Butter Pecan Muddy Buddies

I love cake mixes.

But I never make cakes with them. Because I always feel like they're too dry.

No, I like making other stuff with cake mixes. Especially cake mix cookies. And muddy buddies.

I love easy stuff and shortcuts. If it takes too long, it's not worth it. That's how I got stuff like pudding custard, and puffy bar cakes. Because I was too impatient for the normal thing, so I made an easy version.

It's been so long since I made a real cookie recipe. I always just do cake mix cookies! I actually tried a real cookie recipe yesterday and . . . it was super yummy sugar cookies. But I felt like it took along time! Because I'm so used to just throwing three ingredients in a mixer and then having the cookies five minutes from then.

Homemade sugar cookies = okay, measure sugar. add flour. There's no flour! Run downstairs and scoop flour out of a big bucket. add salt. There's no measuring spoons except for the lame black ones that don't tell you what measurement they are. You hope that you are adding 1/8 tsp and not a tablespoon. now it's time to add the baking soda. there is no baking soda in sight. You frantically search the cupboards for it, but there is none in sight. So you have to run all the way down the stairs and look in your food storage room for it. Then you have to go back up the stairs, open the box, go through the whole teaspoon thing again. And then when the cookies are baking you burn the second batch.

See how much easier it is to just do cake mix cookies?

Cake mix cookies = grab cake mix. open cake mix. crack two eggs. add butter. stir at high speeds on a kitchenaid. plop onto sheet. wait ten minutes. eat. the end.

I think the easiness might be why I love muddy buddies so much. Who has time to make a cheesecake? Just make muddy buddies, and they're just as good.

I love all muddy buddies, but I think I love these ones just a liiitle bit more.

Sorry?

Butter Pecan Muddy Buddies
 Muddy buddies that just got sophisticated and glamorous. Made with pecan butter, butter pecan cake mix and pecans, these are made for movie stars. Or even just your everyday muddy buddy addict.

Serves: 12    Prep Time: 20 min   Total Time: 20 min

Ingredients:

• 9 cups Rice Chex Cereal
• 1 cup white melting chocolate
• 1/2 cup pecan butter (you can buy it, or use this recipe)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 cups butter pecan cake mix
• 1 cup roughly chopped or whole pecans

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, microwave the white chocolate and the pecan butter for 1 minute, add the vanilla. Mix together until smooth.
2. Pour the cereal and pecans into the bowl, and use a large rubber spatula to mix the cereal and pecans until they're coated in the chocolate mixture.
3. Pour the cake mix and powdered sugar into a gallon sized zip top bag. Seal and shake together until mixed.
4. Use a large spoon (or whatever method works for you) to scoop the cereal into the bag. Seal the bag and shake until the cereal is coated in the powdered mixture.

Notes : Pecan butter from the store is really expensive, it's so much cheaper and yummier to make your own! I like Summer's recipe. Some people have trouble fitting the cereal all into the bag at one time. I can usually get it all in, but you can do it in half batches if you need to. Muddy buddies are good at all stages, but usually taste best within the first two days.


So these have pecan butter in them. They're all fancy. I hear that's what movie stars eat, shh don't tell.

So if you want to be a fancy glamorous person without making a souffle, these muddy buddies are for you.

I edited some photos by Something Swanky. I made them say Butter Pecan Muddy Buddies at the bottom for my own purposes. This post is just a shout out to Ashton and her delicious cream cheese carrot cake muddy buddies. Thanks for the delicious recipe Ashton (and the great tip that you can use frosting instead of peanut butter)! Everyone, go check it out! Because this post is all about Ashton! Because while it looks like it's about the a super delicious muddy buddy recipe (fancy with no effort!), it's really all about honoring our fellow blogger and friend Ashton. Keep up the good work Ashton! You are a great example of blogging and I just wanted to dedicate this post to you. That is why I wrote this post. I just wrote about the muddy buddies for fun, because really, this is all about you. This post is for you. The muddy buddies are just a nice little addition, like a present for you. The whole purpose of me writing this is to honor you. Not the muddy buddies. Because this is all about you. The whole reason of my blog is so I can honor bloggers like you. I do the recipes just to attract people here so they can see what a truly amazing personality you have. I hope you aren't angry that I edited your photos. The only reason I did it is so that I can compare the differences between our recipes and show that even though we're different, we're both awesome. Again, I hope you're not angry that I honored you like this. That is why I edited your photo, to honor you and show how cool you are. I hope I can grow up and make as many cool things as you.Once again, if you are offended by me editing your photos, well think of it like this. This is just a shout out to you, like many bloggers do with their friends at the bottom of their posts. I've even seen you doing it! I just thought it was so sweet of you, and wanted to return the favor!


So, of course you guys want to see the before and after photos, right?
Here's Ashton's                                   And mine
 

Both look awesome, right? Anyways, go make these muddy buddies. Fast! You can enjoy eating them and all their buttery goodness, and still act like you're a fancy rich person!

