I Eat Dirt

Dirt is pretty much the world's easiest dessert at only 5 ingredients. Shoot, you could buy pre-made chocolate pudding and knock it down to 4 ingredients.

My mom's yearbook class is having their big bake sale today, and this is the big request. We package them into individual servings and sell for $1 each. They're always the first to go. It's something about the way they look, combined with the unmistakable taste of chocolate pudding, Cool Whip, and crushed Oreos. So simple, familiar, and good. If you've never tried it, just do it once for your kids...or yourself!


DIRT

2 cups cold milk
1 pkg (4 serving size) Jello Instant Pudding, chocolate flavor
8oz container Cool Whip, thawed
1 pkg Oreo Cookies
1 pkg gummy worms

1. Dump Oreo Cookies into the food processor and pulse until finely ground, resembling sand or...dirt. Alternatively, you can place the cookies in a Ziploc bag and beat the tar out of them.

2. Pour the milk into a large bowl. Add the chocolate instant pudding, and whisk to mix the pudding for two minutes or until thickened. Let chocolate pudding stand 5 minutes to turn into pudding consistency. When thickened, add in half of the crushed cookies until evenly distributed. Fold in the thawed Cool Whip.

3. I like to make three layers of dirt and cookies. Drop a spoonful of pudding in mixture into the bottom of a cup (an ice cream scoop makes this part easy), add a thin layer of cookie crumbs. Drop in a gummy worm. Drop another spoonful of pudding mixture on top and finish with a layer of cookie crumbs. Top with another gummy worm.


*Note: we double this recipe and package them in clear, 8oz party cups. We get 12 servings out of the double recipe using this method. You could go with a smaller cup and increase your servings. We also cut the gummy worms in half to make them more manageable.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

"This stuff is awesome! It's like eating peanut butter frosting!" Jack, my co-worker, said as he popped a second bite of the peanut butter cookie dough dip in his mouth.

"So you really like it?" I asked him as I was gearing up to break the news to him.

"Definitely."

"GOOD!" I clapped my hands. "Because now I'll tell you what's in it."

Jack's face froze.

"It's got dates that have been soaked to release their sweet juiciness... and garbanzo beans. And natural peanut butter!"

Jack's face started to lose color, "I can taste the beans now. I feel like I've been hoodwinked."

"You cannot taste the beans," I said, rolling my eyes at him. "It's awesome. You loved it. It's OK to admit it."

He rolled his eyes at me and admitted that he would never have known this dip was actually healthy if I hadn't told him. Tee-hee!

This deliciousness passed the Jack test. You will seriously never guess the base of this dip is protein and fiber packed garbanzo beans. For reals.







Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Dip
recipe adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie

1 15oz can of garbanzo beans (also called chick peas), drained and rinsed
1 1/4 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Place dates in a small bowl and cover with water. Let sit for 6-8 hours (or overnight).

In the bowl of a food processor, place the dates and liquid. Process for 30 seconds. Add garbanzo beans, vanilla extract, and peanut butter and process until very smooth. Spoon mixture into a bowl and stir in chocolate chips.

Serve with apple slices, cookies, or just eat straight up outta the bowl!

--- 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus per 1/4 cup serving ---

Martha Stewart's Super Fudgy Brownies

It's my fault we don't have any brownie mixes in the house.

I made two batches a week ago for gifts, and I haven't been to the store yet to replace them.

Oops.

It's no biggie, except my family was craving brownies right then. I volunteered to make some, totally forgetting that I hadn't replaced the mixes.

Double oops.

So, I figured I'd try to make some on my own. Like, from scratch. Yeah. Did you know you could do that? I've always thought that, like, if they make a mix for something, that says whatever you're trying to make is difficult; therefore, you need a mix to make it easy because there's no way on earth you want to try do it on your own much less do the clean up unless you have a truckload of elves waiting in the wings to wash the the pots and pans.

I discovered I've been lied to by myself all these years. Just because they make a mix, doesn't mean it's going to be difficult to do on your own. I had the batter for these made all in about 7 minutes. Easy peasy, and they're SUPER chocolatey, delightful goodness. I used a recipe from Martha Stewart and made some tweaks, like adding in some whole wheat flour, brown sugar, and vanilla. My mom, who usually prefers the box mix, loved 'em.

Warning...you may never go back to a box mix after making these...!






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Super Fudgy Brownies
Inspired by Martha Stewart, tweaked by moi


Ingredients:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (spooned and leveled)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 Tbls vanilla extract
3/4 cup chocolate chips, optional


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Coat a 9x9, 9x11, or 9x13 square baking pan with non stick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk flours, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

In a large microwave safe bowl, place butter and chocolate chips. Microwave butter and chocolate chips on high for one minute. Stir. Place back in microwave at 30 second intervals until butter and chocolate chips are melted.

Add sugar; mix to combine.

Add eggs and vanilla extract; mix to combine.

Add flour mixture; mix just until moistened (do not overmix).

Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top.

Optional: Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.

A 9x9 pan will take approximately 45-50 minutes to bake, a 9x11 will take around 35-40 minutes, and 9x13 will take around 30-35 minutes. Remember, these times are approximate and depend on your oven. It's a good idea to set your timer 5 minutes before the approximate time so you don't overbake the brownies. You'll know they're done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.

Enjoy and don't devour the whole pan!