Sandwiched between soft layers of chocolate cake is more chocolate, nuts and ooey gooey caramel in these Chocolate Caramel Nut Bars. After a little coaxing, the boys all gave them two thumbs up! And then quickly returned for another try.

Seems like this is a week for amazing giveaways, and I have one more for you today, but first let’s get baking!

Aside from a quick no bake dessert, bar cookies are my favorite treats to serve. They go together in a snap, and you have usually 25 or 30 servings per recipe. Add these to the other Desserts for Picnics, Potlucks and Memorial Day celebration, that I shared and you have quite the long list of treats to choose from.

Did you know that baking is just one of the very many ways to use nuts? Food Network Chef Alex Guarnaschelli shares tips on cooking with nuts. One of the tips that I had never thought of was to upgrade your spice rub; next time you’re cooking meat, add some ground nuts to your spice rub. The nuts can mellow some of the heat from the spice and add needed richness to the mix.

Before we get to the recipe, let’s chat about the giveaway.

One (1) lucky reader will win a Fisher Nuts Prize Pack including…

• Trudeau Melamine Mixing Bowls (Set of 3)
• Trudeau 5-Piece Measuring Spoon Set
• Casabella Jumbo Muffin Cups
• Fisher Chef’s Naturals Sliced Almonds
• Fisher Chef’s Naturals Walnut Halves & Pieces
• Fisher Pecan Halves

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES: PLEASE read the Official Guidelines 

Entries only accepted on this page. Facebook, Twitter or email entries do not count. Open to US Residents only.

Please note that if you are enjoying this post via email subscription or in a reader, you will need to visit the blog to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more recipes from Chef Alex, visit Fisher Nuts.com

Disclosure: I am working with Fisher to share Chef Alex Guarnaschelli’s recipes and create my own original recipe using Fisher Nuts and tools they provided. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

I’ve pulled together 50 Desserts for your Picnics, Potlucks and Memorial Day celebration! Whether you are looking for a pies, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, no bake treats, frozen treats or just a dessert…I have you covered!

Let’s get baking…

Pies & Cakes

• Meyer Lemon & Strawberry Pie
• Lemon Blueberry Angel Food Cake in a Jar
• Fresh Strawberry Pie
• Pink Lemonade Pound Cake
• Amaretto Peach Pie
• Easy Patriotic Pie
• Stars and Stripes Pie
• Blueberry Pie  shared on Lifetime Moms
• Easy Fried Pies
• Patriotic Pie Squares

Cupcakes & Push Pops

• Watermelon Cupcake Cones
• Picnic Cupcakes
• Snow Cone Cupcakes
• Orange Creamsicle Push Pops
• Sparkler Cupcakes
• Firecracker Cupcakes
• Firecracker Push Pops
• Tie Dye Cupcakes
• Neapolitan Cake Push Pops
• Red Velvet Flag Cupcakes

No Bake Treats

• Cotton Candy Cheesecakes
• Banana Split Dessert
• Family Favorite Strawberry Pie
• Easy Strawberry Shortcake
• Frozen Watermelon Slices
• S’More Buffet with Chocolate Strawberry, Mini Dipped and Peanut Butter Cup S’Mores
• Dessert Grillers
• Patriotic Cookie Dough Truffles
• Rainbow Oreo Pops {can be made in any color}
• S’More Dip
• Patriotic Candy Skewers
• Homemade Marshmallows Kabobs
• Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Desserts

• Easy Berry Mini Cheesecakes
• Fresh Strawberry Tarts
• Triple Berry Shortcakes with Homemade Cakes and Whipping Cream
• Key Lime Dessert
• Trifle Dessert

Cookies and Bars

• Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizzas
• Tangy Lime Bars
• Peanut Butter Cup Bars
• Cherry Almond Bars
• Butterscotch Almond Bars
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Stack
• Brownies on a Stick

Frozen Treats

• Frozen Watermelon Pops
• Ice Cream Sandwiches- 7 recipes
• Red, White & Blue Pops
• Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce - perfect for a Sundae Bar
• S’mores Ice Cream Pie

I know it’s hard, but tell me your favorite!

As part of their commitment to creating jobs in America made earlier this year, Walmart has promised that veterans who have been honorably discharged in the past year will be offered jobs (as long as they meet the standard hiring criteria). Walmart sees the leadership, and strength that our nation’s veterans possess; and they wish to use these talents to their greatest extent.

With this commitment, Walmart anticipates that they will hire at least 100,000 veterans over the next 5 years. Our veterans have already fought enough for our country; they shouldn’t have to fight for a job as well.

Walmart is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. Through ongoing donations, partnerships and programs designed to meet their specific and often unmet needs, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation actively support the heroism of veterans and their families.

Not only is Walmart providing jobs for Military Veterans, they are also growing our economy.

For more information, visit Walmart’s Careers with a Mission

Cupcake Boot Camp was tons of fun! In case you missed any of the information…

Week #1: Cupcake Basics

Week #2: How to add filling to a cupcake

Week #3: How to make Candy Clay

Week #4: How to Decorate Cupcakes with Candy

Week #5: How to Frost Cupcakes

Week #6: 3 Ways to Display Cupcakes

A huge Thank You to our sponsors Wilton and Duncan Hines for providing the prizes for this giveaway!

