Key Lime Bars

5 boxes (10 ounces total) animal crackers

6 tablespoons brown sugar

Pinch of salt

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

6 limes: zest from 4; juice from all (about 1 cup)

2 cans (14 ounces each) sweetened condensed milk

2 egg yolks

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9-by-13-inch pan with heavy aluminum foil, leaving extra length on the ends to use as handles; coat with cooking spray.

Crush animal crackers with rolling pin or food processor. Add brown sugar and salt; drizzle butter over crumbs and combine. Press crumbs evenly and firmly into bottom only of pan. Bake until golden, 18-20 minutes. Cool on rack while preparing filling.

With spatula combine cream cheese, zest and pinch of salt until thoroughly blended. Add condensed milk and whisk until incorporated. Whisk in egg yolks. Add lime juice and whisk until slightly thickened. Pour into crust and bake 15-20 minutes or until set and sides begin to pull away from pan.

Cool on rack to room temperature; cover with foil and refrigerate 2 hours. Lift bars from pan and cut into squares.

Serves 24.

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

24 yellow cake cupcakes (from a boxed mix is fine)

Filling

1 box (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix

1½ cups heavy whipping cream

½ cup confectioner's sugar

¼ cup milk

½ cup sour cream

Ganache

6 ounces semisweet chocolate squares

¾ cup heavy whipping cream

2 cups confectioner's sugar

or the filling: Combine pudding mix, cream, confectioner's sugar, milk and sour cream. Beat at medium speed until fairly stiff peaks form. Spoon filling in a pastry gun and squeeze into center of each completely cooled cupcake, just until cupcake begins to crack.

For ganache: In a medium bowl combine chocolate and cream. Microwave on high at 45 second intervals until chocolate melts. Whisk in confectioner's sugar until smooth. Cool until spreadable. Frost the cupcakes. Store covered in refrigerator.

Serves 24.

Miracle Meat Rolls

Miracle Meat Rolls

Makes: 6 servings

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1/4 cup dry bread crumbs

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups mashed potatoes

2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped

1/3 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup finely chopped celery

2 tablespoons green onions

Salt and pepper

For sauce:

1 cup Miracle Whip salad dressing

1/3 cup milk

2 tablespoons green onion slices



Combine meat, bread crumbs, egg and salt. Pat meat mixture into 14" x 8" rectangle on foil or waxed paper. Combine mashed potatoes, hard-cooked eggs, salad dressing, cheese, celery and onion; mix lightly. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread potato mixture evenly over meat. Roll up jelly roll fashion, beginning at the narrow end. Chill several hours or overnight. Slice meat roll into six slices. Bake on rack of broiler pan at 350 degrees, 25 to 30 minutes.

To make sauce: Combine salad dressing, milk and green onion slices in saucepan; mix well. Heat over low heat. Serve over meat rolls.

Nutrition information

Per serving: 474 calories, 28 grams fat, 7 grams saturated fat, 24 grams carbohydrates, 29 grams protein, 1 gram fiber, 199 milligrams cholesterol, 1,041 milligrams sodium