Almond Cream Churros

 I love churros.

But I am very picky about them.

If it's not cream filled, it's not worth it.

Churros without cream, are basically just a stick of cinnamon.

I had a big huge twisted one from Costco. And it basically tasted like a donut without frosting, that got covered in cinnamon.

It wasn't disgusting, but it definitely wasn't my kind of churro.

I like the kind from Jack in the box.

See the cream? Yum yum. I don't usually buy anything from jack-in-the-box. We just go and buy churros, and that's it.

I also like the ones from Taco Johns.

So, for Cinco De Mayo, I wanted to make some Jack in the Box copycat churros.

But it didn't really work.

It tasted NOTHING like the stuff from Jack in the Box. But what it tasted like, tasted a whole lot of good.

Almond Cream Filled Churros
A soft homemade churro filled with almond cream
Ingredients:

• Churros:
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 and 2 tsp sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 4 eggs
• 4 cups oil
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Almond Cream:
• 1 TBsp flour
• 1 1/2 TBsp sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp of vanilla extract (or 1 tsp of vanilla paste)
• 1 large egg (or two very small ones)
• 1 TBsp butter
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1/2 TBsp finely chopped toasted almonds

Directions: 

1. Combine water, butter, salt and 2 tsp sugar in a saucepan.
2. Heat to a rolling boil then quickly stir in flour all at once. Stir briskly over heat until all ingredients are well incorporated and dough is silky.
3. Place dough in a mixer and beat on medium speed with paddle attachment.
4. Add eggs one at a time as dough cools then beat 5 minutes.
5. Place dough in pastry bag with a large star tip. Pipe dough onto prepared sheet pan in tube shapes about 3” long and 1” thick.
6. Freeze piped dough until firm so it can be more easily handled.
7. Heat oil to 375 and deep fry churros until golden brown then flip to complete browning. Remove with slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels then allow to cool.
8. Push a tunnel through both ends of churros with handle of a wooden spoon.
9. Fill pastry bag with flavored pastry cream and pipe into churros then refrigerate 30 minutes.
10. To make pastry cream mix flour and sugar together.
11. Heat milk and vanilla to scalding in a heavy saucepan.
12. Add 1/4cup hot milk to flour and sugar then beat until smooth and return to saucepan.
13. Beat eggs lightly and temper by adding 1/4 cup of the milk mixture to eggs then beat well.
14. Return tempered eggs to remaining milk mixture and cook over medium heat until thick. Remove from heat then add butter, almond extract and almond.

Notes: This recipe was HUGE so I cut it down a bit. It called for three eggs, so either do 1 big egg, or two small ones. This may look daunting (like, really daunting), so to make it easier, make the almond cream ahead of time, and then when you want to make the churros, add the cream. 

Adapted from GroupRecipes.com


These are suuuuper good. Like, churros of insane deliciousness. Would you like a description to make your mouth water? Yes, you would.

A crunchy churro, covered with cinnamon sugar, sticking to your fingers. Stuffed from the middle to the outside with a silky almond cream, these melt in your mouth, and stick to your , uh, I don't really know what they stick to. Maybe your hips?

  I edited some photos by Butter + Cream. I made them say Almond Cream Filled Churros at the top for my own purposes. This post is just a shout out to Allison and her delicious churros. Thanks for the delicious recipe Allison! Everyone, go check it out! Because this post is all about Allison! Because while it looks like it's about the best way to celebrate Cinco De Mayo EVER (seriously, ever!) , it's really all about honoring our fellow blogger and friend Allison. Keep up the good work Allison! You are a great example of blogging and I just wanted to dedicate this post to you. That is why I wrote this post. I just wrote about the churros for fun, because really, this is all about you. This post is for you. The churros is just a nice little addition, like a present for you. The whole purpose of me writing this is to honor you. Not the churros. Because this is all about you. The whole reason of my blog is so I can honor bloggers like you. I do the recipes just to attract people here so they can see what a truly amazing personality you have. I hope you aren't angry that I edited your photos. The only reason I did it is so that I can compare the differences between our recipes and show that even though we're different, we're both awesome. Again, I hope you're not angry that I honored you like this. That is why I edited your photo, to honor you and show how cool you are. I hope I can grow up and make as many cool things as you.Once again, if you are offended by me editing your photos, well think of it like this. This is just a shout out to you, like many bloggers do with their friends at the bottom of their posts. 

You know what's next, right? Before and after photos!
Here's Allison's
 
 And mine
 
 Which photo looks better? (Don't answer that!)

Craziness Friday #8

Craziness Friday.

Here again.

For the eighth time.

My life was crazy this week. C-R-A-Z-Y

Crazy with tumbling, ISATs, math, and pinterest.

Wanna see some of my pins?

I think I might start showing some of my favorite pins during Craziness Friday.

