Oreo Ice Cream Cake

So, my roommates in college made this for a group date and I still have dreams about it. So yummy!! And SOOO easy, no baking, no mixing, just wonderful. This is the recipe according to Paige, and I couldn't have said it better....

"INGREDIENTS

1 box vanilla ice cream

oreos

hot fudge

caramel

cool whip

DIRECTIONS

Throw lots of Oreos in zippy bag and crush with rolling pin or whatever works. Cover bottom of 9x12 pan with half of the oreos and smush flat. Drizzle some caramel and hot fudge over Oreos.

Pull open the ice cream box and cut ice cream into approx. 1-1 1/2 inch slices. Place on top of oreos in pan in single layer. Drizzle hot fudge and caramel on ice cream.

Top off the ice cream with the rest of the oreos, then cool whip. To make it pretty, sprinkle a few oreo crumbs on top of the cool whip. Freeze a while before serving so it firms up.

That's essentially it. It would also be yummy with mint ice cream. Sort of like Asphalt Pie from Winger's. Mmmm. OR use graham crackers instead of oreos and strawberries instead of fudge and caramel. Man, I'm getting lots of ideas from this. And I'm getting really hungry too."

ENJOY!

And, thanks Paige! This is making me hungry, too, and somewhat nostalgic....miss you girls!

Crock Pot Fajitas

Why I haven't posted this recipe yet is beyond me, but they are so good, and SOOO easy!

INGREDIENTS

4 to 6 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 1/2 cups salsa (basically, one 20 oz. jar)
3 bell peppers (preferably a green, yellow and red) thinly sliced
1 large onion, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS: (Ready for this??)

1. Dump the ingredients into a Crock Pot and cook on low heat 3-4 hours.

2. Just before serving, remove mixture with a spoon and shred the chicken with two forks. (To eliminate this step, use pre-cut chicken)

Serve with tortillas and your choice of sour cream, cheese, guacamole and/or lettuce

**I have also made this using stew beef already cut up from the meat dept. and it was super yummy, too!!

Cake Balls

So, apparently in my quest for the best cupcakes I have been missing out on this new obsession! They are like truffles, but a bit more cakey, and of all varieties. You can try dozens of flavors, and since they are bite-sized, even more reason to have a few options!

INGREDIENTS*** (See below)
1 (18.25 ounce) package cake mix
1 (16 ounce) container prepared frosting
1 (3 ounce) bar flavored confectioners coating OR 1 bar of almond bark

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare the cake mix according to package directions using any of the recommended pan sizes. Let cake completely cool and then crumble it into a large bowl (I do cut off the edges to make the consistency smoother)

2. Stir in the frosting until well blended with a fork.

3. Form balls about the size of a melon scooper (If you chill the mixture before forming the balls, you can use a scooper, I just don't like waiting any longer than I have to)

4. Put balls on wax paper on a cookie sheet. Chill in fridge or freezer long enough to toughen them up

5. Melt chocolate coating in a glass bowl in the microwave, or in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.

6. Dip the balls in chocolate using a toothpick or fork to hold them. Place on waxed paper to set.

OPTIONAL: Decorate with coconut, sprinkles, toffee, drizzled chocolate, whatever!!

***The default recipe calls for chocolate cake, chocolate frosting and chocolate coating, but mix it up all you want!

Suggestions:
- Red Velvet cake w/cream cheese frosting dipped in chocolate
- Strawberry cake w/strawberry frosting dipped in white chocolate
- Chocolate cake w/vanilla frosting dipped in your choice of chocolate (top with a little bit of Oreos for a cookies and cream touch)
- German chocolate cake w/coconut frosting dipped in chocolate
- Strawberry cake w/vanilla frosting dipped in chocolate
- Lemon cake w/lemon frosting dipped in white chocolate
- Chocolate cake w/chocolate frosting dipped in a mint-flavored chocolate and topped with crushed Andes mints (Yummy!)
- Funfetti cake w/vanila frosting and sprinkles dipped in white chocolate and topped with more sprinkles

As you can see, the options are endless!

ENJOY!

Gourmet-Look-a-like Pasta Salad

Easy enough, but super good! Makes a large bowl full

INGREDIENTS

1 bag/box spiral pasta
1 bottle italian dressing
1 can sliced olives
1 carton grape tomatoes
1 zucchini, chopped into pieces
1/2 bunch green onions chopped, or 1/2 purple onion chopped
1 cup chopped peppers (red, or green, or a mix of both)
Half bag of shredded carrots (saves you time)
1 cup feta cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil pasta according to package

2. Mix all ingredients together

3. Chill until serving

Creamy Puddin' Salad

What's a "White trash" meal without some Jell-O? This is one of my favorites from a ward cookbook I have. Change up flavors and fruit as you like.

INGREDIENTS
3 cups water
1 small box Jell-O tapioca pudding
1 small box orange Jell-O
1 small box vanilla pudding
1 tub Cool Whip
2 small cans mandarin oranges
1 can pineapple chunks or tidbits

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring water to boil

2. Stir in puddings and Jell-o until dissolved

3. Chill in a bowl for about 15 minutes, so that it thickens, but isn't set

4. Mix in Cool Whip and fruit

5. Chill

*You can mix up the recipe as you like, strawberry Jell-o with strawberries, lime with pineapple, etc, etc.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

WOW!! Do these not look so good? Have fun with this recipe!  Definitely a yummy surprise. Somebody remember to serve these at my funeral when I die. I don't want funeral potatoes and pork & beans served at my funeral, they may be white trash, but they are gross. I make white trash taste good! :)

**For those concerned about this recipe's origin, a friend told me about the recipe on allrecipes.com....not sure where they got it, and I don't care, it's fun, yummy and worth sharing!!

INGREDIENTS

Prepared cookie dough

1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix (You can also use chocolate, if you'd like)
1 1/3 cups water
1/3 cup canola oil
3 eggs

DIRECTIONS

1. Form the dough into tablespoon-sized balls; place onto a baking sheet, and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.

2. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

3. Beat 3 eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer to break up. Add the cake mix, water, and oil; continue beating for 2 minutes on medium speed. Spoon into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each 2/3 full. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake.

4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion of the cupcake (not the cookie dough ball) comes clean, about 18-20 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Be sure not to overbake...you want the cookie dough gooey, not cooked.

Frost them as you like!

German Pancakes

Another Utah staple. So easy to make and so delicious!

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
6 eggs, lightly beaten
1/8 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Put butter in 9 x 13 pan and out in in the oven to melt while you prepare the mix

2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, milk, eggs and salt. Take out the pan and tilt back and forth to coat the bottom of the pan with the melted butter and then pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

3. Bake on center rack in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until golden brown.

Top with syrup (Mmm, Buttermilk Syrup is the BEST!), peanut butter, jam, honey, whatever, It's good stuff!!