Saturday, October 6, 2012

Chocolate Angel Food Trifle

Want an easy dessert that looks impressive?? 
Want a dessert that kids love???
Want a dessert that's not too heavy??

Here it is....


Chocolate Angel Food Trifle

Here's all you need:

One loaf Angel food cake
One large box instant chocolate pudding
3 cups milk
One bowl Cool Whip

Using an electric knife, cube the angel food cake.

In a large mixing bowl, mix pudding and milk. Whisk until mixed.

Starting with the cake, create layers. Cake, pudding then Cool Whip. Repeat. 

I usually get three layers to fill my bowl. 

You can also make this in a 9 X 13 pan. Just spread all the cake on the bottom, top with pudding, then Cool Whip. 

I don't make this too far in advance, a couple hours at most, to avoid getting soggy cake.

I have taken this to a Pasta Feed for the football team twice and it is always eaten up! You could easily change the pudding flavor or add chopped candy bars, chocolate chips or fruit to make it more special. My crew likes it just this simple, so it's how we enjoy it!


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Stove Top Mac and Cheese

Guess what?!? Caleb is in his first apartment! Yay for him! He is loving it and doing some cooking! I know he refers to the blog for many of our favorite dishes. So some of my posts may be boring for the more experienced cooks, but my purpose has always been to create a place where our boys can see how I make the dishes we have at home. I think these are the kind of recipes that are lost from one generation to the next, simply because they aren't written down.

Like this dish...I assume everyone makes simple mac and cheese like this when the occasion arises, but maybe not. My mom made it like this and this is how I make it for a quick and easy side dish. Jonah will eat a mountain of it and has always has. It's comfort food for him. Sometimes a big bowl is his entire meal. He does like it with ketchup and it used to embarrass his brothers if he ate it like that in public...isn't that what little brothers are for???




Elbow macaroni, 1 1/2 cups or however much you need to serve your crew
Water for boiling macaroni
American cheese slices, sometimes I use Velveeta if I want to change it up. 5-6 slices if I am making enough for 5 servings...you can add more if you love cheese!
Milk, 1/4 cup or so
Butter, a couple tablespoons, more or less depending on your preference
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring water to a rolling boil.

Add macaroni slowly to boiling water, stir to separate.

Boil as directed on package or until desired done-ness, usually 9-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to keep from sticking together or sticking to bottom of pan.

Drain water off of macaroni, return mac to saucepan.

Add milk, butter and cheese to hot macaroni.

Stir to melt and incorporate all ingredients. 

The heat from the hot pasta should melt the butter and the cheese, but if not just place over low heat and keep stirring until all is melted.

Salt and pepper to taste.

You can totally add more of any ingredient to satisfy your family. Maybe you love it with more butter...just add more! I make this in all different serving sizes. Sometimes I make it up for only 1, other times I make enough for all 5 of us . Don't be afraid to change it up, it's one of those recipes that has no rules! And kids love it....much more than the box!


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Puppy Chow







Cleaning out the back of the pantry and came across 1/2 a box of Chex cereal.
Perfect for a batch of Puppy Chow for my guys. 
It's quick, easy and a real treat for kids and adults alike. 
Enjoy!


1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
9 cups Chex cereal (I used Corn Chex)
3 cups powdered sugar

In a LARGE mixing bowl, measure out the cereal, set aside.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips, about 1 minute.

Remove from microwave and stir till smooth, add vanilla.

Pour chocolate mixture over cereal and using a plastic spatula, gently stir to coat cereal. 

In a large brown paper grocery bag, add powdered sugar and  chocolate covered cereal.

Close top of bag and gently shake to distribute powdered sugar over all the cereal.

When covered, pour into a large resealable plastic, or glass, container. 

Puppies would probably like this, too! :)