Today, we will feature my Words pinterest board.



Yes. I wish I had a pinata right now.



I really want this card.


And yet I'm in Honors.



I want to hang this on my wall.



All for the sake of science guys!



Very true.

Anyways, those are some of my favorite pins!

1.  I finished all my ISATs! Finally. My math score was 252!! That's really good. In ISATs there are three categories, basic, proficient and advanced. If you get two basic tests, you might have to repeat a grade. Proficient is normal. Advanced is, well, advanced. If you get advanced, you will probably be in honors next year for that subject. Every year the requirements for being advanced/proficient/basic goes up. In 5th grade for math I got 238. That was good, then. The next year in 6th grade I got the exact same score, barely making advanced. I was kind of disappointed. Math was not going my way that year, I also got a less desirable score on the trimester final. This year I was really nervous, I had to get in the two-forties range. So I set my ISAT goal for math as 242. So when I got 252, I was super happy. My friend got a good score too, 236, only one point away from advanced! So we're both kind of happy about that.

2. I gave you some tips on being healthy. Hopefully I can follow my own advice!


3. Next, I made the best cake eeeever. You've all heard of BTS cakes, right? They're cakes with holes poked in, sweetened condensed milk poured in the holes. And then slathered with cool whip and toffee. Yum. It's normally done with chocolate, but I think this cake batter version might pass up the original.


4. Have you ever had a coquito? It's an alcoholic eggnog coconut beverage. Really yummy and all Mexican. I came up with the best way to enjoy it, and it's virgin too!


5. I went to a really fun tumbling place. Has a huge foam ball pit, a cliff to jump into said ball pit, rock climbing, coconut tree climbing, and all the regular tumbling stuff.
It was super fun! Lots of jumping, laughing and running around with my friends. Can't wait to go back!

6. There was a Taco John's fundraiser for choir.
I love churros. All kinds. But my favorite are the cream filled ones. Because the other ones, well, guys, they're just a stick of cinnamon. My favorite churros are from Jack-In-The-Box and Taco Johns' cream filled ones. Suuper good. So if you ever go to Taco Johns, get their cream filled churros!

So that was my week! How was yours?

Coquito Pudding Mousse

Coquito Pudding Mousse, a must have for Cinco De Mayo. Flavored with all the spices of coquito, coconut, eggnog and rum, this pudding mousse comes together in a snap and is great for your next gathering!

Last year in school we had to do country reports.

It was super long.

Like it took four months.

For part of it we had to do powerpoints.

I did mine on Puerto Rico.

One of my slides was on food (surprise surprise)

So with all my research I learned about something.

Coquito.

Coquito sounds really yummy. It's like a coconut rum eggnog. I'd totally try some if it was non-alcoholic. (Anyone know a virgin coquito recipe?)

So I decided to take all the flavors and make it into coquito pudding mousse. Because Cinco De Mayo is coming up and I needed something. I realize that Puerto Rico is not the same thing as Mexico, but I'm sure you could find some coquito in Mexico.

Anyways. Coquito Pudding Mousse.

You know you want to. (Or at least think you want to, right?)

Coquito Pudding Mousse
 Coconut pudding with eggnog instead of milk, with rum flavoring.

Serves: 6     Chill Time: 15 min.      Prep Time: 3 min.      Total Time: 23 min.
Ingredients:

• 1 box of coconut cream instant pudding mix
• 1 1/4 cup of egg nog
• 2 teaspoons of rum flavoring/extract
• 1  8oz. cool whip container
• sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Whisk together the pudding mix and the eggnog until smooth and starting to thicken.
2. Immediately whisk in half of the cool whip. Switch to a rubber spatula and fold in the remaining cool whip until fully incorporated.
3. Add flavoring and cinnamon. Chill for 15-20 minutes. 

 
 That's what coquito looks like.

Doesn't it look yummy and creamy. Wanna know what's even better? This pudding mousse.

Seriously, go make it.

And if you need an excuse, do it for Cinco De Mayo. You have to be festive. It's like, a law. You MUST be festive. This is a great way to be all Mexican with out having to make anything really hard.


I edited some photos by Pillsbury. I made them say Coquito Pudding Mousse at the bottom for my own purposes. This post is just a shout out to Pillsbury and their genius eggnog pudding (not to mention their cake mixes. And crescents. And basically everything Pillsbury).  Everyone, go check it out! Because this post is all about Pillsbury! It's like a sponsored post, but it's not. And I don't include any of their ingredients, just edited one of their pictures! This post is all about Pillsbury. Seriously, go to their site and check out all of their great recipes and products. If the company Pillsbury happens to be reading this (unlikely), I hope you're not mad that I edited your photos. I did it solely for the purpose of attracting people to your products.

I just love before and after photos!
Here's Pillsbury                                                        And mine.
     

Better Than Anything Funfetti Poke Cake

There are some things that have magical qualities.

They just somehow make everything better.

