Desserts

Basic Cookie Dough -- Here are two similar recipes Mom used for basic cut-out cookies.

Betty Jane's Chocolate Squares -- Whoever Betty Jane is, she came up with this great chocolate cake recipe.

Buttermilk Pie—An elegant, rich pie similar to Chess Pie, it's quick and easy to assemble.

Candy Cane Cookies -- Part of the "Holiday Collection," these were made and enjoyed every Christmas for years.

Chocolate Layer Bars -- Marilyn made these one Christmas in Poughkeepsie. They're superb!

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies -- These no-bake confections are more like candy than cookies.

Chocolate Sauce -- Doree found this recipe on a Bakers' Chocolate box. There's no better way to serve it than on ice cream with toasted pecans.

Coconut Cake Supreme -- This rich, moist cake has become the Christmas dessert of choice for the Memphis bunch.

Date Balls — These have become part of the holiday dessert fare in Memphis. They're good even if you don't like dates!

Fresh Strawberry Pie — A favorite Parke family summer dessert!

Frosty Mint Ice Cream Pie -- Jani discovered this recipe on a Pillsbury Cake Mix box. This recipe makes two pies which would easily serve 12-16 people. You can also make each pie with a different flavor of ice cream. The crust is rich and chewy like a brownie and works equally well with a premium (Baskin Robbins or Ben & Jerry's) ice cream or a less expensive (or lower-fat) alternative.

Fruit Cobbler — There is no simpler dessert than this old family favorite. Keep the ingredients on hand and you'll never be more than 30 minutes away from serving it!

Green Tomato Pie -- This recipe has been in the family for generations. When we had an early frost before the tomatoes had ripened, Mom made this pie to help use up the green tomatoes. The pie tastes similar to apple pie.

Hershey Bar Cake 1 -- This recipe comes from Hershey's Chocolate Treasury. It makes the best and most moist chocolate cake.

Hot Fudge Sauce — A craving for a hot fudge sundae sent Marilyn searching through her recipe books for a good hot fudge recipe. Everything was too complicated or time-consuming, so she created her own. This is about as simple as it gets.

Mexican Wedding Rings --Another great cookie from the "Holiday Collection." We don't understand the "Mexican" connection, and they aren't shaped anything like rings, but these very elegant little bites would, indeed, be perfect for a wedding buffet.

Mom's Thumbprint Cookies -- These are just incredible little cookies (unless you don't like pecans). And you can color coordinate the icing with each season or to match your decor.

Peanut Butter - Chocolate Squares -- These candies taste a lot like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Potato Chip Cookies — These are excellent cookies that taste very similar to Pecan Sandies. A must try for all Cookie Monsters!

Rhubarb Custard Pie -- If you like rhubarb this pie is for you. Mom and Dad really liked it and they kept a rhubarb patch growing beside the garage for as long as we can remember. When they moved to southern Florida a few years ago they tried to transplant the rhubarb. It didn't thrive there . . . sadly.

Snickerdoodles -- The recipe card says, "Fun to say . . . to sniff . . . to eat!"

Strawberry (or Peach) Ice Cream -- Doree's recipe for homemade ice cream. Terrific!

Surprise Pie -- Mom and Dad played bridge once a month with several other couples. The couples took turns hosting the party and when it was at our house it was a major event (since it was the only "entertaining" our parents ever did). After spending the day cleaning the house and hastily eating the traditional Saturday supper of hamburgers and baked beans, we all scurried about setting up card tables and chairs, laying out tablecloths and napkins. The company coffee percolator would begin perking and all sorts of fancy (at least to us) dishes were taken out of the cupboards to hold the snacks and dessert that would be served. I loved looking at the frosted glasses with the bright, colorful birds on the side that were reserved for such occasions. And I thought the lazy susan with its iridescent dishes that would hold chips, dips, and little candies was just the coolest thing! I loved these evenings because I would get to stay up a little later and be a part of the festivities. This "Surprise Pie" is one of the desserts that was served to the Bridge Club.

Toffee Bars -- If you like Heath candy bars try these. They're quick, easy and great-tasting.

Wacky Cake -- This chocolate cake is unique because of its Caramel Icing.