You first have to understand how I buy food. I love the “buy one get one free” items, you never know when that extra item will come in handy for last minute dishes. I’m on the lookout for sale items as well, although you may not need the item for that week’s meal menu, it’s always good to save a little money now for that great dish later.

Although I think fresh is best, you can never go wrong with a canned or frozen item for these last minute recipes.

This offering is from two of my most recent creations that were very successful and only took 45 minutes to prepare and bake. The first one that was a huge success for my chocolate loving friends a few weeks ago.

Double Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars

1 box of chocolate cake mix

2 packages of cream cheese at room temperature

2 eggs

1 ½ cups chocolate chips

1 box of sugar confectionery

1 stick of butter at room temperature

– Mix buttered cake mix until ½ cup batter separates and set aside press remaining cake / butter mix into bottom of 8×11.5×2 baking dish

– Take the cream cheese, eggs, sugar and mix until smooth

– Melt the chocolate chips and mix with this mixture until well mixed.

– Pour cream cheese mixture on top of your cake mix, sprinkle half a cup cake mix on top

– Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes until center is set. – Let cool, then cut into 2-inch squares.

– Refrigerate leftover bars, just pop in for a few minutes before serving. Substitution of cream cheese and cream cheese frosting with sugar

So what was the dessert that inspired me to start sharing my recipes with all of you and especially my Apple-loving friends? Of Larry’s kitchen cabinets, here is the newest creation.

Quick and easy apple oatmeal crunch

2 cans of apple pie filling

1 cup golden raisins

1 ½ stick of butter at room temperature

1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour

1 ½ cup light brown sugar

1 ½ cup oatmeal

1 tablespoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

– Prepare an 8×11.5×2 baking dish by rubbing with oil or spray with cooking spray

– Mix the raisins and the filling of the cake and pour into a baking dish.

– Mix the butter, flour, sugar, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg until crumbly.

– Spread this mixture over the apple / raisins.

– Bake at 350 degrees until the top is golden brown and the apple is bubbly. Approx. 30 minutes

Hope you enjoy these great quick recipes.