A Giant Birthday Sandwich!

Papa Z recently celebrated his birthday.  In his old age he must have been feeling adventurous because he chose to forgo the traditional Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream cake from Baskin-Robbins and asked me to make a cake for him with the help of our kids!  REALLY?  You want the kids and me to make your cake?  You do realize I'm not the best baker and I'm guessing with the help of the kids it won't get any better!  He added even more pressure to me by not giving any input on what kind of cake he wanted.  So that is how Papa Z ended up with a Giant Birthday Sandwich!    I found the recipe through the Taste of Home. 

Giant Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich

Ingredients:
2 packages (16 ounces each) ready-to-bake refrigerated peanut butter cup cookie dough (good luck finding
 this, I ended up using Peanut Butter dough with chocolate chips in it)
6 whole chocolate graham crackers, crushed
1 cup cold milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1-1/3 cups creamy peanut butter
3 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
1/4 cup Nutella

Directions:
*Let dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften. Press into two ungreased 9-in. springform pans; sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until set. Cool completely. *In a large bowl, whisk the milk, cream and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. In another large bowl, beat cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth. Add pudding and ice cream; beat until smooth.
*Spread over one cookie crust. Remove sides of second pan; place crust, crumb side down, over filling. Cover and freeze for 4 hours or until firm.
*Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving. Place hazelnut spread in a small microwave-safe bowl; cover and microwave at 50% power for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, stirring twice. Remove sides of pan; cut dessert into slices. Drizzle with Nutella.
*Enjoy!

Dieter's nightmare-Chocolate lovers dream!

A few of my friends came over to my house and we had the best type of party I can think of-a CHOCOLATE making party! One of our friends is an old pro at using candy molds, dipping things in chocolate, and making chocolate bark so she showed us the way to creating wonderful yummy gifts!

We spent several hours making turtles,

painting candy molds and filling them with chocolate,

And dipping pretzels in chocolate!

By the time we were done the house was filled with the aroma of chocolate and we had what appeared to be enough chocolate to last a lifetime!


All the chocolate goodies were split among the five of us with the intention to save it until closer to Christmas when we could give the goodies as gifts...

That was the plan, however in the Zany house those naughty bites of chocolate try to lure me in every time I open the refrigerator door! They are very sneaky that way!

Frankenstein Treats

The other day I was flipping through a magazine and found these adorable treats and couldn't resist making them! Even though Halloween is over for the year, I thought I'd share this easy recipe with you because it could be adapted to work for other holidays! They are guaranteed to be gobbled up in the blink of an eye!

FRANKENSTEIN TREATS

INGREDIENTS:
Instant vanilla pudding
Green food coloring
Chocolate chips/melting chips
Oreo cookies-crushed
Clear cups
Paint brush

DIRECTIONS:
Melt chocolate chips. Paint faces on the inside of the cup with the melted chocolate using paint brush. Place cups in refrigerator to let chocolate harden. Make instant vanilla pudding according to directions. Add green food coloring to desired intensity of color. Divide pudding among the cups. Add crushed Oreo cookies to the top of the cups. Enjoy!

Zany thought of the day: Why is Frankenstein's skin green?

The most miserable egg hunt ever!

Today I went on the most miserable egg hunt ever! I'm not exaggerating, it was absolutely miserable. Before I tell you the story, I must back up and tell you what brought about this egg hunt, which occurred several days following Easter.

The whole Zany family received our own Easter bags from Papa Z's parents which contained lots of wonderful goodies. Because of the free-for-all it caused, all the goodies were combined into one bag and placed in another room so the Zany babies wouldn't binge on candy. A few days after Easter I had a hankering for something sweet and found a Cadbury Creme Egg in the bag. A few days later Papa Z nonchalantly said, "You had better not have eaten the Cadbury Egg my mom gave me!" I assumed she had put an egg in both of our bags, but when I checked there was not another egg to be found. Papa Z further revealed Cadbury Creme Eggs were his absolute favorite. That's funny Papa Z because I've been married to you close to 7 years and have never heard you claim that little tidbit of information! Nevertheless, I truly felt guilty for eating his only Cadbury Creme Egg of the year, so the following day I went on the most miserable egg hunt ever.

