Dessert Shot Cuteness

We bought these little shot glasses several months ago and put them in the cupboard that no one can reach. It got really dusty up there. I am talking DUSTY. The shelf is in the top of the cupboard in the laundry room, we are talking huge amounts of lint and I had to climb on the washer. I am vertically challenged, after all.

But they keep niggling away at me. The idea of what I wanted to do with them.

Ever since I saw the photos of the dessert shots in the King Arthur Catalog, I have been on a mission. I wanted to make some dessert shots. I wanted something with pudding, or cheesecake filling, or berries, or butterscotch, or, or, or...the possibilities are ENDLESS! You could make a dessert shot BAR! How much fun would THAT be?

Today, in honor of Mr. Smith getting his staples out, and getting poor Leftie manhandled (sorry, honey, but he is a doctor!) I decided to go where no vertigob has gone before.

The results were a huge success. And, can I just say, terminally cute? These things are ridiculously CUTE!! The cuteness just makes me want to scream, that is how damn cute they are.

So, to start I just wanted something simple. Mr. Smith is always looking for a homogenous experience (no lumps or crunchy parts, please). So I just got some Nabisco Famous Wafers, some Chocolate Instant Pudding and some Cool Whip and layered them using a long-handled ice tea spoon.

Luckily, these shot glasses can be ordered with tiny little cuter than cute spoons to eat the desserts. I would recommend them. That way, you can make sure to get EVERY tasty morsel of dessert. Life is short, make sure to get every morsel!

If you haven't used the Famous Wafers before, they are like the outside of the Oreo cookies without that troublesome greasy "frosting." Nuff said. They are to die for and you can use them to make all kinds of crusts (pie, dessert, etc.) or you can just eat them when you have PMS and don't have any other chocolate in the house. Of course, I don't know anyone that would do such a thing. I would never associate with such a person! Please...I have more self respect than to hide in the kitchen, eating chocolate wafers in the middle of the night! Or something like that. Or, dipping them in peanut butter. Or spreading them with softened ice cream. That, all those things would be wrong wrong wrong.

Okay, enough! I am sure I will be posting more about these glasses in the future. Stay tuned!

Post post: Pop Pop believes that these are far too small. It is his opinion that they need to be about four times the size and the spoons need to be larger too. Some people just miss the point completely!

That Graham Cracker Thing

This dessert is one for the ages. Mr. Smith refers to it as "That Graham Cracker Thing."

So easy, so so so so very very yummy, addictive even and sort of healthy. Okay, not exactly healthy, but as desserts go, it is more healthy than most. Also, you can dictate exactly how sinful you want to make it.

It Graham Crackers, vanilla pudding mixed with Cool Whip and topped with easily the SWEETEST chocolate frosting you will ever encounter. Just like an eclair.

This is one of those that people will beg you to make. You will find yourself pining for it. Even when you make a lowish-cal version, it tastes soooooo decadent. Mix it up a little and try a different flavor of pudding, it could work. I have even used cinnamon graham crackers a few times and it was AMAZING!

Make it to take for a pot luck dinner. Make it for dessert after Sunday dinner. Make it and eat the whole thing yourself and don't feel guilty for a moment. Okay, maybe for a moment, but it will pass, I assure you.

I would strongly advise that you make this ahead of time. I am talking a bare minimum of 4 hours, but 6 or so is much better. Once you have tasted it, it is extremely hard to wait that long, but it is worth it.

Leave the house, take a drive, go shopping and try to forget about it. Even though you won't, it will be a lovely thing to come home to.

I served this when my cousin Denise and her husband David were visiting one time, and to quote David, "Now, this is what I call dessert!"

You know, just writing about this is making me want it again. I will have to make it this weekend and post some photos.

Maybe I will make it as a little boo boo present for Mr. Smith after his surgery.

That Graham Cracker Thing

This dessert is one for the ages. Mr. Smith refers to it as "That Graham Cracker Thing."