 Things that go here are : rainbows, bandaids, lip gloss (what?), maybe unicorns (still a little iffy about them), sprinkles, and sweetened condensed milk.

Bandaids make everything better. Because, I mean, they cover up the hurt.

Unicorns are just magical.

Rainbows rock. I mean, have you ever seen a double rainbow? Check it out!

Super magical.

And sprinkles are right up there with rainbows. All those colors together make my heart go pitter-pat. Plus sprinkles mean cake batter. Which is the best thing ever to be made in a KitchenAid.

And the most magical of all . .. Sweetened Condensed Milk. Whatever you add it to becomes awesome. Boil it and becomes caramel. Put it on top of a bar and it makes it ooey gooey and irresistible. And the best thing to do with sweetened condensed milk?

Put it in a cake. Poke holes in a cake and put it in. Sooo. Good.

And then top it with cool whip. Veeery very good.

So I decided to combine two magical things, sprinkles and sweetened condensed milk.

And I got what I think is the most magical thing in the world. I mean, look at it.
 
 Better Than Anything Funfetti Poke Cake
A buttery funfetti cake filled with sweetened condensed milk to make it ooey gooey and one of the best BTS cakes you'll ever have.
Ingredients:

• 1 9x13 funfetti cake of your choice, baked
• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tub of cool whip
• sprinkles and toffee for garnish

Directions:

1. Leave the cake in the pan it was baked in. 
2. Poke about 20-25 holes in the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon. Pour sweetened condensed milk onto cake. Try to spread as evenly as possible and fill all the holes. 
3. Spread cool whip on top. 
4. Garnish with sprinkles and toffee. Serve, or chill and wait. 

Notes: I prefer it chilled, but you can serve it immediately, whatever your little heart desires.


I could not stop eating this. It was so good! I started trying to scoop out holes with an actual spoon. Whoops! Huge mistake that made a huge hole in the cake. I started eating little pieces of cake from the gooey hole, and it got bigger. And bigger. So big that no amount of cool whip would cover it.

So my family was a little angry about that, but it was okay. Because once they tasted the cake, they forgave me. (Right mom?) :)


 I edited some photos by What Katie's Baking. I made them say Funfetti Poke Cake at the bottom for my own purposes. This post is just a shout out to Haley and her delicious fluffy funfetti poke cake. Thanks for the delicious recipe Katie! Everyone, go check it out! Because this post is all about Katie! Because while it looks like it's about the best cake ever in the world, it's really all about honoring our fellow blogger and friend Katie. Keep up the good work Katie! You are a great example of blogging and I just wanted to dedicate this post to you. That is why I wrote this post. I just wrote about the ice cream for fun, because really, this is all about you. This post is for you. The BTS cake is just a nice little addition, like a present for you. The whole purpose of me writing this is to honor you. Not the ice cream. Because this is all about you. The whole reason of my blog is so I can honor bloggers like you. I do the recipes just to attract people here so they can see what a truly amazing personality you have. I hope you aren't angry that I edited your photos. The only reason I did it is so that I can compare the differences between our recipes and show that even though we're different, we're both awesome. Again, I hope you're not angry that I honored you like this. That is why I edited your photo, to honor you and show how cool you are. I hope I can grow up and make as many cool things as you.Once again, if you are offended by me editing your photos, well think of it like this. This is just a shout out to you, like many bloggers do with their friends at the bottom of their posts.

And if you can't tell, I merged it with some ice cream. Because Katie's photo doesn't have gooey sweetened condensed milk dripping out of the sides.

Here's her photo.                             


And mine.

Can you see the difference?

Tips on Healthy Eating as a Dessert Blogger

So.

This post is, kind of weird.

I mean, if you want to live a healthy lifestyle, you should just do it. And really, most of you aren't dessert bloggers, and if you are, you already have it all figured out.

This is more of a reminder to me of what I need to be doing.

(Note: I was mentally planning this in my head even before my parents went on a health rampage. This is mainly a note to them, because they are some of the only ones who read my blog.)

Tip #1 Don't work for the blog, make the blog work for you. 

This means you shouldn't be making things you wouldn't normally make. If you don't make five desserts a week normally, then don't! Make it a craft blog, whatever you would normally do.

Or do a food blog, a combo of main meals and desserts. Don't make yourself do things that you wouldn't do with a regular occupation.

Another tip that goes with this, don't overdose. If you wouldn't normally make ten desserts a week, then don't! Make two desserts, and make some of your posts be tips or how to's on dessert blogging.  

Tip #2 Be Skinny
 (This is a skinny muffin from Sally's Baking Addiction)

This does not mean you need to go try and lose weight. Skinny in the blogging world means healthy. Not exactly a salad, but a lightened up muffin.

Try to post one skinny recipe a week. Most recipes are very easy to make skinny by substituting things like: greek yogurt, applesauce, bananas, that kind of thing.

