Double Chocolate Mocha Delight

It's been graduation party season lately, so I dug out one of my all-time favorite dessert recipes. It was such a huge hit at the first party (the bowl was practically licked clean), that I made it again for another party so that the people who missed it the first time around could enjoy it as well! This is a classic from my days with Pampered Chef...and no matter what, I never tire of it!

It's called Double Chocolate Mocha Trifle and it's a crowd pleaser. One word of advice -- it's not the prettiest dessert, so I wouldn't recommend making it in a glass bowl. I've adapted the original recipe ever so slightly. Hope you like it.

You'll Need

• 1 package brownie mix (prepared as directed for cake-like brownies)
• 1 3/4 cups cold milk
• 2 packages (3.4 ounces each) white chocolate instant pudding mix (if you can't find white chocolate, substitute either butterscotch or vanilla)
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 4 teaspoons instant coffee granules
• 2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1/3 package Heath Bar crunch bits

Step-by-Step

1. Prepare brownies as directed for cake-like brownies
2. Cool completely and cut into 1-inch cubes
3. Dissolve coffee granules in warm water
4. Whisk pudding mix and milk until pudding starts to thicken
5. Add coffee to pudding mixture and mix well
6. Fold in whipped topping
7. Layer 1/3 brownies cubes on bottom of medium sized bowl
8. Top with 1/3 pudding mixture, spread evenly
9. Sprinkle with toffee bits
10. Repeat layers ending with toffee
11. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving

ENJOY!!

NOTE: If you want to pretty this up, buy a second container of whipped topping, thaw it, and put a skim coat of whipped topping over the top. Use a cake decorator to put small rosettes of whipped topping around the edge of the bowl, and large rosette in the center. Garnish with chocolate shavings and/or toffee bits.

Sorry I don't have a picture of this one...but trust me, it is DELICIOUS!!

Celebrating the Red, White & Blue!

It's another weekend for patriotic celebration so I thought I would share two great "red, white and blue" recipes to move your picnic fare from ordinary to a real celebration.

Want to try something a little different? How about trying a "Red, White and Bleu Burger?"

You'll Need:

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 lb bacon
• 1 container crumbled bleu cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Step By Step

1. Break up ground beef (or turkey) into a large mixing bowl.
2. Cut up uncooked bacon into small bite-sized pieces and add to bowl
3. Add full container of bleu cheese crumbles
4. Add salt and pepper to taste


5. Mix all ingredients and hand-form burgers

6. Grill immediately, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve
7. Serve on a crusty kaiser or potato roll
NOTE: You will want to grill these over a lower flame to ensure the bacon cooks through, but the burger doesn't char. Cooking to a temperature of 150 degrees makes for a nice medium rare burger and the bacon will be cooked (though not crispy).

A perfect side to really compliment the flavors is a Red, White and Bleu Spinach Salad


Borrowing this image from www.pensieve.me/ because I haven't made the salad yet this weekend....but I will!!
You'll Need

Salad

• fresh spinach (cleaned and torn)
• strawberries (sliced)
• blueberries (whole)
• crumbled bleu cheese
• chopped red onion (optional)
• walnuts or pecans (chopped)
• Poppyseed dressing (I've included a recipe if you like to make your own, but I've found Brianna's poppyseed dressing to be every bit as good as homemade).

Dressing

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 cup salad or olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds

Mix ingredients in a jar, cover, shake well and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Step-by-Step

1. Add all salad ingredients (except dressing) in a large bowl.
2. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Just before serving toss salad in dressing.

If you still have room for more, don't forget the perfect ending to your Red, White and Blue Celebration
-- a festive fruit pizza!



Of course, if you're on strawberry and blueberry overload there's always the great all-American favorite -- apple pie and ice cream!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

ENJOY!!

Festive Fruit Pizza

We knew we were going to a friend's house for a Memorial Day BBQ on Sunday -- but the weather was so nice on Sunday that we spent the bulk of the morning working in the garden and completely lost track of time. Needless to say, when we checked our watches and saw it was 1:00, and we were supposed to be at the party at 3:00, I went into scramble mode to pull together a dessert to contribute to the celebration.

A quick run to the store for the ingredients and I was ready for action.

I really wanted to do something festive (aka red, white and blue). Since time was not on my side, I almost cheated and bought cupcakes from the bakery, but then I saw how beautiful the strawberries and blueberries looked and I decided to make a Festive Fruit Pizza.



You'll Need

1 tube of ready to bake sugar cookie dough
1 container of blueberries
1 quart strawberries
1 container of ready-made cream cheese icing


Step-By-Step

1. Remove from oven and let cool completely
2. Use large knife to loosen cookie from pizza stone for easy serving
3. Spread icing in thin layer on cookie
4. Rinse and drain fruit
5. Slice strawberries lengthwise, arrange on iced cookie
6. Add blueberries in the center and to fill in gaps
7. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar

NOTE: To avoid the cookie getting soggy, be sure it is fully cooled before icing, and be sure fruit is well drained.

Substitute (or add) kiwi, banana, raspberries and blackberries for variety.

ENJOY!!

Peter Rabbit Cookies

It's not Easter until Peter Rabbit makes his appearance!

 

 

Another wonderful recipe from my Gram -- cute as could be with their little ears and bunny tails! They look sweet in a basket, or arranged in a grouping on a plate lined with Easter grass!

You'll Need

1/2 cup soft butter

1/4 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon almond flavoring

1 1/4 cup flour

powdered sugar for dusting

Step by Step

1. Cream butter, sugar and flavoring together.
2. Stir in flour and mix well.
3. If dough is too dry to handle, add 1 to 2 tablespoons butter
4. Chill 30 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
6. Roll 1 level teaspoon dough into ball for head, and 1 heaping teaspoon dough into ball for body.
7. Use tiny bits of dough for ears and a tiny ball for the tail.
8. Bake about 20 minutes, do not brown.
9. While warm, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Happy Easter everyone!

Thanks again to my Gram for another wonderful recipe!

In the Quiet

In the quiet of the morn
The house still asleep
A mother's dream inspired