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
 

Social Distance Fall

With the state of the world as it is right now, so many of us have been missing out on favorite activities for several months now. From pools being closed all summer, to some restaurants still being closed, concerts cancelled, sports seasons postponed...the list goes on and on. But when I sat down to write this post, I realized something amazing. Many of the autumn festivities we enjoy so much were made for social distancing, so right now is the time to feel a little slice of normal! 

Which ones you ask? Because all you can think of are the fall festivals that have been cancelled, football stands are empty and everyone wondering what Halloween will bring. Well, let me tell you! 

We have many pumpkin patches around here where you can spread out while you find your favorite ones. Or, better yet, farmers are setting out huge wagons full of them and a "honor system" for paying so you never even see another person. 

Do you have huge corn mazes where you are? We have quite a few around us, and they are so much fun to explore, and maybe get lost a little, on a sunny fall afternoon. Again, you might not come into contact with anyone while you're there! Some of the ones here are even limiting the number of people they are allowing into the maze at one time to ensure safety even more.

Been missing friends and would love to have a get together? Grab some lawn chairs and spread out around a bonfire on a chilly evening. Just like all those cookouts we did during summer that were deemed relatively safe since we were outside, the fall version of that can include good times and great food too! 

 Have you ever been to an orchard for U Pick apples? Here's another fun fall tradition that is outside and you can easily avoid other people. Okay, so you probably have to visit a worker to get that cool thing you can reach up into a tree with, and then pay for your apples of course, but mask up and for the most part, it's another social distanced activity.  

My point with all of this is I for one, am ready to look past all that we are missing out on and try to find ways, safely of course, to enjoy some of our favorite seasonal traditions, and many of them are already made for the guidelines we need to follow right now! 

If you do pick yourself a bushel of apples, or want something yummy to enjoy while sitting around that bonfire, here is your next delicious inspiration!

My latest fluff salad screams fall! We love caramel apples, but let's face it, they are messy and with a little guy, just more trouble than they are worth!  But this way, we get all those same flavors in one spoonful! 

With a new season, we have so many reasons to get outside and make some family memories. Let's not allow this crazy pandemic to take away any more than it already has!

 Caramel Apple Fluff 

2 gala apples, finely chopped, peel on

1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, with juice

1 (3 oz.) box instant butterscotch pudding, dry

1 c. sour cream

3/4 c. chopped pecans 

1 1/2 c. mini marshmallows

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 (8 oz.) tub Cool Whip

Carmel Sauce 

In a large bowl combine dry pudding mix and pineapple. Stir well. Add sour cream and cinnamon. Stir again. Fold in Cool Whip, apples, pecans and marshmallows. Chill until ready to serve, at least 2 hours. Drizzle with caramel before serving. *NOTE* I leave the peel on my apples because I think they last longer. Feel free to peel yours if you want. 

 

 

 

Inspired by Mr. Food 

Shared at Weekend Potluck 

Shared at Meal Plan Monday

Don't Let The Name Scare You

 When I told my boys I was making this recipe, I got some weird looks, to say the least! Frog Eye Salad? They really thought mom had lost her mind, and were very relieved to learn no actual frogs were harmed in the making of this dish! 

By now all of you know I have enough fluff salad recipes we could eat them all summer long, and maybe never repeat! From classic and retro ones like Ambrosia to new and fun creations like my Cookies & Cream Fluff, we love them all! 

This would definitely fall into the retro category, and I bet if you asked your parents, or grandparents, they remember if fondly from back in the day. I know my dad certainly did! 

There is nothing to be scared of, the little round bits that give it such a fun/unique name are simply small pasta. Acini de Pepe pasta to be exact. You can find it in the same aisle as all the other dry pasta, usually in a small box on a top shelf. 

I will be honest, when first heard about this salad, I though the "eyes" were actually tapioca. So I was a little shocked to learn it is made with pasta. Pasta, in a sweet , creamy dessert? Might sound strange, but I promise it works! 

In these crazy times we find ourselves, sometimes going back in time with retro recipes can be comforting. Plus, if you tell the kids their dessert has "frog eyes" in it, they might be even more inclined to eat it. Let's face it, kids love gross things. 

If you're still planning your Labor Day Cookout menu, save room for this! I promise you will hear "Oh, my grandma used to make this" more times than you can count!

 Frog Eye Salad

1 c. Acini de Pepe Pasta

1 (8 oz.) tub Cool Whip

1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained

1 (20 oz.) can pineapple tidbits, juice reserved

2 (11 oz.) cans mandarin oranges, drained

3/4 c. sweetened shredded coconut

1 c. pineapple juice, from canned pineapple

1/2 c. sugar

1 TBS flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 egg, beaten

1/2 TBS lemon juice

1 (10 oz.) bag mini marshmallows

 Cook pasta according to pasta directions. Rinse with cold water and drain well. Let pasta cool while preparing rest of recipe. In a medium saucepan, over medium high heat, combine pineapple juice, sugar, flour, salt and egg. Cook and stir constantly until mixture is smooth and thickens. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Let cool.When pasta and sauce mixture are cool, mix together in a large bowl. Add pineapple tidbits, crushed pineapple and oranges, marshmallows and coconut. Mix well. Fold in Cool Whip. Chill until ready to serve, several hours. 