Another tip that goes with this is single serving is the key. If you just have a whole pan of brownies lying around, you are likely to eat them. If you only make single servings, then after you eat it there won't be anything left to eat. As a result, you won't overeat.

Tip #3 Don't Eat Snack Food

This is super hard for me, because all I do is snack!

But as dessert bloggers, you make desserts. And most of the time eat them. There is no room left over for snacking with all those desserts!

So, don't buy snacks, and don't eat snacks. Whenever you feel really tempted, think of what you want to make for your next post. And then go make it.

Tip #4 Exercise
 
This isn't really for dessert bloggers, it's for everyone.

But since dessert bloggers tend to eat more desserts, we need to exercise.

Of course, I'm super bad at this. But, you know, I run to the bus stop every day. That counts, right? Riiiiight?

You don't need to go overboard. But try to get an hour of exercise every day. At least that's what they're always telling me in school. Maybe it's different for adults.


I know, not a healthy picture. But doesn't it look yummy? Come on, you know I'm not that healthy.

Anyways, I hope these tips help you. And even if they don't, they're a good reminder for me.

Craziness Friday # 7

It's Friday! It's Friday! Or is it Thursdsay?

I've been super confused about what day it is this week.

I kept thinking that Monday was Friday, Tuesday was Wednesday, Wednesday was Thursday, but somehow I managed to keep Friday straight in my head.

1. Anyways, I thought this week I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you.

Favorite Candy: Cookie Dough Bites and Peach Rings. (guess what I found out!? Peach rings don't have any actual peach in them! They're flavored with white grape juice.)


Favorite Ice Cream: Deluxe Birthday Cake, seriously the best cake batter ice cream ever! It's really high quality but is just as inexpensive as the cheap kind. My favorite part is the blue frosting swirl.


Favorite Color: Turqoise


And that's all for today. I'll probably share some more next year.

2. I made muddy buddies again. I literally had to restrain myself from making ten different kinds this week, because I can't have more than one a week.


3. Then I made something non-dessert. Shocking, I know. But it's still cookie flavored.


4. And then I made my second favorite ice cream ever. Because my very favorite is birthday cake deluxe, as you can see above.


5. I did another ISAT. The language one. I did pretty well. Advanced, of course. And the score was . . .255! 3 ISATs down, 1 to go.

6. I did my country report presentation in choir. Very nerve-wracking, but I think I did a pretty good job.

7. I redesigned my blog! I added a new sidebar feature and I redid the banner and sides. Learn more about it in this post. 

So my week in a nutshell was tons of choir, lots of ISATs, and lots of deliciousness. Including peach rings.
 

Triple Cookie Dough Ice Cream

Guess what?

You just won the lottery!

You get three awesome prizes!

Would you like to know what these prizes are?

Prize # 1. You get to read an awesome blog with a dedicated author who spent their entire Saturday morning redesigning it to give you a brand new awesome blog!
Have you noticed? Instead of a blue banner that didn't line up with the red words, you now have a cute ribbon banner that does line up with words, that also matches the background!

Not to mention the new sidebar addition

I followed this great tutorial from Something Swanky. 

So, I'm very happy with that.

Prize #2. Lucky you! Summer is coming, no more school! Unless you have a year long job, then poor you.
And you have a giveaway of all my favorite things! Just kidding, no one really reads this, so the chances of that happening are zero. I mean, unless every single person who reads this comments and says they do, and the comments add up to 10 people, then I just might reconsider. 

Prize #3. Last but definitely not least, the best prize of all, you get cookie dough ice cream.
Not just the cheap kind that is just vanilla ice cream with one chunk of cookie dough, but you get. . .

A cookie dough flavored base (!!!), cookie dough chunks (double !!!) and then in place of chocolate chips, cookie dough bite candies (now is where you faint from happiness so there are no more !!!s)

Yes, you are very, very lucky.

Triple Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Love the cookie dough in cookie dough ice cream? This is for you! The entire ice cream is cookie dough flavored, then with cookie dough chunks, and finally the cookie dough bites candy.
Ingredients:

• 1 cup cookie dough bites candy
• 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 4 large egg yolks
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or paste)
• 2 cups half and half
• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 tablespoons salted butter
• Dough: 8 ounces (2 sticks) cool unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1.  In a small sauce pan, melt the butter until it is a deep golden brown color.  You don't want it too burnt or it will taste weird.  
2.   In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar and egg yolks until pale and fluffy.  Take the half and half mixture off the heat, and add a little to the egg mixture while mixing.  Add a little more, then pour everything back into the sauce pan. 
3.  Add the vanilla and heat until about 170 degrees, or until it coats a metal spoon.  Transfer the mixture to a bowl and chill.  
4. Once the mixture is chilled, whisk in the additional 2 cups of milk and add it to your ice cream machine. Taste your ice cream and adjust accordingly.  If you don't find it particularly rich, simply add more half and half.  When it's almost fully churned, add the cookie dough bite candy. 
5. Now you make the cookie dough : Cream the butter in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or use a hand-held beater) until soft and fluffy. Add both sugars and mix. Add the vanilla and 1 egg and mix. Add the remaining egg and mix. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix. Add the chips and mix just until just combined.
6. Shape dough into a rope and cut into small pieces. Add that to the ice cream mixture. 
7. Freeze until it reaches desired consistency and serve. 

