Really?

So, this is what I've heard:

A box of yellow cake mix and one can of pumpkin with NO OTHER INGREDIENTS is supposed to make a moist, delicious muffin/cupcake with a hint of pumpkin flavor. 

Seriously?

You know I'm gonna try this.  It really appeals to the lazy baker in me.  I'll keep you posted.

Wrestling Lobsters

A quick story from my trip with my high school students...

When we arrived in Boston we drove over to Quincy Market, which has literally hundreds of places to eat.  We were all starving and tired.  Not a good combination when making decisions.  Thus, a restaurant called Dick's Last Resort.  Let the name be a clue.

Midwest Mandy here was befuddled by the behavior of the servers.  They were rude, crass, and downright nasty.  Was this what Boston was like?  It wasn't making a good first impression.

Then it finally dawned on me.  This was the restaurant's *kitsch* -- it's Standard Operating Procedure.  Sounds like a really bad idea to me, but maybe I'm just too nice.

I ordered lobster because I was on the East Coast and heard it was cheap here.  What I didn't know is that I would have this brought to my table:

I tried. 

 I really did.  

But this was brutal.

Dirt Cake / Worms in the Mud -- Whatever You Call It, It's GOOD

Back in April, we were all gettin' a little buggy as we anticipated warmer weather.  I decided it was time to get serious.  Certain dishes around here seem to have a magical power.  "Worms in the Mud" is one of those dishes.  

If you make it, warm weather will come...or somethin' like that.

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 cup powdered sugar

1 large box chocolate instant pudding (3 cups of milk to make it)

1 8oz box cream cheese, softened

1 container of cool whip, thawed

2 packages of oreos (double-stuffed thank you)

gummy worms

large ziploc bags for crushing oreos

With the boys at school and Hope taking a nap, Big Fella Jonny was my go-to helper for this dessert.  Here he is crushing those oreos:

Mix up the pudding, put it in the fridge.  Crush about 1& 1/2 packages of oreos in a sealed bag.  Take out about a cup or so to use for the topping.  Add the melted butter to the oreos in the bag and mix.  Lay this in a 9x13 dish.  Mix the cream cheese and sugar, fold in the cool whip.

Mix it up, baby!

Spread that mixture onto the top of the oreos.  Next, spread on the pudding.  Now sprinkle your leftover oreos from the beginning and add the worms (Jonny's favorite part).  If you forget to leave out the oreos, like I did, it can still look dirty with heath chips or mini chocolate chips, but the oreos are the best.

Leave some worms dangling off the side for fun :)

 Refrigerate for an hour, if you can stand it.

Then have a bunch of kids over, because having this in your fridge too long will have negative results on your waistline....

Aw, yeah!  That's one dirty cake!!

THE Salad.

This isn't my salad, but it's a picture that closely resembles it. 

I have fallen head over heels with Cranberry Chicken Salad and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

It started with Deidre's in Spicer.  Then it became something I made at home.  Now, it's bordering on obsession.  Here's how I make it --

Romanie Lettuce

Cooked chicken breast

Gorgonzola Cheese

Chopped pecans (or walnuts)

Dried cranberries (Craisins)

Poppyseed dressing of your choice

Now, I have to say, no one was surprised more than me about the deliciousness of gorgonzola cheese.  But the combination of the cheese and the tart Craisins....just trust me that it is amazing.

As far as the dressing, I choose Kraft Poppyseed, but I'm sure others are delightful.  One must be careful with the dressing and the Craisins as both are loaded with sugar, which negates the point of a salad, right? 

Whatever.  It's good stuff.  Go make it, silly.