Recipe Talk: Fruity Fall Desserts

This week, I thought it'd be fun to spotlight some fruit desserts that allow for eating healthy fruit covered by enough sugar to make it palatable. Just kidding! I do love fruity desserts, though.

First we tried the Raspberry Lemonade Cake by Gayle. Oh, it is really good! In fact, my Chris said we should take the recipe with us to East Texas and make some for his mom and dad over the Thanksgiving holidays. His mom, Mary Ann, is an exceptional cook with choice taste buds, so this cake is just that good! We found that it tastes even better the second day. The blend of tart lemons and sweet raspberries is a wonderful flavor blend for the fall--a harvest sensation!

Sorry for my lack of professional food-photography. This is exactly why others took the pictures in the cookbook! But despite my lack of skill, it still is "very good eatin' that's right fittin'," as my Chris' family would say!

Then Tabor helped me make Tara in Georgia's Apple Crisp. As she writes in the cookbook, it is easy to make and the ingredients are the kind you can always keep on hand for a quick dessert for expected or unexpected friends. It was super yummy with vanilla ice cream on top--especially while the Apple Crisp was still hot. Mmmm...what a way to welcome fall!

Finally, we made Peaches 'n Cream Cheesecake from Debbie Elrod in Tennessee. I was intimidated at first by the fact that the pudding mix could not be instant. Then I got to the store and found it all by itself away from the instant pudding mixes. I guess in our fast-paced world, instant is the way we tend to go!

This dessert is super rich and creamy. I loved the blend of flavors. It is definitely the best kind of dessert on a cool fall Sunday afternoon, like it is today here in Colorado. My Chris, who is a Texas boy through and through, said it needs 1/2 c. sugar in the crust part. But you have to realize he grew up on "swate" tea and plum pie--both of which have enough sugar for a coma to come on.

Would you like a cookbook? I have 85 ready right now...and will order more, as needed. Email me at chrishollysmith at msn dot com, if you are interested. So far we have given $2,165 towards clean water wells for children, and I have already set aside another $165 towards the next gift to Life Outreach International in honor of Beth Moore and the whole staff at Living Proof Ministries.

Also, I have 5 cookbooks from the first printing that have pages which are slightly damaged on the edges (pictured below). If you'd like to be entered to win one of these "seconds," you may enter my Grace Upon Grace Giveaway here at my blog.