Flowerpot Dirt Cake

This is so good. Don't mistake it for your average pudding with cookie crumbs on top. You'll want to make extra and hide some just for yourself.
1 package chocolate sandwich cookies
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
4 T butter or margarine softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 pkg (3.4 oz each) instant vanilla pudding mix
3 1/2 c cold milk1 carton (12 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 new flowerpot (8x10 inches)
silk flowers
candy gummy worms

In a food processor or blender, crush cookies until fine. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and sugar until smooth. In another bowl, mix pudding and milk until well blended. Fold into cream cheese mixture. Fold in whipped topping. Line flowerpot with foil. Alternate layers of crumbs and pudding ending with crumbs. Chill several hours or overnight. Decorate with silk flowers and gummy worms.

Serves 12.

Chicken Pot Pie in a Pot

I cheated and went easy on this recipe. Someday I'll post my recipe for really good chicken pot pie, but for today here we go with the easy one. This makes 4 pot pies.

2 cans cream chicken soup

1 bag mixed frozen vegetables

2 c cooked chicken, shredded or cubed

Milk

Pillsbury Grands Biscuits

Cook the vegetables and drain, add the soup, and enough milk to make a smooth texture, (amount varies depending on your brand of soup). Heat through.

Oil the outside of four 4-inch, new Terra Cotta pots. Line the inside with foil, being careful not to cause any holes in the foil.

Fill the pots with chicken and mixture. Cover with a biscuit. I flattened them a little bit so they covered the top completely.

Bake at 350 for 18 minutes, or until biscuit is done.

Push in a single stem flower, or a seed packet attached to a Popsicle stick.

Valentine's Dinner

For Valentines Day this year we decided to eat in with a special dinner instead of fighting with the crowds for a babysitter and a place at a restaurant.

Our meal consisted of:
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts for an appetizer, followed with a cold strawberry soup. For the main course we had corn, and garlic mashed potatoes. David and I had lobster tails, and the kids had shrimp. We finished the night with a chocolate custard for dessert.

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

This is my favorite appetizer lately. I love the flavor, the texture, and how easy it is to make so many at once! I usually half the recipe for my family, but if I were taking them to a party I might double it!



1 stick butter
3/4 c. brown sugar
6 tbsp. ketchup
1 tsp. dried mustard
3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
4 cans whole water chestnuts
Bacon

Cut bacon into pieces big enough to wrap around water chestnut. I use a toothpick to hold everything in place. Cook seam down in cake pan or something deep enough to hold excess grease at 350 degrees until browned. Drain on paper towels.

Meanwhile melt butter in saucepan and add remaining ingredients. Stir until mixture is simmering. Pour over baked chestnuts and stir gently to combine.

Strawberry Soup

This is really good in the summer too, when it's too hot to cook



1 16 oz pkg frozen whole strawberries, thawed
1 c sour cream
1 c half and half
1/2-3/4 sugar
2 T Grenadine Syrup

Place strawberries in blender or food processor. Cover. Process until well-blended. Add remaining ingredients. (Sugar to taste). Mix well.

Chill several hours or overnight. Makes eight 1/2 cup servings

Lobster Tails and Shrimp

The lobster was boiled for 1 minute per ounce of total weight. Easy huh! We dipped it in butter and it was wonderful.

The Shrimp

Uncooked shrimp (1 lb)
For the Brine
1/4 c kosher salt
1/4 c sugar
1 c water
2 c ice
Olive Oil

Shell and devein the shrimp (I make sure when I buy them they are already this way) Place the cleaned shrimp into a bowl withe the brine ingredients and refrigerate for 20-25 minutes.
Place a baking sheet or boiler pan under the oven broiler and preheat for 5 minutes. Remove shrimp from the brine and drain thoroughly. Rinse the shrimp under cold water and dry on paper towels. In a large bowl, toss shrimp with olive oil.
Place shrimp on to the sizzling sheet pan and return to broiler immdeiately. After 2 minutes, turn the shrimp with a pair of tongs. Return to the broiler for 1 minute. Serve hot or cold.

Chocolate Custard

This delicious dessert it very rich! It's more fudgy than fluffy, but still very wonderful. A little goes a long way.

1 egg
2 T Sugar
Dash Salt
3/4 c half and half
1 c semisweet chocolate chips
1 t vanilla
Whipped cream

In a small saucepan combine the egg, sugar and salt. Wisk in cream. Cook and stir over med heat until mixture reaches 160 and coats the back of a metal spoon

Remove from heat, whisk in chocolate chips and vanilla until smooth. Pour into small dessert dishes. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped cream. 4 servings.