 Adapted from The Kitchy Kitchen

Notes :  This recipe might seem a bit daunting. To make it a bit easier, make a cookie dough (meant for ice cream), that you trust and like.



This is basically the best ice cream I've ever had. Well, actually, this is the best homemade ice cream I've ever had. Super good and creamy, cookie dough base, cookie dough, cookie dough bites, it's pretty much the best combination possible.

I edited some photos by The Domestic Rebel. I made them say Triple Cookie Dough Ice Cream at the bottom for my own purposes. This post is just a shout out to Haley and her delicious Cookie Dough Fro Yo. Thanks for the delicious recipe Haley! Everyone, go check it out! Because this post is all about Haley! Because while it looks like it's about the best ice cream ever in the world, it's really all about honoring our fellow blogger and friend Haley. Keep up the good work Haley! You are a great example of blogging and I just wanted to dedicate this post to you. That is why I wrote this post. I just wrote about the ice cream for fun, because really, this is all about you. This post is for you. The ice cream is just a nice little addition, like a present for you. The whole purpose of me writing this is to honor you. Not the ice cream. Because this is all about you. The whole reason of my blog is so I can honor bloggers like you. I do the recipes just to attract people here so they can see what a truly amazing personality you have. I hope you aren't angry that I edited your photos. The only reason I did it is so that I can compare the differences between our recipes and show that even though we're different, we're both awesome. Again, I hope you're not angry that I honored you like this. That is why I edited your photo, to honor you and show how cool you are. I hope I can grow up and make as many cool things as you.Once again, if you are offended by me editing your photos, well think of it like this. This is just a shout out to you, like many bloggers do with their friends at the bottom of their posts.

Non-Edible Sugar Cookie Playdough

I don't like the school lunch program.

See, it used to be suuuuper good.

They had pizza sticks (ohmygoshthebestthingsEVER!), the best beef hot dogs in the history of the world, pizza every friday, mini corn dogs, all the normal stuff only better.

But then in at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 some changes started being made in the school lunch programs.

They started getting healthy. And not the yummy kind of healthy like fresh strawberries. The kind of fake gross healthy. Like mushy berries from a can instead of cheetos.

The pizza became whole wheat and they decreased the amount of sauce and cheese.

They got rid of pizza sticks and hot dogs.

They got rid of the sugar cookies (really good but lacking in frosting)

These things all kind of happened gradually.

But then when I started 7th grade there were big changes.

They switched the milk company to TruMoo (so gross) At my little siblings elementary they have a milk bucket where the kids dump the undrinked milk. They only had to have two, one for white milk and one for chocolate. Now they have to have five. Five! Because the milk is so gross and lacking in fat that no one will even drink it.

And at my school they made a rule that you have to have half your plate be vegetables. So the lines took foreeeeever since everyone had to keep going back and grabbing more salad. Then they would eat two bites, not touch the salad, and throw it away. It's such a waste of money!

I don't think my school necessarily cares about being healthy. It's just part of the new policy so they do it.

I mean, since all of the fundraisers fail, they sell cotton candy and popcorn in the main office.

For a little while they started taking away the Ale` Cart`e. Because it's just loaded with junk food. Cheetos, mini pizzas, tater tots, cinnamon rolls, the best sugar cookies in the land, etc.

But then they earned 1/3 less of the money they usually did, and kids were starting to get angry, so they brought it back.

Anyways. Their sugar cookies. Goodness, they're so freakin' delicious! They have a buttery soft sugar cookie slathered with pink icing. They're so good.

I never buy hot lunch. I just buy the sugar cookies. (because I hate feeling like a cheapskate and having my friend buy them for me).

They're unbelievably good. The smell is almost as good as the taste.

In this playdough's case, the smell is a whole lot better than the taste.

Sugar cookie playdough. You know you want to.

Non-edible Sugar Cookie Playdough
You're favorite playdough recipe that smells and looks just like a sugar cookie!
Makes: Enough for 5 kids
Ingredients:

•  1 cup white flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoon cream of tartar (find it in the spice section)
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 cup water
• yellow food coloring (not too much, you want just a hint, not a lemon color)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla

Directions: Mix first 4 ingredients in a pan. Add water and vanilla and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 3 – 5 minutes. Dough will become difficult to stir and form a “clump”.  Remove from stove and knead for 5 minutes–add food coloring during kneading process. Play dough will keep for a long time stored in a covered plastic container or plastic sandwich bag.

