don’t want them to disappear. Whenever you go in the cupboards, I can guarantee you won’t find anything chocolate in there. I don’t know where she got this sweet tooth from, maybe her aunt who is also crazy about anything chocolate.

They actually share a birthday so it’s very possible they also share this trait. That’s why, when their special day came around, I knew I had to make something covered in candy. When doing a quick search, I found this recipe for no-bake Rolo cheesecake on Spend With Pennies.

I knew it was it. They both loved Rolo candies. When my hubby brings home snacks for the kids after work, that’s usually what she gets, and they don’t stand a chance. Between her and her aunt, this cake didn’t either!

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Quick Tip: Make and freeze if you want to get ahead of the game.

Carrot cake.  My one main sweets weakness.  I am not much of a sweets person.  I would rather waste all my day’s calories on a big bowl of pasta than a slice of cake.  I mean, what is better than a cheesy, full of Italian flavor, plate of carbs, right? Well, the other day my neighbor Molly invited me over to her house and proved me wrong.  She showed me that there is something better than a big bowl of carbs and it very well can be sweets.  And guess what friends? This is the very best!

Well, let me tell you, Molly and I both love to bake for our grand kids.  We spend our days baking away in the kitchen making chocolate chip cookies for Johnny and strawberry cupcakes for Ally as well as whatever her grand kids love.  If they all love something different, we make all of those items.

We love to make them happy and really please them.  Well, the other day, we found this recipe and knew our grandkids would not be fond of it, but we did.  We did what we have never done and stopped the grand kids baking production and made this for ourselves.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Shugary Sweets.

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Quick Tip: Add your favorite crushed nuts inside

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.

I recently shared about my cousin Alexis and her famous cheesecake. It is so unfair that she always gets the perfect cheesecake and voted dessert of the year every. Single. Year. No matter how hard I try, I never win and it is so frustrating. But I am determined not to let that stall me. I will continue pressing on until I become the Thanksgiving and Christmas dessert champion.

Now, in order to achieve that, I need to be searching for recipes left and right on the internet. I will go through cookbooks and Barnes and Noble, I will spend hours on Pinterest, I will go to my neighbor Anne’s house and look at her recipe books. All of this effort to achieve the dessert champion of the year. Now, I will admit something to you…I think I have found the one. It is a variation of Alexis’ dessert. It’s a chocolate cheesecake and it’s no bake (which makes it even better if you ask me!). It’s creamy and perfectly fluffy. I think this is could be a winner. I will take it this year to my mom’s side of the family’s Christmas Eve dinner and then again to my father in law’s Christmas day lunch and see if I win. I think I really have a chance with this one.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Mel’s Kitchen.

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Quick Tip: Make some homemade whipped cream and add a dollop on each slice!

Who cares, really?  I’m sure you’re willing to take the risk!

Lemon and fresh blueberries, with hints of cinnamon, decorate this decadent dessert.

Who doesn’t love cheesecake?  But if it’s too heavy for you usually, have no fear!

This is an incredibly light version of regular cheesecake, and my kids absolutely adore them!

This recipe takes about 25 minutes and makes 10 bars.

The fresh blueberries do the dessert total justice, but you can use any topping you have available.

Just remember you also need to put aside time to refrigerate the bars for several hours.

Recipe and photo courtesy of The Food Network

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