Yahoo’s Shine page recently shared these ideas from Rachel Ray’s site (www.rachelray.com) which are perfect for this busy time of year. When you are making dinner for family or friends, save yourself some time with one of these recipes:

1. Coffee Cake Ice Cream:
Tear up a store-bought crumb cake; stir into softened coffee-flavored ice cream along with chopped pecans; refreeze.

2. Not Hot Bananas Foster:
Mix sliced bananas with toasted slivered almonds, cinnamon and caramel sauce; use as topping on ice cream. Splash with brandy (optional).

3. Peppermint Creams:
Spread peppermint ice cream between two chocolate wafers.

4. Instant Tiramisu:
Whisk together equal parts mascarpone cheese and whipped topping with a little espresso powder and rum (optional); refrigerate for 30 minutes. Top each serving with a ladyfinger, pinch of espresso powder and chocolate shavings.

5. Cheesecake à la mode:
Mix together softened cream cheese, goat cheese and sugar and spread into a store-bought graham cracker crust; chill for 30 minutes and serve with a scoop of sorbet.

6. Lickity Split Lemon Bars:
Spread store-bought lemon curd onto shortbread cookies and chill until set. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

7. Unbaked Alaska:
Top slices of sponge or angel food cake with rocky road ice cream, chopped pecans, sliced strawberries and crushed meringue cookies; drizzle with orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier (optional).

8. Instant Profiteroles:
Fold chopped toffee candy into marshmallow cream. Transfer the cream to a pastry bag with a tip; pipe into plain doughnut holes.

9. Short Shortcakes:
Mix whipped topping with crushed raspberries or blackberries; spread the mixture onto individual store-bought sponge cakes or scones. Top with a whole berry.

10. Strawberry Shortcake Parfaits:
Cut angel food cake into cubes and toss with sweetened condensed milk. Layer in a glass with chopped strawberries.