Strawberry Trifle

When I was trying to tell the hubby that I wanted to make a "trifle," he kept calling it a "truffle." I tried and tried to explain to him that it was two separate things. LOL. Anyways, I was really proud of myself because I barely spent any money on this dessert! I had a digital coupon from Kroger to get a FREE angel food cake and the whipped topping and the strawberries were both on sale!! A "classic," trifle has the cake soaked in sherry or "fortified wine." Um, since Dominic was going to have some of this and he's only 12 years old, that wasn't an option. This trifle had to be "kid friendly!" Even if I hadn't gotten the ingredients for this trifle either free or on sale, it still wouldn't be an expensive dessert to make. I think it's pretty impressive, don't you?

Ingredients

13-ounce angel food cake, cubed
  (about six cups)
8-ounce container of whipped topping
1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

In a large glass serving bowl, put two cups of the cubed angel food cake, 1/3 of the whipped topping and 1/3 of the strawberries. Repeat two more times, ending with the strawberries on top. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge 30 minutes. When ready to eat, a large spoon is much better to "scoop," out a piece. Drizzle chocolate syrup on top, if desired!! YUMMY!

Chocolate Pudding Brownies

Last week, while cleaning out and sorting our food pantry, I came across a few items that had gotten pushed towards the back. I found a bag of Cracker Jacks (yeah!), which were still relatively new and quite tasty and a box of Hershey's Instant Chocolate Pudding. I could have whipped up some pudding, put in this house, brownies rule as one of our #1 desserts, so I opened up the package of pudding and dumped the dry mix into the bowl. I then added the usual ingredients for brownies - flour, sugar, etc., but also added chocolate syrup, milk chocolate chips and chopped pecans. Wow, these brownies are totally scrumptious and decadent!! Triple the chocolate, because you can never have too much chocolate, right?!?!?!?!

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
3.56 ounce box Hershey's Instant
   Chocolate Pudding
3/4 cup white flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x9 inch pan with non-stick spray. In large bowl, put the butter and sugar. Cream by hand with large spoon or with electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs, box of pudding mix, flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla extract, milk and chocolate syrup. Combine well and then "fold," in the chocolate chips and pecans with a large spoon. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool and then cut into squares.