Death by Chocolate

One of my resolutions this year is to blog more...so I'm going to really try (I say this all time, I know) to get a new recipe or blog entry 2x a week or more often! 

I actually have about 100 recipes in my "draft" section, just waiting to be posted.   So post....I will!!!! Blogging more, getting back on my workout routine and cooking more at home (we've gotten ourselves into an ordering out/going out routine)...as well as more organizing and decorating the house all in 2013! Those are my goals/resolutions!!  And I plan to stick with them ALL (as much as I can)!  Now that I've publicly announced them....I better put my food where my mouth is! 

Here is a recipe that my Mom always made for special occasions when we were kids....I especially remember it on New Year's Eve!  Her recipe was a little different because she used Heath Bars......and with all the nut allergies nowadays I stick with Kit Kats.  She also used to put Kahlua in her cake mix to give it a little extra kick, I do not.  You definitely can add the Kahlua and swap the Heath for the Kit Kats! But no matter how you do it.....you will be sure to have a crowd pleasing dessert!!!  It's a very simple recipe, that really takes no time at all.....As long as you have the ingredients in your kitchen. You can make it for a large crowd, for a holiday, for a BBQ, or just for 2 people to share on Valentine's Day (and the week following with leftovers).  I made this yesterday for New Year's Eve and even though a lot of it went...I was so excited to have leftovers!!!!   It's even better after it sits in the fridge for a few days!   YUM!!!!  

Death By Chocolate 

1 box of Chocolate Cake Mix (I use Chocolate Fudge) 
1 box of Chocolate Mousse Mix 
1 large container of Cool Whip -- remove from freezer and into fridge for 30 minutes-1hour before you make dessert. 
1 package of 6 -- Kit Kat Bars 

 Follow directions on the cake mix box..and make your cake. 
Cool and then wrap the entire cake in foil and put in the freezer for a few hours. 
Make mousse by following the box..let cool in fridge for a few hours. 
In a food processor or by hand smash candy bars into pieces. 

When ready to make the dessert, get a large clear bowl. 
Crumble 1/2 of the cake into bottom of bowl. 
Next layer 1/2 of the mousse on top.
Next layer 1/2 of the Cool Whip. 
Sprinkle 1/2 of the candy pieces. 
Next layer the rest of cake crumbled.
Layer rest of mousse. 
Layer rest of Cool Whip. 
Finish off with candy pieces!

 Blog Post -- 1, Eating Healthy -- 0 


 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

~Gianna~

S'mores Pizza

I needed a dessert for our Super Bowl Party (I know...that was a month ago) and stumbled upon THIS recipe from Guy Fieri @ The Food Network in my search.  While it looked delicious,  my husband nor Olivia were sold on the pizza dough crust.  My husband (believe it or not) said, "Wouldn't that be so much better without the pizza dough....maybe you should use chocolate chip cookie dough instead!"   I thought it sounded perfect either way, but had to keep the troops happy....
I did think it'd be way too chocolaty and sweet for my taste buds, so I convinced them to let me do sugar cookie crust instead!   Everyone agreed and we had our Super Bowl party dessert!    While it was very sweet, even with the sugar cookie crust, it was amazing for any sweet tooth!  Make this SOON!!!!  Next time I make this I am going to try it with the pizza dough!

S'mores Pizza
(adapted from Guy Fieri)


1 batch of sugar cookie dough.  Homemade or store-bought.
2 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 sleeve graham crackers (broken into crumbs)
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups mini marshmallows
3 large Hershey chocolate bars -- broken into 1/4 inch pieces


Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Make cookie dough.
Roll and push into 12" round pizza pan )making sure you get it as thin as you can without breaking through.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
While it's cooking,  melt butter in a skillet and add graham crackers.  Cook for 3 minutes.
Remove from heat and set aside.


When cookie crust is done remove from oven and scatter marshmallows and chocolate pieces. 
Return to oven for approx. 5 minutes or until marshmallows are brown and toasted.
Remove and top with graham cracker crumbs evenly over pizza.
Let sit for a few minutes, slice and serve.


ENJOY!!!!

~Gianna~

Chocolate Pretzel Buttons

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, EVERYONE!!!!  In honor of this holiday of all things love and chocolate I have a perfect little treat!    You can make these in bulk and give them to all of your special someones!

A friend of mine gave me this idea when I was trying to figure out something cute and edible for teachers this  past Christmas.    Once I made them, I was hooked!   They are so easy, you can do any combo of chocolates and they are the perfect combo of sweet and salty!  AND you can use any color M&M so these can be used for holidays, birthdays, sporting events, and they are still so cute!    So far I've done them for Christmas, for fun and for Valentine's Day and they always get rave reviews!  I've done them with HUGS instead of KISSES and I've done them with dark chocolate and milk chocolate!    These have milk chocolate KISSES and dark chocolate M&Ms (not my first choice, but I couldn't find regular and didn't want to use peanut butter.)


Chocolate Pretzel Buttons


Bag of pretzels (the square ones that look like little windows)
Bag of Hershey Kisses (or Hugs)
Bag of M&Ms (which ever colors you want)
Pam


Preheat oven to 250 degrees
Spray Pam on baking sheet.
Lay pretzels on baking sheet -- I get about 70-80 per sheet
Unwrap and put a Hershey Kiss on each pretzel
Place in oven (middle rack) for 3-4 minutes....keeping an eye that the kisses don't melt and have their shape
Remove from oven and gently push an M&M into the center of the kiss
Place baking sheet in refrigerator until chocolate hardens (about an hour)
Store in air tight container or fridge


ENJOY!!

Here is another example of the ones I made for Christmas....with HUGS and red and green M&Ms!

~Gianna~