A Campfire Favorite Indoors

 With only a week left in October, have your evenings outside become too cold to handle? Sure a nice bonfire or campfire can keep everyone warm, but that only lasts so long. Heck, by this time of year here in Indiana, sometimes we've seen our first snowflakes. So for all of you who are missing your campfire experience, have I got a treat for you! 

Once again, I am keeping up my reputation as the "fluff dessert queen". Okay, so that might be a title only uttered in our house, but anytime my name and queen are in the same sentence, I will take it. This time around I've got a tasty twist on a classic you won't be able to resist. 

S'mores Fluff takes all the flavors from the classic and mixes them together in yummy harmony in every single spoonful. Be careful, this stuff is addicting. Be sure to only make it for people you really like. They will keep coming back for more.

Have you decided how you will be celebrating Halloween this year? Maybe your at-home party needs one more sweet treat. Your little ghosts and goblins are sure to love something so familiar but in a brand new fun way. 

 S'mores are such an quintessential summer time treat, but I say no more! With this creamy, fluffy, chocolaty dessert, we can satisfy that craving any time of year. Plus, we can stay inside where it's warm and dry, no fire needed!  

S'mores Fluff

1 (3 oz.) box instant chocolate pudding

1 1/2 c. milk

1 (8 oz.) tub Cool Whip

1 c. mini marshmallows

1 (4 oz.) chocolate candy bar, chopped, reserve a couple for garnish

4 graham crackers, chopped, reserve some large pieces for garnish

Chocolate Sauce

In a large bowl whisk together pudding mix and milk. Chill for 5 minutes to soft set. Fold in Cool Whip until well combined. Add chopped chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows. Chill for 2 hours. Drizzle with chocolate sauce and garnish before serving. 

 

Shared at Weekend Potluck

Shared at Meal Plan Monday
 

Just Because I Can't Grow A Tree

I have told ya'll before how much I adore lemon. Lemon flavored anything is pretty much a guaranteed love in my life. From savory to sweet to beverages I am a lemon fanatic. And no other time do my lemon taste buds stand up and demand to be noticed than in the warm spring and summer months.

Sure, it tastes just as good in the winter; and still refreshes my appetite like no other flavor can, but there is just something about enjoying a lemon infused dish when the thermometer is rising that only enhances the flavor even more and makes it all that more delectable.

I'm not sure when my love for lemon began, but my earliest memory of absolutely salivating over them is about the age of 10 when we were visiting my grandparents in Florida. We were actually having supper at dear friends of theirs and right before dinner Phyllis sent me outside with a big bowl saying "See that tree? It's a lemon tree. Go fill the bowl and we will make fresh lemonade." WHAT???!! I was a little girl from Indiana who was on her first trip to the Sunshine State. You mean people grow lemons in their backyard?? Well, it was just about the greatest thing I'd ever seen, and I can tell you it was the best lemonade I've ever tasted; and to this day I've never had any that comes close. But alas, that 10 year old girl is now a 32 year old woman...but I still live in Indiana and let's just saw lemons don't thrive here. So instead, I have to rely on the grocery store, but usually you will find not just one or two in my crisper drawer, but instead an entire bag!

So I am sharing this in plenty of time that those of you who are planning a big Memorial Day backyard barbecue. After all, that 3 day weekend is the gateway to the summer, and all the outdoor events that come with it. So why not celebrate with a new lemony dessert!!! And the fact it only has 5 ingredients, and can be prepared in about 10 minutes...well those are just bonus reasons to love it!

Just because I can't grow a lemon tree in my backyard doesn't mean I can't find new fun ways to use my favorite citrus...so stay tuned. I'm sure before the last dog days of summer I will have more to share!

Layered Lemon Dessert

2 (3.4 oz) boxes instant lemon pudding

2 3/4 c. milk

1 (8 oz.) tub Cool Whip

Honey Graham Crackers

Zest of one lemon, grated

In the bottom of a 8.5 x 11 baking dish, line graham crackers, breaking into pieces to make them fit if necessary. (Leave as many whole as you can.) In a large bowl whisk pudding mix and milk together well until smooth. Set in fridge to set, about 5 minutes. Once set, spoon 1/3 pudding over graham crackers. Using a spatula, spread evenly. Repeat layers, ending with pudding. Top with Cool Whip. Sprinkle with lemon zest. Chill for 2 hours to set. Serve cold.

Shared on The Country Cook May 3, 2013
Shared on Make Ahead Meals May 6, 2013
Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box May 7, 2013
Shared on Lady Behind The Curtain May 8, 2013

Vacation Dessert

Last week I confessed that we had been in Florida for 2 weeks, vacationing and spending some major quality time as a family. And when your Everyday Mom is on vacation, the cooking doesn't stop. I'm still on the lookout for things I can make easily, quickly and totally satisfy my family. With the condo having a fully functioning kitchen, it is much easier for me to keep doing what I do! This dessert came about because I wanted to make Monkey a special treat to reward him for working so hard on his swimming. Mr. Everyday started to teach him to swim two summers ago while we were in New Smyrna Beach, and each year he's gotten better and better. It's pretty amazing how he literally "jumps in" right where he left off the year before and continues to improve. He is getting so good he can swim from one end of the pool to the other with no breaths in between! That is a pretty big accomplishment for such a little man, so a sweet treat was absolutely necessary! However, I wanted to make something with things I had on hand. This was what I came up with, and since it got 2 thumbs up from the little swimmer himself, I know it must be good!

Strawberry Peanut Parfaits
Makes 4 Parfaits
1 c. strawberries, diced
4 TBS sugar
2 c. Cool Whip
1 tsp vanilla extract
2/3 c. chopped peanuts
1/2 c. crushed graham crackers

In a medium bowl combine strawberries and sugar. Chill for at least an hour to macerate. In a small bowl combine Cool Whip w/ vanilla.  In 4 parfait glasses start with a layer of Cool Whip. Next add strawberries, Cool Whip, chopped peanuts, Cool Whip, graham crackers, Cool Whip, strawberries, Cool Whip and a end with a mixture of chopped peanuts and graham crackers.

Isn't the view from the balcony gorgeous?

 Shared on Make Ahead Meals July 9, 2012
Shared on Mandy's Recipe Box July 10, 2012 
Shared on Lady Behind The Curtain July 11, 2012 
Shared on Miz Helen's Country Cottage July 12, 2012 
Shared on The Country Cook July 13, 2012

Strawberries at Very Good Recipes
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