Notes: You don't want very much yellow food coloring, just enough to make it sugar cookie color. You can add more or less vanilla depending on how much you're willing to use, or however much it takes till it gets the sugar cookie smell.

 Doesn't this look delicious? I love sugar cookie bars, even more than I love sugar cookies! These ones are from Crazy Daisy.

This playdough is super fun, to play with, not to eat! It's really fun for little ones to play cookie factory, but they'll soon know that this does not taste good!

I edited some photos by Dimpleprints. I made them say Sugar Cookie Playdough at the top, and added other cookie pictures for my own purposes. This post is just a shout out to Carli and her genius snowmen playdough. Thanks for the great idea Carli! Everyone, go check it out! Because this post is all about Carli! Because while it looks like it's about a fun kid playdough idea, it's really all about honoring our fellow blogger and friend Carli. Keep up the good work Carli! You are a great example of blogging and I just wanted to dedicate this post to you. That is why I wrote this post. I just wrote about the sugar cookie playdough, because really, this is all about you. I don't blog because I like desserts. The whole purpose of me blogging and getting up in the morning is to honor you. I hope you are not offended about me editing your photos so that my blog can be all about you.

Go say hi to Carli for me!

Savannah Smiles Muddy Buddies

So. The walk-a-thon this year was a huge failure.

Ginormous flop.

Tremendous disaster.

It just didn't work. Only 1/10 of the entire student body donated anything.

But, of course, no one cares about that part of it except for the school.

I mean the walking part.

It had been really nice the day before, sunny skies and all that. And then on the day of the walk-a-thon, the weather forecast predicted rain.

When we first started walking, it was super windy. So windy that my hair flew in my face and got stuck to my lip gloss. So windy and freezing that the hand not cozily nestled in my pocket was getting numb from holding the water bottle.

There were brief moments when the wind would go away and it would be okay, but like I said, very brief.

I was on my third lap when it started hailing.

Seriously. Hailing. During the walk-a-thon when most kids are just wearing a shirt.

Anyways, the whole experience just stunk.

To get rid of the bad memories, I came home and made muddy buddies.

GS style of course.

Savannah Smiles Muddy Buddies
Chex mix slathered in a lemon frosting white chocolate mixture, doused with powdered sugar and sprinkled with Savannah Smiles GS cookies, these muddy buddies are sure to bring a lemony smile to all who eat them.
Ingredients:

• 9 cups Rice Chex cereal
• 1 1/4 cup white vanilla baking chips
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 4 tsp grated lemon peel
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup roughly chopped Savannah Smiles GS cookies

Directions: Measure cereal into a large mixing bowl and set aside.  In a microwaveable bowl, microwave chips, butter, lemon peel and juice uncovered on high for 1 minute; stir.  Microwave about 30 more seconds or until mixture can be stirred smooth.  Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.  Pour into a 2-gallon resealable food storage plastic bag.  Add powdered sugar and cookies, seal bag and shake until all the cereal is well-coated.

Notes: This recipe is actually SS flavored. It's not just muddy buddies with SS thrown in, it actually tastes like them, because SS's flavor combo is powdered sugar and lemon.
 

I was dying to come up with a new girl scout muddy buddy after the samoas one (cookie sales are still in full swing here in my town).

Savannah Smiles was the obvious choice, because it's covered in powdered sugar. I love having flavors where you don't have to use the actual cookie.

This is Savannah Smile flavored because it's a lemon base covered with powdered sugar.

Just like Savannah Smiles.

I edited some photos by Apple a Day. I made them say Savannah Smile Muddy Buddies at the bottom for my own purposes. This post is just a shout out to Kelsey and her delicious Lemon Buddies.  Thanks for the delicious recipe Kelsey! Everyone, go check it out! Because this post is all about Kelsey! Because while it looks like it's about a delicious muddy buddies recipe, it's really all about honoring our fellow blogger and friend Kelsey. Keep up the good work Kelsey! You are a great example of blogging and I just wanted to dedicate this post to you. That is why I wrote this post. I just wrote about the muddy buddies for fun, because really, this is all about you. This post is for you. The muddy buddies are just a nice little addition, like a present for you. The whole purpose of me writing this is to honor you. Not the muddy buddies. Because this is all about you.

Go say hi to Kelsey for me!

Craziness Friday #6

Hey! Looking for Friday Recap? This is it, all jazzed up!

This week was pretty normal, with a couple of cool and not so cool things popping up.

1. ISATs are here! For real! I've already done the science one. And guess what! I got a 240! Which is good, because an advanced is 219. And yesterday I did my Reading one. Last year I got 260, 100%. I was really hoping I could stay at that, but, sadly not. I got a 250, same as three of my friends. But that's still really good. 2 ISATs down, 2 to go!