That leads us to today...I spent close to 3 1/2 hours searching for a darn Cadbury Creme Egg. I searched all over town going to the Dollar Store, Walgreens, two RiteAids, Walmart, Albertsons, and SaterBros. In and out of stores shifting through all the clearance Easter items which at this point was a huge unorganized mess. What makes this egg hunt even less enjoyable was having an almost 2-year-old and 3-year-old as my companions. Getting them in and out of their car seats is a huge undertaking in itself, but doing it 7 times is absolutely exhausting! Not to mention I didn't have the double stroller so I pushed Zany Janie in her stroller with one hand while attempting to hold onto Wacky Zacky with my other hand. All the while the Zany kids were grabbing anything and everything within their reach. In the third store I did find a four-pack of Cadbury Carmel Eggs and decided to get them thinking it was better than nothing. (Which later in the day I was informed by Papa Z that the Carmel eggs were not as good and would not count). In the 7th and final store I went into I found them! That Red/Green/Blue wrapper was seen glistening from the entrance of the store! I think tears may have stung my eyes because I was so relieved this miserable experience was finally over! I quickly purchased four Cadbury Creme Eggs and went home!

I would like to tell you this story has a happy ending, however once we got home some very unfortunate events took place. After 3 1/2 hours of shopping the kids were famished so I cut up some fruit for them to eat and put Zany Janie in her high chair and Wacky Zacky at the island in the kitchen. I set off to attempt to catch up on all the things I didn't get done because of the lengthy egg hunt. I came down the stairs from emptying the trash cans upstairs and was met face-to-face with this scene:

Eight EMPTY Cadbury Egg Wrappers

One sticky Zany Janie who was now on the biggest sugar high of her life.

It appeared like she had dipped herself in Carmel!

And finally, one Wacky Zacky who knew he was in trouble and walked himself over to time out.

I can't even begin to explain the feelings whirling around in my head at that moment. I was so angry and exhausted and in disbelief that the eggs were gone. I started cleaning up the mess and when I got Zany Janie out of her high chair I found that she had been sitting on these:

Two Eggs!

Even though one egg had a bite mark in it and the other one was a little crushed I figured it would be better than nothing so I proudly set them on a napkin to greet Papa Z when he got home from work.

Again I know it seems this story will FINALLY get the happy ending that it deserves, but unfortunately you will be left with a very sad ending...Papa Z took a bite out of both Cadbury Eggs and found regrettably they were both Cadbury CARMEL Eggs, which as mentioned above are not his favorite. Maybe next year Papa Z...Maybe next year will be your year because there's a fat chance I'm going on another egg hunt this year!

Zany thought of the day: I think I'd rather go shopping the day after Thanksgiving than repeat this day again! What's your most miserable shopping experience? What were you searching for?

Sugar Highs and Squeals of Delight

Yesterday was an exciting day at the Zany house. The much anticipated box of Easter goodies arrived from Aunt Ju Ju and Uncle Boo Boo. There were shrieks and squeals of delight bursting from Zany Janie and Wacky Zacky when we opened the front door to get the mail and found not one, but two boxes on our step. The shrieks and squeals quickly turned into whines as they discovered they would have to wait a few long hours for Papa Z to get home from work before they could open the boxes. When the time finally came the boxes were ripped open and there was a frenzy of candy, toys, and Easter Grass flying through the air. I would like to take this opportunity to genuinely thank Aunt Ju Ju for putting nearly 5 pounds of Easter grass in their baskets! I'm guessing it will be a gift that keeps giving and I will find pieces of the grass strung throughout the house for the next couple of years! The kids loved their presents and attempted to quickly shove as much candy into their mouth before it was taken away from them. Unfortunately even wrapped candy doesn't slow them down. Zany Janie doesn't care about wrappers and has found she can effectively chew through the wrapper to get to her candy. I could only get a good picture of Zany Janie's loot minus the candy which is now in hiding and the 5 pounds of Easter grass.


It has now become a tradition that the Zany family expects an unusual gift from Aunt Ju Ju and Uncle Boo Boo (i.e. see Here and Here). They definitely did not disappoint and Wacky Zacky has been able to take on a new look.


Zany thought of the day: Why does the Easter Bunny carry eggs? And where does he get the eggs?

Cookie Monster's Dream

I found a recipe that is sure to cause Cookie Monster to drool and daydream over wanting it! It is a yummy and tasty treat that is sure to melt the pounds away as you eat it! I found the recipe from none other than Taste Of Home. It is sure to awaken the Cookie Monster within you and will certainly leave you yelling, "Me Want Cookie!"