So easy, so so so so very very yummy, addictive even and sort of healthy. Okay, not exactly healthy, but as desserts go, it is more healthy than most. Also, you can dictate exactly how sinful you want to make it.

It Graham Crackers, vanilla pudding mixed with Cool Whip and topped with easily the SWEETEST chocolate frosting you will ever encounter. Just like an eclair.

This is one of those that people will beg you to make. You will find yourself pining for it. Even when you make a lowish-cal version, it tastes soooooo decadent. Mix it up a little and try a different flavor of pudding, it could work. I have even used cinnamon graham crackers a few times and it was AMAZING!

Make it to take for a pot luck dinner. Make it for dessert after Sunday dinner. Make it and eat the whole thing yourself and don't feel guilty for a moment. Okay, maybe for a moment, but it will pass, I assure you.

I would strongly advise that you make this ahead of time. I am talking a bare minimum of 4 hours, but 6 or so is much better. Once you have tasted it, it is extremely hard to wait that long, but it is worth it.

Leave the house, take a drive, go shopping and try to forget about it. Even though you won't, it will be a lovely thing to come home to.

I served this when my cousin Denise and her husband David were visiting one time, and to quote David, "Now, this is what I call dessert!"

You know, just writing about this is making me want it again. I will have to make it this weekend and post some photos.

Maybe I will make it as a little boo boo present for Mr. Smith after his surgery.

Lorna Doone Cookie Dessert

A very long time ago, I dated this guy. I dated him for a really long time. So long that I am embarrassed to admit how long I dated him. Let's just say, I know of many marriages that failed in less time than I invested in that dead end relationship.

Alright, I will come clean, it was 9 1/2 years. I was young (at least in the beginning) and so very very dumb.

Anyway, The Dead End Guy had this great mother. She was a throwback to another time. Even though I was dating him through out the 80's, she could have been plucked directly from the 1950's. She was June Cleaver, the type of woman that would vacuum in pearls and a dress.

The only time I recall seeing her "dressed down" was a day that I caught her coloring her hair (the horror). She was wearing an old Kenny Rogers concert t-shirt. It was torn and stained over and over again. She had some auburn concoction smeared all over the hair, forehead and the shirt. She was so upset that I would see her in such a state, but I thought it was great.

She thought every meal should be nothing less than four courses. She played bridge, with her husband and with a ladies' group. She was in a bowling league. The had a liquor cabinet that would make the cast of Mad Men blush. She and her icy cold, emotionally abusive husband had drinks most nights before dinner.

She went back to college and the four course meals stopped. Her husband and youngest son hated her new-found independence. I loved it. Now we talked about books, worked on papers, discussed topics from her classes. She was excited to be learning new things and wanted to share them. Her family was less than supportive, but she persevered. I loved her for it. We spent hours, just sitting in the kitchen at the table talking about books, current events, everything.

I was so proud of her when she finished her degree. By then, The Dead End Guy and I were in trouble. In fact, we broke up. After so many years, it was painful for everyone. The families had become intertwined in a way that was difficult to undo. At one point, she and I had lunch that ended up with both of us in tears. She was such a lovely person and I would miss her, but I had to make room for The Dead End Guy's new girlfriend (and eventual wife).

We all got over it. We all moved on, but I still miss her. I miss her cooking and talking to her. I think of her often and wonder how many grandchildren she has now. She so loved being a grandmother.

I would love to sit at that kitchen table and tell all about what I have done over the last 17 years. Wouldn't she be surprised?

Lorna Doone Cookie Dessert Recipe

1 package Lorna Doone Cookies

1/4 cup butter or margarine melted

Mix and press in 9 x 13 pan. Bake 10-15 minutes at 350, until slightly browned. Let cool.

Mix 2 packages instant vanilla pudding with 1 cup milk. Fold in 1 quart of softened Butter Pecan ice cream.

Pour over cooled crust and refrigerate for 1/2 hour or more, until firm.

Crush 3 Heath Bars and fold into 12 ozs. Cool Whip and spread over pudding mixture.

Let set for another 2 hours. Try to control the urge to eat the entire dessert.