Most of my desserts that I serve my family are usually easy but do take some time to create.  Sometimes I just don’t have the time or the energy to spend an afternoon in the kitchen. I thought I would include a few easy dessert recipes that don’t lack the homemade taste. They are delicious and use ingredients that can be purchased in advanced and stored until they are needed.

Pistachio Pineapple Pie (EASY)

1 box pistachio instant pudding

1 12-oz can crushed pineapple (drain juice)

1/2 of a 9-oz. container of Cool Whip

1 chocolate cookie crumb pie shell

Mix all these ingredients together and put into the crust. Top with the remaining

Cool Whip.

Cracker Cookies (sound weird but are incredible!)

Heat oven to 400. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

1 1/2 sticks butter

1/2 cup sugar

Unsalted Saltines (go figure on that one)

12 oz package chocolate chips

1 cup slivered almonds or some other nut

Boil butter and sugar and pour over saltines.

Bake for 5 minutes.

Remove and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Return to the oven for 10 seconds to soften.

Spread like frosting.

Sprinkle liberally with nuts.

Cool, score them, (make lines with a knife), chill, and then break into chunks.

Can be frozen.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Cake

3-4 packages ladyfingers

1 can of raspberry pie filling

11 oz. cream cheese (1 large & 1 small package)

3/4 sugar

1 pint of heavy cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1. Mix cream cheese & 3/4 cup sugar.

2. Whip heavy cream with 2 tbsps. sugar and vanilla

3. Add both 1 and 2 mixtures together

Layer lady fingers, puffy side out around a springform pan. They should be standing up.

Line the bottom of the pan with the ladyfingers, then cream cheese mix, and continue til you reach the top of the pan. Spread the top with the raspberry pie filling