Over the past five weeks, we’ve all been been dealing with our recent time at home in different ways. And I’m sure everyone has said, thought or heard these two words: “I’m bored.” To cure this boredom, many have turned to the kitchen for cooking and baking. Not all of us wants to make time consuming and difficult desserts. I’ve compiled a list of family-friendly (and simple) recipes to try while at home.

Auntie Carol’s Carrot Cake:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/3 cup cooking oil
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 10 oz. bag grated carrots
• 3/4 cups broken nuts (optional)
• 4 eggs

Beat the sugar and eggs until thickened and pale. Next, stir in the oil. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Stir the dry ingredients into the egg mixture. Finally, fold in the carrots and nuts. Spoon the mixture into a greased and floured 9 x 13 pan inch and bake at 35o degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Frost with cream cheese frosting below.

Frosting

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 lb. confectioners sugar

Beat all ingredients together until well blended and smooth. (Pro tip: don’t use the whole box of confectioners sugar because it will be too sweet.)

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes:

• 1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 to 4 tbsp. melted butter
• 8 0z. package cream cheese
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg

Line mini-muffin cups with paper cups. Next, combine cookie crumbs and melted butter, mix well. Spoon about 1 tsp. of mixture into the bottom of each cup and press gently. Then, beat the cream cheese until fluffy and add sugar, egg, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Beat this until smooth and add batter evenly into cups. Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for about 10 minutes or until set. Cool thoroughly. Finally, add blueberry or cherry topping.

Grandma Peg’s Sugar Cookies: 

• 2 1/4 cups margarine/butter
• 3 cups sugar
• 6 eggs
• 12 tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. anise
• 7 1/2 cups flour
• 6 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt

Begin by beating the butter and sugar together. Add in 6 eggs. Then in a separate bowl, combine milk, vanilla and anise. Add this wet mixture into the previous mixture. Finally, add flour, baking powder and salt. Add enough flour to make the dough stiff. Chill overnight. Roll out and cut into shapes. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. Add frosting or decoration if you want.

Super Easy Sticky Buns:

• 1 10 oz. can refrigerator biscuits
• 2 tbsp. butter/margarine
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pancake syrup
• 1/4 cup pecans (optional)
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Combine butter, brown sugar, pancake syrup, cinnamon and optional pecans in a bowl. Then drizzle mixture on top of biscuits and bake using package directions. Invert buns and serve!