I love cookbooks. I don't always cook, but I love to flip through cookbooks and drool over all the fabulous meals I could make. Hmm... Maybe I actually only like the idea of cookbooks and all the possibilities. 

Anyway, I recently subscribed to Taste of Home magazine. Some of their desserts for 4th of July look divine. We're going to visit my mom for the weekend and go to a party at a high school friends' house. It's potluck and I want to take my famous beans and a dessert (to go along with the red, white, and blue jello shots).

I thought I'd share some of the easy dessert recipes I found in case you need ideas for something to take to your party this weekend. I think I'm going with the pretzel rods and the shortcake squares. How about you? What are your plans? Are you making anything special?

Red, White and Blue Dessert

Stars and Stripes Forever

Lemon Nut Star Cookies

Shortcake Squares

Patriotic Cupcakes

Pretzel Sparklers

Berries 'N' Creme Torte

Patriotic Trifle

*I got my subscription from She Speaks. Neither they or Taste of Home asked me to write about this. And I hate that I have to qualify that to appease the masses. Being helpful shouldn't require a disclaimer.

Works for Me Wednesday: 5 Ingredients or Less Caramel Layer Squares

I love this edition of WFMW and I'm looking forward to reading all the easy meal recipes. I've been making this dessert for years. It's quick and SOO good! I get raves every time I make it.

Ingredients
Evaporated milk (small can)
Chocolate chips
German Chocolate cake mix (pudding style)
Light caramels*
Butter
Chopped nuts (That's 6, but they're optional!)


Special tools
Double boiler**

Part A
1/3 c evaporated milk
1 14 oz. package of light caramels

Part B
1 box of German Chocolate cake mix
1/2 c melted butter
1/3 c evaporated milk

Part C
1/4 c chopped nuts
1 6 oz bag of chocolate chips

1. Combine the caramels and evaporated milk in a double boiler on low heat, stirring often until melted. Remove from heat.


2. Combine cake mix, butter, evaporated milk and nuts until just moistened and mix holds together.

3. Spread just over half the dough in a thin layer into a greased and floured 9 x 13 pan.

4. Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes.

5. Pour melted caramel over dough. Sprinkle with half the chocolate chips.

6. Drop remaining dough in bite sized chunks over caramel and chips. Top with remaining chips.


7. Bake 16-18 additional minutes. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes.

These are awesome warm and topped with ice cream! Enjoy! (I will try to update with a plated picture. They weren't cool enough to cut yet)

*It's getting harder to find bags of individually wrapped caramels. I used to buy the Kraft ones but haven't seen those for at least a year unless it's around Thanksgiving. This is the first time I've used Werther's. I only bought (2) 5.5 oz bags and wished I had more pieces.

**I have never used a microwave for melting the caramel, but I'm sure it can be done.

For more WFMW visit Shannon's place.