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DELIGHT

Ingredients:
1 tube (16 1/2 oz) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 carton (12 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
3 cups cold milk
1 package (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
Optional: chopped nuts and chocolate curls

Directions: Let cookie dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften. Press into an ungreased 13X9 in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in 1 3/4 cups whipped topping. Spread over crust. In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes; let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Spread over cream cheese layer. Top with remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate curls if desired. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight until firm.

Zany thought of the day: Ever wonder who the genius was that invented the chocolate chip? It was Ruth Graves Wakefield at the Toll House Inn. Such a simple concept that changed the world! Why can't I invent something like that?

Peppermint Patty

Here's another recipe from "The Bet" I lost...If I didn't evoke sympathy with the Brisket 'n' Bean Burritos then surely you will take pity on me when you read how much work went into making these yummy cookies. I think I should let you know that I did it all by hand-no electric mixer! This delightful recipe was taken from the Taste of Home.

Crisp Peppermint Patties

Ingredients:
1 cup butter-flavored shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 package (12 ounces) chocolate covered peppermint patties
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
*In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. beat in the eggs, melted peppermint patties and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
*Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until the surface cracks. Cool for 1-2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

Zany thought of the day: Did you know Peppermint Patty from Charlie Brown was the first female Peanuts character to wear pants? She made her first appearance on 8/22/66!

Peanut Butter meets Chocolate and makes the world a happier place!

This is one mouth drooling, taste bud clapping, yummy yummy oh-so-good treat!

PEANUT BUTTER CUP BROWNIES

Ingredients:
1 box brownie mix-with ingredients to make brownies
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 can chocolate frosting
Optional: chopped peanuts or chopped candy

Directions:
Make brownies as directed by box and cool 1 hour. Freeze brownies for 20 minutes so filling is easier to spread. In a small bowl combine peanut butter and powdered sugar. Spread over brownies. Spread chocolate frosting over filling. Optional: Sprinkle top with chopped peanuts and candy. Refrigerate 45 minutes or until frosting sets.

Zany thought of the day: Wouldn't it be great if more foods paired up and tasted this good? Perhaps we'd all live in a happier place!

Santa's gone a little nutty!

It's never to early to start thinking about what cookies you will be making for those cookie exchanges and holiday parties. Many of you know I'm not a gourmet chef and I don't even like to cook or bake. So a few years ago when I was pouring over magazines, the internet, and cookbooks for an easy fun recipe for a cookie exchange I came across this simple nutty Santa cookie. The best part of it is it's a NO BAKE recipe! Yep, I was all over it! It was actually fun making the first 50 Santa's, but I quickly grew tired of it when I realized I had to make 144 cookies with a toddler running around the kitchen making it his life mission to touch all 144 of them. Nevertheless, this is a yummy cookie from Taste of Home that kids would love to make and eat.

Ingredients:
2 packages (6 ounces) white baking chocolate chopped
1 package Nutter Butter sandwich cookies
Red colored sugar
32 Vanilla or white chips
64 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
32 red-hot candies

Directions:
In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt white chocolate, stirring occasionally. (I actually used the microwave) Dip one end of each cookie into melted chocolate. Place on wire racks. For Santa's hat, sprinkle red sugar on top part of chocolate. Press one vanilla chip off-center on hat for pom-pom; let stand until set.

Dip other end of each cookie into melted chocolate for beard, leaving center of cookie uncovered. Place on wire racks. With a dab of melted chocolate, attach semisweet chips for eyes and a red-hot for nose. Place on waxed paper until chocolate sets.

Yield: 32 cookies

Zany thought of the day: What's the most creative cookie you have ever made and did you eat so much of it while you were making it that it made you sick?

The Candy Possessed Princess and her ferocious side-kick

The Zany family decided to go on an adventure and attend Mickey's trick-or-treat party at Disney's California Adventure Park.

Zany Janie dressed up as a drunken pumpkin and played the part well by her inability to walk a straight line.

Wacky Zacky was dressed as a ferocious dog that would only bark if no one was within earshot of hearing him.

Papa Z was dressed to impress as Daddy...

And I was the stereotypical SAHM.
Translation: Neither of us dressed up.