 

Shared at Weekend Potluck

Happy Memorial Day

The gateway to summer has finally arrived! All things sun, sand and surf are here for the next few months, and our family is rejoicing! Even if summer vacation is going to look slightly different this year, it is still summer and we are going to enjoy every single second

Before we get to all things fun this Memorial Day weekend, let us always remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can gather together in freedom. Always honor those brave men and women who stood up and said "not on my watch" and did the job most of us aren't brave enough to even consider, let alone do. The true heroes are the reason we have this holiday, and defending our American ideals are the most generous gift they could give us.

If you are planning a Memorial Day cookout, picnic or just supper at home, I've got a terrific no bake, cool, creamy sweet treat for you. Ya'll know how much I love a tasty fluff salad, and this is the ultimate one! Not only did my family love this, but I also made some for a family I took a meal to recently, and they raved about it! So, it's been taste tested by two different houses just in time for your holiday, and summer feast plans!

Chocolate, cream, marshmallows...it's a party in a bowl! Everyone young to old will be licking their spoons and asking for the recipe!

I hope you and your family have a fun kick-off to summer and find a way to salute those who gave everything they had for us. Add in something delicious to eat, and that's the icing on the cake!

Cookies & Cream Fluff

1 (3.4 oz.) box instant vanilla pudding

1 1/2 c. milk

1 (8 oz.) tub Cool Whip

1 (19 oz.) package chocolate sandwich cookies

1 (10 oz.) bag mini marshmallows

In a large bowl, whisk pudding mix and milk. Chill until soft set. While chilling, place cookies in plastic bag (reserve a couple for garnish) and crush using rolling pin or heavy bottom skillet. When pudding set, fold in Cool Whip, cookies and 1/2 bag of marshmallows. Break apart the 2 cookies you saved into bigger pieces and place on top. Cover and chill until serving. 

Inspired by Crazy for Crust
Shared at Weekend Potluck 
Shared at Meal Plan Monday

Only 177 Days to Go

Whew. We did it. We survived the first week of school. HIGH SCHOOL! Okay, so it wasn't a full week, but hey, it still counts! And yes, that countdown above is how mommy is coping! I know exactly how many days until Labor Day, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break...you get the picture. I miss my boy!

But when the weekends roll around, it's still summer in our house! I'm still going to plan outdoor fun, and soak up every last bit of the warm, sunny days because this is Indiana and the minute the calendar says September, you never know what's going to happen!

There are still plenty of cookouts to have, and you're going to want to take this to your next one! Sure, it makes a terrific no bake, simple dessert, but in this family, it's a side dish. Let me explain. When I was growing up, my Grammy always had at least one "fluff salad" dish at holidays or big gatherings. Why was something so sweet called a salad? Two reasons. 1. Most of the time they contained fruit. 2. If she called it salad, we could eat it with the meal, and still have pie when we were done. It's all about optics!

In that spirit, I almost always serve my fluff dishes as a side dish, including this one. All the flavors of a favorite summer time beverage rolled into a delicious, gorgeous sweet treat that will be a huge hit, no matter how you serve it!

Cherry Limeade Fluff

15 large marshmallows
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 lime, juiced
16 oz. jar maraschino cherries, halved
1 small box cherry Jello
1 (29 oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
8 oz. tub Cool Whip
 1 1/2 c. Cherry 7-Up

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine soda and marshmallows. Stir until marshmallows are melted and mixture is combined. Set aside. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to combine cream cheese, Jello and lime juice until smooth. Stir marshmallow mixture into cream cheese mixture until well combined. Gently fold in cherries and oranges. Cover and chill overnight. When ready to serve, add Cool Whip and stir well. 

Inspired by The Country Cook
Shared at Weekend Potluck

It's A Rut...Or Is It?

We all get into cooking ruts. Been there done that. But sometimes it isn't even a rut. It is just something you like so much, you crave it; and when you get the chance you are going to eat it.

We have found ourselves in one of these "ruts", but not when it comes to what I am cooking at home. This rut is when we go out to eat. Saturday evenings are when we usually go to church, and if the budget (and the baby's mood) allows it, we grab a bite to eat afterward. It is our little tradition.

Lately we have found ourselves gravitating towards one cuisine...Chinese. Well, and buffets. Let's see, in the last month we have visited our favorite Chinese sit down restaurant, our favorite Chinese buffet, and this past week a KFC buffet. But that's not all. We've also had some Chinese take out at home, and homemade too. 

So this past weekend when the trend continued we all made the comment "Max is going to think all we ever eat is Asian food....and at buffets." LOL It's kinda true at this point in our lives. 

When we were at the Chinese buffet last week, they had a new creamy fruit salad I fell in love with, and I had to recreate it at home. Luckily it was super easy to figure out.

This would be perfect for your Easter meal, and pretty too! The colors remind me of springtime. And what's Easter without a tasty fluff on the table?  Or it's so easy, you can whip up a batch for supper later too. 

Ruts are sometimes hard to climb out of. But there are times when we are perfectly happy in our rut, and that's okay too! 

Rainbow Fruit Fluff

1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained

1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, with juice

1 (15 oz.) can fruit cocktail

1 (3.4 oz) box instant pistachio pudding, dry

1 tub Cool Whip

2 1/2 c. fruit flavored mini marshmallows, extra for top

In a large bowl combine crushed pineapple and dry pudding mix. Mix well. Fold in Cool Whip. Add oranges and fruit cocktail. Stir well. Gently fold in marshmallows. Chill for at least an hour before serving. Add extra marshmallows to top.