2. I've been finding lots of great pinterest tips lately, and I decided to share them with you! Go check it out (and ignore the number five on the picture, there are actually nine tips)


3. I fed my muddy buddy addiction with cake donuts. For even more muddy buddies, look at my pin board.


4. I found the easiest way to make custard ever!  No stirring for eternity involved.


5. I did the Walk-a-thon at my school. Not. Fun. At. All.

6. I went to Herbergers for my YW mutual activity. One of our leaders husband is the manager, so we got to go in the upstairs of the building.

We got gift bags, hair tutorials, and for the last couple of minutes we got to try on some clothes and see what we liked. I found something I wanted, but all the stalls were busy, so I didn't get a chance to try it on.

Oh yeah, and the emergency alarm went off on us. One of the girls thought the emergency exit was the door we were supposed to go through. She pushed it open and set off the alarm. They turned it off and she started sobbing.

But overall, it was pretty fun.



So, my week was pretty good. Hopefully next week will be the same!

Super Easy Pudding Custard

Schools are always doing fundraisers.

Parents usually hate don't like them.

At my elementary school, we had lots of fundraisers.

But they were good fundraisers, ones that would actually bring in money, ones that people would actually be willing to pay for.

One of the biggest fundraisers they had was the school carnival.

It was always a big success. Kids would buy tickets and come. It was awesome!
There was cotton candy, hot dogs, bounce houses and tons of games.

The school owned the cotton candy, so that was free. The games were usually pretty cheap. The most expensive thing there was probably the bounce house.

Here's some pictures . . .

They had these awesome little "train" carts that were pulled by a four wheeler.


One of the games.


And balloons!

So the elementary school fundraisers were usually pretty good.

Now I'm in middle school. The fundraisers are . . . not so good.

They had this one where you would sell magazines and if you sold ten, you would get a little ducky keychain. If you got five little duck keychains you would have a chance to enter a drawing to get a candy bar.

Obviously, it was a huge fail, because all the magazines were twice their normal value (or at least seven dollars more)

I obviously have tons of school spirit and participated in every fundraiser.

Popcorn sales: I bought the huckleberry cheesecake.
Magazines: I subscribed to American Girl. 
Wreath and Pine Trees: I didn't do anything. Because no one wants to pay 100$ for an ugly wreath.
Walk-a-thon: I got sponsored by my dad with 5$.

Let's talk about the walkathon!

Worst. Fundraiser. Ever.

You just walk around the track for an hour. Who wants to sponsor a kid for that?

Plus, even if you don't get any sponsors, you still have to walk.

Last year, it was soooo hot. And, they wouldn't let you go inside and get a drink. They were selling mini water bottles for 5$ , but no one had money with them.

The one person who did bring a drink (my friend), didn't really bring a drink. It was some super sugary apple drink.

And it was totally drank up by everyone else except for me and her. We left it by her coat, and come back and there's a huge crowd of boys changing "Chug Chug Chug!" as some giant kid drinks it all down.

Anyways, that walk-a-thon was not easy.

And the one that happened this year (which I'll talk about tomorrow) was even worse. Not easy in the least.

Wanna know what is easy?

This pudding custard.

Super Easy Pudding Custard
Custard is super delicious, but unfortunately not super easy. This version has all the great flavors and textures of regular custard, but is made with two ingredients and a microwave.
Serves:4     Bake Time: 2 minutes     Prep Time: 2 minutes     Total Time: 4 minutes
Ingredients:

• 1 box of vanilla pudding mix 
• amount of milk called for on box
• cinnamon 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla cake mix

Directions: Pour cold milk into a bowl. Add pudding mix. Stir slowly (lowest speed on standard mixers, or just normal speed with hands) for two minutes. Stir in cake mix. Pour into a bowl, and sprinkle cinnamon. Microwave for about 2 minutes until custard consistensy
Notes: For faster cooking, use more than one bowl. In my microwave it takes about 2 minutes, but check a little earlier than that, and keep cooking until it forms a "skin" like custard.

(This is a random picture of custard from Shrinking Bandwidth, definitely not mine)

So, my cake batter pudding is just so much better warm. I was warming it up, but accidentally had it in too long.

The outsides tasted kind of like custard.

Bingo!

This recipe is great for anyone who loves the taste of custard, but doesn't have the time for it. Because you have to stir it for eeeeeeeeever.

You want to cook it until only the middle is soft, and the outsides are almost "crisp".

I edited some photos by Shrinking My Bandwidth. I made them say Super Easy Pudding Custard at the top for my own purposes. This post is just a shout out to Polly and her delicious Grandma's Old Fashioned Custard.  Thanks for the delicious recipe Polly! Everyone, go check it out! Because this post is all about Polly! Because while it looks like it's about an easy shortcut dessert, it's really all about honoring our fellow blogger and friend Polly. Keep up the good work Polly! You are a great example of blogging and I just wanted to dedicate this post to you. That is why I wrote this post. I just wrote about the pudding custard for fun, because really, this is all about you.

Go say hi to Polly for me!