It was exciting to see all the ghosts and goblins dressed up and running amuck. There was dancing, singing, games, food, rides, Disney characters, trick-or-treating, and lots of fun to be had. The highlight of the whole evening for the Zany babies was not the dancing, the rides, the Disney characters, or even being able to spend quality time with the family. It was the C-A-N-D-Y! And let me tell you Disney did not skimp on the candy when we were trick-or-treating. All four of us had our bags so full it would give the dentist nightmares for months. Wacky Zacky and Zany Janie went into this adventure not knowing the joys of trick-or-treating and came out of it wishing it were Halloween everyday.

From the first bite of candy the two started to transform before our eyes. I can sadly tell you the transformation was not for the good...As the treat bags became more and more full Zany Janie in particular became a little more vicious at each trick-or-treat stop. By the end she seemed to be frothing at the mouth and ready to bite anyone that came near her treat bag. Wacky Zacky had his moments...

But he was mild in comparison to his sister. At our final stop Zany Janie snarled and practically bit the man's hand that was gently attempting to put more candy in her treat bag. I'm guessing by the look on his face that he had never seen a Candy Possessed Princess...

with a ferocious side-kick dog.

All kidding aside, it was a fun adventure and we were able to get the treat bags from the Princess and the Dog's tightly clenched hands when they fell asleep-you didn't actually think we'd try to take it from them when they were awake did you? Geeze, I didn't want to lose an eye or a finger!

Zany thought of the day: What type of candy could you lose control over causing you to turn into a possessed princess or a ferocious dog?

Rolly Polly Delight

It's not often that I open an email and find myself needing a bib as drool runs down my chin. Today just so happened to be one of those days and unfortunately I was fresh out of bibs since Zany Janie doesn't seem to need them anymore. I opened an email from my sister titled "Yum", and let me tell you Yum does not even begin to do it justice! It is a recipe from Steamy Kitchen that uses Rolo chocolate candies. Let me warn you that you may need to grab a bib or towel before looking at the picture! Enjoy!

Rolo Pretzel Turtle

Ingredients:
Rolo Chocolate Candies
Mini Pretzels
Nuts-toasted pecans/almonds/hazelnuts/walnuts

Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350
2. Unwrap your Rolos. Place pretzels on baking sheet. Top with a Rolo.
3. Bake in oven for 3-5 minutes, until the chocolate just begins to melt. The Rolo should be soft but not completely melted.
4. Remove from oven, place on cooling rack and immediately squish the chocolate with a nut.

Zany thought of the day: Rolos really seem to get overlooked. With a chewy carmel and milk chocolate combination one would think they'd be at the top of the favorites list, but nope they get over shadowed by Snickers, Milky Way, and Reese's peanut butter cups. I'm guessing the effort it takes to unwrap each tasty morsel has something to do with the low ranking.

Who said three's a crowd?

I have been catching up on my pile of Taste of Home magazines. My system is to look through them, mark the ones I’m interested in making, and file the magazines with my recipe books. When I make up a grocery list I pull a few of the magazines out and pick a couple of new recipes to try for dinner. The problem I am having is that I’m marking almost ALL the desserts and few of the main courses!

I have found a recipe from Taste of Home that looks soooo yummy! Some genius has decided to put THREE wonderful desserts into one fabulous dessert! They have taken the all American Chocolate Chip cookie, the filthy oozing S’more and the “close your eyes it’s so good” peanut butter cup and combined them into a treat that will leave your heart singing and your taste buds screaming for more!

PEANUT BUTTER S’MORE

Ingredients:
8 large chocolate chip cookies
4 teaspoons hot fudge ice cream topping
4 large marshmallows
4 peanut butter cups

Directions:
*Spread the bottoms of four cookies with fudge topping.
*Using a long-handled fork, grill marshmallows 6 inches from medium hot heat until golden brown, turning occasionally. Carefully place a marshmallow and a peanut butter cup on each fudge-topped cookie; top with remaining cookies. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

Zany thought of the day: What are other food combinations that you enjoy?

Let her eat cake!

After a whole year of waiting, Zany Janie finally took her first bite of cake. Everything in sight toys, paper, or food go into her mouth, yet when we sat the piece of birthday cake in front of her she acted like she didn’t know what to do with it. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the three cameras, one video camera and 11 people staring at her every move. Once she ate the first bite she was off and running. She really seemed to like the cake, but what she liked even more was smacking it and squishing the icing between her little fingers. “Firsts” are always fun to watch and this was no exception. Zany Janie is a lucky little girl. I can’t remember what flavor my first bite of cake was, but I’m sure it wasn’t a Care Bear marble cake with a yummy fudge filled center.

