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Meet the beautiful and so lovely Pineapple Upside Down Cupcake!  It has all of the sweet, fruity deliciousness of that classic, full-sized Southern cake, only in more convenient, individual servings. And though it is easy enough to bake for an everyday family treat, it will also be well received at most any gathering.

I remember eating plenty of pineapple upside down cake as a child when I would visit Grandmother in Hazlehurst, Mississippi.  It’s so easy to make, even though you’re technically baking a cake from scratch, and it has a flavor loved by people young and old (and in between) alike.  She never made it into cupcakes, though.  It is such a clever idea and it brings a touch of fresh air to this classic, yet delicious recipe.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Big Mama’s Home Kitchen

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Quick tip: Make a double batch and freeze the rest of them for a quick treat later!

Why settle for just canned beans, when you can make something like these Home-Style Cheesy Baked Beans with a nice blend of beans, cheddar, and bacon?  It’s easy to make and bakes in about an hour.

Hey, I know that there’s a reason why those canned baked beans and pork & beans are so popular by themselves.  They certainly make for a nice quick side when you’re in an extreme rush or are in a setting where cooking anything super-fancy isn’t necessarily an option (I have been on a few camping trips in my day, believe it or not).  But if you are at home and have a little time for the oven to work its magic, why settle just for what is in a can, when you can make something so much more flavor rich (not to mention vitamin- and fiber-rich)–and make it so easily as this?

Recipe and photo courtesy of A Spectacled Owl

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Quick tip:

This Chipotle Chicken Nacho Casserole is loaded with savory Tex-Mex flavor.  Do the fairly straightforward prep in advance, and you can have this filling, savory dish cooked in about twenty minutes – quick enough for an easy lunch or hectic weeknight meal. I have to hand it to Rachel Ray; she really knows how to throw down in the kitchen! I love the idea of turning that colorful Mexican-inspired cuisine into an easy casserole. With recipes like this, there’s no need for the middle of the week to turn into a “food dead zone.”

If you are concerned about the spiciness of this recipe, just go light on the extra jalapeños or leave them out entirely.  There is plenty enough other seasoning here to do without the additional heat if you are more the type that puts up with the spicy heat than enjoys it. Cooking the chipotle in olive oil with the herbs and other spices for a few minutes before baking it softens its heat, as well. And the cheese blend draws all of the flavors together rather nicely. As-is, the recipe serves four people.

Recipe and photo courtesy of The Rachael Ray Show

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Quick tip: Use your favorite cheese for this recipe!

I Love All of the Textures and Flavors in This Dessert! MMM!

Well, this certainly takes brownies to a whole new level! These Candied Pecan Blondies make generous use of nuts, chocolate, and honey to create a delightful blend of textures and a heavenly rich dessert.

No mixer required, and just about an hour to prep and bake! Though I am willing to put forth the effort if it’s worth it, it’s nice to be able to throw together a yummy dessert in an hour with no mixing or complicated steps.  And as I love chocolate with nuts mixed in, these treats were just perfect for me to try. I’ve made these a couple of times already, and my family is so fond of them I think I’ll have to make them again soon!

These blondies also make the perfect dessert for those times when you’re cooking for a large crowd. We have a big family and I always bring this to our reunions (people would go crazy if I didn’t!), so I am very used to doubling and even tripling the ingredients. I never bring home any – these simply disappear right in front of my eyes!

Recipe courtesy of The Cafe Sucre Farine. Image credit Dana Moos.

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Quick Tip: If you don’t care for pecans, you can leave them out.

If you are looking for something new to add to your meal plan for those busier times of the week and the year, consider trying this savory Chicken and Cauliflower Casserole.  It is hard to beat a good casserole for simplicity and quickness (this one takes under an hour to prepare and bake).

Before trying this recipe, I hadn’t eaten cauliflower in a long while.  Not because I dislike it–quite the contrary, actually.  I enjoy raw cut-up bits of cauliflower with ranch dressing or another simple, creamy dip, and when Mother cooked it au gratin, I loved the flavor.  I just hadn’t come across many other variations.  Raw with dip or basic au gratin–that was it.  So, ever in the search of more recipes, I kind of let cauliflower get lost in the shuffle.  I was happy that this recipe turned out so well for me, so that I could share it with you.

Recipe and photo courtesy of  iSaveA2Z.

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Quick tip: Instead of cauliflower you could use broccoli, or even both.

These Peanut Butter Cookie-Cupcakes bring all of those beloved childhood treats together in one delicious dessert. They’re really quick and easy to make.  Your children will love them, and so will you!  I need to warn you, though – they will be gone in a heartbeat, so make sure you’ll grab some for yourself first!

I loved Reese’s peanut butter cups when I was growing up (still do, actually – and who wouldn’t).  I think that I was most excited when I saw them as part of my trick-or-treating haul at Halloween, but they were great any time of year.  How can you go wrong with that peanut butter and chocolate combination, and how can you make it even better?  Put it in this recipe.  It’s seriously yummy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of  Recipe Girl

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Quick tip: Make a double batch and freeze some for a quick treat later!

And for my last share of the day I offer you a light, dreamy Southern dessert. You won’t be able to resist this!

This Southern Sour Cream Coconut Cake is a lovely twist on your classic white cake. It is super-easy to make, bakes in just 40 minutes, and is melt-in-your-mouth wonderful!

This makes for a lovely summer dessert option for your family or next party. And you know what? If I wasn’t married already, I might even consider making this my wedding cake! Yes – it really is THAT delicious, and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear someone had this at their wedding!

Sometimes, I get so caught up finding those wonderful appetizers, entrees, and side dishes for all of you beautiful readers that I forget to share all of those irresistible desserts out there.  This Southern sour cream coconut cake should not be overlooked.  You don’t have to be a master baker to put this one together, and it is so moist and refreshing!  The way it melts in your mouth, it is like eating a sweet piece of cloud.  I really was carried away by the flavor.

Recipe courtesy of The Southern Lady Cooks

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Quick tip: Cut the cake into bite-sized pieces and freeze for a delicious treat when you want one!