No ordinary fruit salad!

Fruit Salad, yummy yummy.. Ahhhh, that song always pops into my head whenever some one says the word fruit salad, and as much as you can deny it,all you mom's out there, you know it pops into your mind as well, just admit it! Okay, seriously now-- During the hot summer months when we are craving dessert and watching our figures, there is nothing more delicious than a fruit salad.. okay fine, that cookie pie is darn delicious I'm not gonna lie.. but fruit salad can be just as good and really beautiful with none of the guilt.

I'm on a vacation in a little cottage the mountains and the fridge is not stocked with lots of fruit.. so my fruit salad does not have lots of types fruit like I would normally add.. but it's still really beautiful and is going to be really tasty!

So, there are many ways to transform a regular fruit salad into a decadent dessert. You can add a scoop of your favorite sorbet, sprinkle it with brown sugar and cinnamon or dust it with powdered sugar... or make a fruit dip for along side. But, to make it elegant and decadent.. try this Limoncello sauce for on top of your next fruit salad, yummy, yummy .. okay, I'll stop now!



Limoncello Fruit Salad
adapted from Barefoot Contessa

7 ounces Greek yogurt (recommended: Fage Total)
1/3 cup good bottled lemon curd
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups sliced strawberries (1 pint)
1 cup raspberries (1/2 pint)
1 cup blueberries (1/2 pint)
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons limoncello liqueur
1 banana, sliced
Fresh mint springs
Directions
For the lemon yogurt topping, whisk together the yogurt, lemon curd, honey, and vanilla and set aside at room temperature.


For the fruit salad, carefully toss together the strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, sugar, and limoncello. Allow them to stand at room temperature for about 5 minutes to let the berries macerate with the sugar and liqueur. Gently fold the banana into the mixture.


Serve bowls of fruit with a dollop of lemon yogurt on top. Top each with a sprig of fresh mint.

Milk and Cookies pie

Okay, have you ever been invited to someones house and offered to bring something and then the day arrives, the party is a few hours away and you've been so busy that you have not been to the store and you have no idea what to bring! Well, this pie is your "go to" I promise. It is really good! I mean how could it be bad.. who doesn't love Chips Ahoy cookies?? The best part is it takes 10 minutes to make and your 7 year old could do it.

I first made this pie for my great friend.. I've know her all my life so it's best to call her my sister.. Amy and her husband TD after the birth of their first child. TD looved this pie so much, after the birth of their 2nd daughter we joked he was more excited to get dinner and "that pie!"

TD this bite of bliss is for you.. and Amy, Mere and Paigey too.. xoxo

Milk and Cookies pie
by Nicole
www.blissntell.net

1 (15 or 18-ounce) package chocolate chip cookies (recipe uses 26 cookies)
1 cup milk
1 (9-ounce) commercial graham cracker pie crust ("extra serving" or"deep dish" size)
1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1.Dip 8 cookies in milk, then place in a single layer in graham cracker crust. Top with one-third of the whipped topping.
2.Repeat above so that you have a total of three layers of cookies and whipped topping.
3.Crumble 2 chocolate chip cookies, and sprinkle over pie.
4.Cover and chill 8 hours before serving but if you only have 2 hours till party.. that's fine just stick it in the fridge when you get there!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
adapted from Cooks Illustrated
www.blissntell.net

2 C plus 2T flour
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
12 T butter melted and cooled to warm
1 cup brown sugar ( light or dark )
1/2 C sugar
1 large egg and 1 egg yolk
2 t vanilla extract
1 1/2 C semi sweet choc chips

heat oven to 325 degrees. Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together and set aside.
Mix butter and sugars together. Mix in egg, yolk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix. Stir in chips.

bake 10- 13 min or until cookies are light golden brown and outer edges are hard but the inside center are still soft and puffy. Cool on cookie sheets.

Logan's chocolate chip cookie

I am inspired by my son. He has had to work hard at everything, and he does so with no complaining and a smile on is face. He repeated the first grade, had to get used to a new set of classmates, dealt with OT issues and tutoring 2x per week. Along with playing seasonal sports. His teachers always sing his praise and he got the Mother Teresa peacemaker award for being such an amazing "peacemaker" at school. Now it is my turn to sing his praise...

He started football camp this week and it's his first experience with tackle football. I put him in a camp to get him used to being "HIT". He only knew one kid out of 70 kids at the camp ages ranging from ages 7-14. He is 9... It is 95+ degrees out and this camp is NOT fun, it is serious and really a training camp for the upcoming season. The first night he was totally overwhelmed. He did not want to go back again. I expressed to him the importance of not quiting and trying it again. I told him to sleep on it and we will talk in the morning. So, he woke up and said " Mom, I'm going to try again."

I was so proud of him.. really, I am a worry wort and I worry about him getting hurt, so it would be great for me if he did not do it, but I have 3 boys and I know I better get used to this! More importantly,I know that I need to instill in him the quality of not giving up. I really admire his character and I feel like I am starting to mold a good little man.

Recipes are very sentimental. Often we relate food to our family in many ways,and with that being said I dedicate this recipe to my son Logan. He loves Chocolate Chip cookies and I have tried so many recipes and these are by far our favorite. Actually, this winter during our many snow storms, I was in search for the perfect chocolate chip cookie an this was our winner!

These cookies will be waiting for Logan when he comes home from camp tonight :)

Mmmm.. 5 bites of bliss
Enjoy!

Nicole

Shortcut Boston Cream Cake

The day started out with a trip to the grocery store.. with 3 out of 5 kids.. not bad:) We get in the store and the adventure starts with a trip to the bathroom, 3 balloons and a stop at the free cookies.. okay, now it's time to shop (finally!)
My usual stop down the baking isle and I come across the new Duncan Hines glaze... Immediately my mind drifts to childhood and my late mom's Boston Cream cake. It was sooo good, and of course from scratch with a homemade chocolate glaze. But, with five kids, it alright to take a shortcut every now and then! By the way I prefer Duncan Hines cake mixes, but, hey, Betty was on sale:)

Shortcut Boston Cream Cake
By: Nicole Kraft ( Bliss n Tell)

1 box butter cake mix
1 small box vanilla pudding mix
Duncan Hines Glaze

Prepare cake as directed on box. While cake is cooling make pudding and spread on cake. Drizzle icing on top layer. Keep cake in refrigerator.

MMM... I'm telling you.. 5 bites of bliss! Enjoy!

For mom's sake and because homemade is really amazing if you have the time, here is a great Chocolate glaze recipe.

Chocolate Glaze
Allrecipes

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1.In a double boiler over hot, but not boiling water, combine chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, then add vanilla.
2.Spread warm glaze over top of cake, letting it drizzle down the sides.