Zany thought of the day: Do you find yourself wondering on a daily basis what’s the tallest cake on record? Me too! Well, of course there are discrepancies, but it looks like the tallest cake was 101 ft 2 ½ inches high. It consisted of 100 tiers and was completed in Michigan on August 5, 1990.

If you give the Zany family a pancake...

I knew it was going to be a good day when I woke up and Papa Z called me downstairs for his infamous Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Pancakes! The Zany family had not partaken in this treat in months so it was a very exciting morning.

These special Pancakes are Wacky Zacky approved and I know if it were up to him, he would eat them everyday for breakfast.

Today Zany Janie also passed through a major milestone in her life. She got to try Papa Z’s Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Pancakes for the first time! It was love at first bite. I’ve never seen her shovel food in as fast as she did. She loved them!

After breakfast the family got to listen to Papa Z read If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff, which is currently the number one favorite book in the Zany house.

I don’t know how this day could get any better!

Zany thought of the day: There are days when you wake up and you can just tell it’s going to be a good day. It’s something that can be felt in the air. What are things that help you jumpstart your day and make it a great day?

Easy As Pie

I wanted to make a dessert but didn’t have the ingredients for anything extra yummy and going to the grocery store seemed like too much work with two kids. So I decided to make a pudding pie. It’s quick, simple, I had the ingredients, and it would satisfy our sweet tooth. I got the Graham pie crust out-yes, a store bought one…You didn’t actually think I’d make one from scratch did you?! The Keebler label had a couple of recipes on the back. The one that caught my eye was the “5 Minute-Double Layer Chocolate Pie”. Five minutes AND a double layer of chocolate? !! I quickly scanned the directions and jumped for joy when I realized I had all the ingredients needed. It was so quick and easy and extra yummy that I though I’d share it with you! Enjoy!

5 MINUTE-DOUBLE LAYER CHOCOLATE PIE

Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups cold milk
2 packages (4-serving size) chocolate flavor instant pudding and pie filling
1 tub (8 oz.) frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed, divided
1 Graham Pie Crust

Directions:
1. In large bowl beat milk and pudding mix with wire whisk for 1 minute. (Mixture will be very thick.) Whisk in half of whipped topping. Carefully spread in crust.
2. Spread remaining whipped topping over top.
3. Garnish as desired. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Zany thought for the day: Have you ever been driving on the interstate and noticed several signs for “Mile High Pie”? The billboards even count you down to the number of miles before you reach the home of “Mile High Pie”. You didn’t plan to stop so soon, but who can pass up “Mile High Pie?” Your adrenaline starts to race; you may drive a little faster to get there quicker; you squeal as every passing billboard tells you that you are closer and closer; and you start to deliberate about which is the best kind of pie. You finally get there, order your “Mile High Pie”, and are very disappointed when a slice of pie is put in front of you that looks like a plain old piece of pie. Ever had that happen to you? Yeah, me neither!

Yum Yum Give Me S'more!

Desserts are a big thing in our home! We all love desserts especially Wacky Zacky. He has seemed to inherited quite a sweet tooth! Zany Janie is still waiting for her first birthday to have something sweet but she does seem to be partial to her jars of Gerber fruit. My favorites include anything with Chocolate in the ingredients. I have found a recipe (from Taste of Home) that is a chocolate lovers dream and a diabetic’s nightmare! The recipe is so easy that you could have your children help you make it. It is so yummy that it will leave you saying Yum Yum Give me S’more!

S’more Parfaits
Ingredients:
2 Cups Cold milk
1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate fudge or chocolate pudding mix
2 cups coarsely crushed graham crackers (about 24 squares)
1 cup miniature marshmallows
4 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
In a bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set.
Spoon 3 tablespoons each into four parfait glasses. Layer each with ¼ cup cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons pudding, ¼ cup marshmallows and 1 tablespoon chocolate chips. Top with the remaining pudding and crumbs. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Zany thought of the day: I have heard of all kinds of diets: all juice diet, no bread diet, all meat diet, counting points, counting calories, etc…I have yet to find the one that fits me-dessert diet! Why can’t desserts be part of the major food groups?