Ultimate Cupcake Decorating Giveaway

One (1) lucky Hoosier Homemade reader will win the following Prize Pack…

Wilton Products valued at approximately $155

• Deluxe Decorating Tip Set
• 24 count Disposable Decorating Bags
• 12 Icing Bag Ties
• 12 Treat Pops with Stand
• 12 piece Treat Pop Decorating Set
• 3 bags of Candy Melts
• 1 container of Jimmie Sprinkles
• Rainbow Nonpareils
• Small Cookie Scoop
• 12 Icing Colors
• Two Tone Cupcake Baking Pan
• Wilton Cupcake Book
• 9 inch Angled Offset Spatula
• 3 package of Cupcake Liners

Duncan Hines Products valued at $50

• 12 Cake Mixes
• 12 container Frosting Creations
• 12 Frosting Creations flavors

Various Candy from Temptation Candy

Cupcakes, Cookies and Pies. oh My! Book

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES: PLEASE read the Official Guidelines 

Entries only accepted on this page. Facebook, Twitter or email entries do not count. Open to US Residents only.

Please note that if you are enjoying this post via email subscription or in a reader, you will need to visit the blog to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent Wilton products  for my review. It did not by any means sway my opinion. I love Wilton products and use them every day. There are affiliate links in the post.

Today, The Home Depot would like to give one lucky reader a $100 Gift Card to inspire you to create your own Succulent Garden.

Whether you create a Succulent Garden for your outdoor garden…

or perhaps one for indoors. Either way they are very easy and the results are grand!

We would love to see your creation! Create your own Succulent Garden, take photos and post them to Pinterest. Add hastag #DIHWorkshop to your pin so we can see your creation and re-pin it for you! Check out my Succulent Garden Pinterest Board for more inspiration!

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES: PLEASE read the Official Guidelines 

Entries only accepted on this page. Facebook, Twitter or email entries do not count. Open to US Residents only.

Please note that if you are enjoying this post via email subscription or in a reader, you will need to visit the blog to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: The Home Depot partnered with bloggers such as me for their Twitter Party and DIH Workshop program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any product mentioned in these posts. The Home Depot believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Welcome back to Cupcake Boot Camp! This is it…Week 6! We have covered the basics of baking cupcakes, how to add filling to cupcakes, how to make Candy Clay, How to Decorate Cupcakes with Candy, How to Frost Cupcakes, and today we are taking 1 cupcake and showing you how to display it 3 ways.

Part of the fun of cupcakes is being creative with how you display them. There are lots of different ways to serve or display your cupcakes, I’ve chosen 3 of my favorites to share with you.

The most popular are the Treat Pops, they are fun for all ages and the flavor combinations are endless. Next up are Cupcakes in a Jar and then last, displaying and serving them in dessert jars.

I love serving cupcakes all 3 ways. In the photo, there are the Irish Cream Push Pops, Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes in Jar, Superman Cupcakes and last Firecracker Push Pops with Pop Rocks.

Join me as I take these Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream and show you how to display them 3 ways…

In case you are having trouble seeing the video, you can view it on You Tube as well.

I have had so much fun sharing Cupcake Boot Camp with you! I hope you have enjoyed it too! If you have any questions about cupcakes, or would like to make a suggestion of what you would like me to share with you. Please fill out this short 3 question survey!

If you love cupcakes, then you will want to subscribe to Cupcake Chronicles Newsletter. We share exclusive recipes and decorating ideas with you, as well as a monthly printable. It’s FREE…what are you waiting for? Sign up now!

Stay tuned for the HUGE Cupcake Giveaway tomorrow with Wilton products worth over $200, Duncan Hines mixes and frostings, candy from Temptation Candy and Cupcakes, Cookies and Pies. oh My! Book.

Week #1: Cupcake Basics

Week #2: How to add filling to a cupcake

Week #3: How to make Candy Clay

Week #4: How to Decorate Cupcakes with Candy

Week #5: How to Frost Cupcakes

Each of these weeks has a video showing you details, if you are an email subscriber, you may have missed the video, so please pop on over to the blog and check them out!

Disclosure: I was sent Wilton products  for my review. It did not by any means sway my opinion. I love Wilton products and use them every day. There are affiliate links in the post.

I’m excited to be joined today by amazing cupcake bakers for the Cupcake Couture Blog Party, sharing their recipes along with a Cupcake Giveaway!

If you have been following Cupcake Boot Camp, you have been learning a little more about cupcakes and how simple they can be. You can dress up an ordinary box mix cupcake by adding a delicious frosting and a cupcake wrapper, like the Damask Cupcake Wrapper I have around the Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes.

Add a little wine and a basket with lotions and finger nail polish and you have a fun and super easy Girl’s Night Out.

Now it’s time to party! Check out these amazing cupcake bakers for more recipes…

• An American Cupcake in London

• Bella Cupcake Couture

• Chronicles of a Foodie

• Crazy for Crust

• Creative Food

• Cupcakes Take the Cake

• Diary of a Mad Hausfrau

• Eat Your Heart Out

• Haniela’s

• Hoosier Homemade

• In Katrina’s Kitchen

• Inside BruCrew Life

•  Java Cupcake

• Love From the Oven

• Make Bake Celebrate

• Not Just a Mommy

• Sugar Daze

• Sugar Swings! Serve Some

• The Baked Equation

• The Baking Cup

• The Decorated Cookie

Thanks to our amazing Prize Pack sponsors for their generous donations! Please, visit their websites to see more of their fabulous products!

• Bella Cupcake Couture

• Cupcake Stand

• Java Cupcake

• Lil’ Punkin Creations

• Sweets & Treats Boutique

To enter to WIN this Prize Pack, simply fill out the entry form below.

Contest opens May 21, 2013 at 0700 PST and closes May 27, 2013 at 2359 PST. One winner will be chosen and announced within 24 hours of the contest ending. Winner will be contacted via email to claim their prize.

This contest is open to residents of the USA and Europe only.