Happy Memorial Day weekend! Isn't this cake fun? The recipe below includes a crazy gelatin filling. But of course, the real pizazz is the decoration on top. You could skip the filling and just make a vanilla cake and frosting if you're pressed for time.

If there's ever a time to splurge on berries, this is it. (And hello, strawberry season is finally here.) This flag cake would make a dazzling finale to your Memorial Day cookout. And you know kids would love helping you make (and eat) it.

For a total chocolate freak, I'm actually slightly obsessed with a few desserts that have nothing to do with cocoa. Two biggies: Caramel (ideally the salted caramel variety -- which gives it a little kick!) and Rice Krispie Treats. There's definitely something to be said about the texture of sweets, and both ooey-gooey caramel and crispy, krackly RKTs have something goin' in that department.

So obviously, whoever came up with the idea of combining the two is a mad genius! Love that a recipe like this is also super kid-friendly in the kitchen -- oh, and fast, too!

Obviously this needed to happen. Someone had to invent Banana Split Cupcakes. Here's what's going on with these babies. You're mixing mashed bananas, maraschino cherries, and chocolate chips into yellow cake batter and baking that. Then you're combining marshmallow creme (you know, fluff) with vanilla frosting. And a cherry on top. Ta-da!

These would be awesome for a birthday party, but you could also make them just for no reason this weekend. Fluffy, banana-cherry yum.

This is NOT a cake.

Don't be fooled by the title! This dessert is much, much more than a mere cake ... it's an event. For example, it could be used this way in everyday conversation: Hey, what are your plans for this Saturday night? Oh, just Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Cake.

You know what?

It's even more than an event. It's a holiday! Mark it on your calendar.

I would say you could invite your nearest and dearest, but what if any of the guests actually showed up? Then you'd have to share. Things could get ugly.

Don't say I didn't warn you. And have a very happy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Cake!

Chocolate chip cookies or cupcakes? Cupcakes or chocolate chip cookies? I say: Have BOTH! 

How about cupcakes with a hidden cookie dough surprise inside? The real surprise is how easy it is to pull off this trick. Just put a small scoop of frozen cookie dough on top of each cupcake before you bake. A heads up -- yes, this means the cookie dough is still semi-raw, so if you're worried about raw egg you may want to use an egg substitute.

No reason why you couldn't tweak this recipe a little and use a chocolate cake mix, or peanut butter cookie dough. The possibilities are (almost!) endless.

You have to see this: The "Momosa" cupcake. They're cupcakes that look like mimosas -- and they have tiny bubbles and everything. And those little "MOM" signs there? They're carved out of orange peels. You guys! This is the cutest thing ever.

Now who is making this for me? Anyone? Because this is a perfectly fitting way to spoil a mama on Mother's Day. This is a fairy tale dream treat come true, the kind of sweet that would make any mom feel like a pampered princess.

Healthy cooking is all the rage. No butter, no sugar, no gluten -- whatever gluten is. Hey, I'm all for it. If I'm going to cook, I make sure I cook healthy. But it hasn't always been this way. In fact, it used to be de rigeur to use fattening staples like Crisco, Cool Whip, and Jell-O. My great-grandmother did it that way her whole life, and she lived until she was 90. I wouldn't describe her as a small woman, but she enjoyed her eating time!

So read on for 3 old-fashioned, NOT calorie-conscious recipes from my great-grandmother's cookbook. Just don't serve them every day!

When I think of Cinco de Mayo, I think of tequila (hey, just being honest). When I think of tequila, I think of margaritas and shot glasses and salt and limes ... but I don't generally think about cookies.

Or I should say I didn't think about tequila and cookies together, but that was before I tried these bad boys. Sugary, citrus-y tequila cookies are the ultimate treat for Cinco de Mayo (or Quatro de Mayo, or Cinco de Junio, or any day of any month-o, as far as I'm concerned).

They're even really easy to make.

Which is muy bueno, because you might end up sampling some ingredients while you bake and a super challenging recipe might not be the best choice.