ice cream cake: take 5

We love birthdays at our house. We can't wait for the opportunity to try another ice cream cake concoction. This one turned out perfect. We decided it is one of our favorite ice cream cakes of all time. The inspiration was a Take 5 candy bar - chocolate, caramel, peanut butter, and pretzels. Try it and see the magic for yourself.

Take 5 Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients

20 peanut butter sandwich cookies
1/4 cup butter (melted)
10 oz jar of fudge
5.3 oz bag of Rollos
Moose Tracks ice cream
1 cup pretzel sticks (the skinny ones)
1/2 cup caramel (plus some to drizzle on top)

Instructions

In a food processor, pulse the peanut butter sandwich cookies until they are fine crumbs. Stir in the melted butter until the cookie crumbs stick together. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan. Microwave the fudge for 30 seconds or so until it is runny. Spread a thin layer on top of the cookie crumb crust. Chop up the Rollos to desired size. Sprinkle 2/3 of the Rollos on top of the fudge. Freeze for 1 hour, or until fudge hardens. Allow ice cream to soften for about 10 minutes. On a clean surface, scoop the ice cream, pretzels, and 1/2 cup of the caramel. Using two large spoons, combine the ice cream mixture making sure to break up the pretzels. Scoop ice cream mixture into the spring form pan and top with the rest of the chopped Rollos. Freeze for at least 1 hour before serving. Top with a drizzle of caramel syrup. Enjoy!

cookie "salad"

Asked to bring a salad or dessert? You could just bring both. We jokingly refer to this recipe as a salad because it has fruit in it, but let's be real. It will put you in the  creamiest coma you've ever known. It is a fan favorite, and I always leave with an empty bowl. You better believe it will make its appearance at Thanksgiving dinner.

Cookie Salad 

Ingredients 

1 package fudge striped shortbread cookies (broken into large chunks)

1 lb strawberries (sliced)

2-3 bananas (sliced)

1 small can Mandarin oranges

1 cup buttermilk 

1 small package vanilla pudding 

1-16 oz container Cool Whip 

Instructions 

Whisk the buttermilk and dry pudding mix together. Fold in the Cool Whip. Slice up strawberries and bananas, and add to  creamy mixture. Drain the can of Mandarin oranges and crush the cookies with your hands (you'll want big chunks). Add the oranges and cookies to the salad and carefully mix it all together. Enjoy!

meatball mummies

I can't  believe how quickly Halloween is sneaking up on us. I feel like it was just the Fourth of July! I really wanted to make this year special for Elle because she's finally at the age where she gets excited about things. Tonight I made meatball sandwiches for Mister and me, and I decided to make something special for Elle. They were really easy to make, and she loved eating them.

Meatball Mummies

Ingredients - per one mummy

3 meatballs

1 Rhodes roll

1 uncooked spaghetti noodle or wooden skewer

Marinara sauce

Instructions

Defrost the Rhodes roll and meatballs (if they are frozen). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Stick the three meatballs on the spaghetti noodle or skewer. With your hands form the dough into a very thin rope (about 1/4 inch). Wrap the dough around the meatballs to make it look like a mummy. Carefully take out the noodle or skewer and place the "mummy" on a baking sheet and bake for 17-20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with marinara sauce on the side. Enjoy!

beanless queso

When I was pregnant with Elle and was going through morning sickness this queso was one of the only things I could keep down. I make this queso for girls' nights, parties, and weekend get-togethers. This recipe uses only four ingredients and is microwavable - no dirty pans! Eat on baked potatoes, tacos, or just dip some tortilla chips. You really can't go wrong.

Beanless Queso

Ingredients

1 13.5 oz can beanless chili 

1 small can diced green chilis 

1 - 8 oz block of cream cheese 

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

Instructions

Place all of the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 4 minutes, or until queso is warm and smooth. Stir after each minute to keep from burning.