3 Quarters Today

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snacks

Day 239/365: A Friendly’s Perfect Ending Ice Cream Sundae

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Does anyone need any reminders that I love Friendly’s ice cream sundaes? Don’t think so. Since Friendly’s restaurants have yet to open a store in Nebraska I have to get my fill when I return to Connecticut. This was my third and last stop of my Connecticut trip and it was a perfect way to end our Block Island trip.

Friendly's Sundae
Friendly’s Sundae, a perfect ending to any outing

Sure, I could make my own ice cream sundaes at home, but they wouldn’t be the same as the experience of sitting in a booth after a day of fun and adventure with friends.

Did you know you could buy Friendly’s gift cards on Amazon? Heck ya!! If anyone is thinking of a gift for me around the time I’m going back home to New England this is a GREAT idea!!!

Friendly’s Gift Card $25

Until then I’m just going to have to create my own ice cream sundae creations. First, you HAVE to use vintage ice cream sundae glasses. It’s even better if you can store it in the freezer.

I’m partial to the larger sundae glasses, more room for ice cream and toppings, but for kids, paper ice cream bowls are more manageable. Next, you need toppings.

An ice cream sundae bar is a perfect addition to a graduation party or a wedding reception. Order custom printed ice cream cups for your special occasion.

I keep the Glad twist top containers filled with chopped peanuts, sprinkles, crushed cookies, crushed butterfingers, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows,  and a variety of sundae syrups in the fridge.

What are your favorite sundae and toppings? Do you like to make a monster sundae and share with others or create a sundae bar? This classy looking acrylic toppings dispenser would be perfect for any ice cream bar.

For my youngest son’s high school graduation we had a sundae bar which was a big hit and a unique party theme. For this special occasion we bought sundae bowls in bulk and these, of course, were plastic.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar

So just because I can’t go to my local Friendly’s restaurant for an ice cream sundae fix doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy my ice cream. I use every opportunity to share my love of ice cream with others at celebrations.

Order these cute ice cream sundae bar printables for your next party. They are bound to make your celebration even more special.

Day 222/365: Ding, Ding, Ding, It’s the Ice Cream Truck

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Summer and the Ice Cream Truck, Perfect Match
Summer and the Ice Cream Truck, Perfect Match

Ding, Ding, Ding, yup I hear it. In the distance some where is an ice cream truck. Doesn’t matter that I spent twelve hours in 100F garage cataloging the left over contents of my Mom’s house. I can find the energy to run to the road for the ice cream truck. I do believe it’s the fastest I moved that whole week.

Thanks Steve by the way for supper and treating us for ice cream. I was so excited that I forgot to grab my wallet.

Instant Childhood with Orange Creamsicles
Instant Childhood with Orange Creamsicles

One last photo, (Can I really call this a 365 project anymore, or a photo of the day? Don’t think so) Orange Cream Popsicle are my favorite, what is yours?

Day 202/365: Easy Chocolate Trifle Dessert

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I love food and there is nothing more impressive than a layered trifle dessert when you are trying to impress company. What is great about trifles is they are soooo easy and creative, really can’t go wrong with just about any combination of pudding, cool whip, fruit or candy toppings.

I received a trifle bowl for our wedding and one of my first dessert creations was chocolate pudding, brownies, and heath bars layered with cool whip.

Easy Chocolate Trifle Dessert
Easy Chocolate Trifle

My kids fought over it and said I had to make it again.You expect a recipe maybe? Ok, here it is

Ingredients

  • 1 pan of brownies
  • 1 qt (4 cups) cold milk
  • 2 pkg (4 serving size each) Chocolate Instant Pudding & Pie Filing
  • 1 tub (8 oz) Whipped Topping, thawed
  • 4 pkg (1.4 oz each) Heath Bars (Butterfingers, Snickers, you get the idea)

Directions

Bake brownies. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into 1/2 inch cubes. ADD mild to dry pudding mix in medium bowl. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. LAYER half each of the brownie cubes, pudding, whipped topping and crushed chocolate bars in large glass trifle bowl.

Simple Dessert TriflesArtland Simplicity Trifle Bowl

REPEAT all layers, Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Other trifle Combinations

Layer the following with cool whip

  • Banana pudding, bananas, strawberries, blueberries
  • Vanilla pudding, strawberries, blueberries (red, white, and blue patriotic trifle)
  • Pistachio pudding, chocolate brownies, strawberries, crushed pistachio nuts on top
  • Lemon pudding, angel food cake, blueberries, crushed lemon cookies

Sweet Home: Over 100 Heritage Desserts and Ideas for

Let your creative ideas flow when it comes to trifles and desserts. It’s a great way to end a meal and make an impression. I like to show my guests what we have for dessert before we eat, that way they leave room for dessert after dinner.

More Trifle Dessert Ideas

Easy Chocolate Dessert: Death by Chocolate – Madigan Made

Easy chocolate trifle dessert idea with Butterfinger candy layers. If you wanted more trifle ideas, be sure to check out some of my other recipes (I tend to like mini desserts, too!): Easy trifle dessert ideas. Clockwise from the top …

Mini Strawberry, Lemon and Shortbread Trifle – Madigan Made

layered trifle miniature. I love desserts like this. In reality, trifles are very simple to make… but the layers look so pretty! Oh, and did I mention that they taste good, too?! YUM! mini trifle dessert ideas. Sharing with link parties at:

Foodista | Beautiful Berry and White Chocolate Trifle

Thanks to Foodista member: Nerina Timm for this lovely dessert. For more trifle dessert ideas, check out these, from the Foodista archives: Berry and White Chocolate Trifle · Brownie Trifle · Chocolate Berry Trifle · Chocolate …

Trifle Recipe For An Easy Dessert (PHOTOS)

A trifle recipe is your savior of holiday entertaining. It lets you look impressive, but won’t stress you out. Trifles are like secret weapons that are especially handy during the holiday season when you need easy desserts that can feed a crowd. No …

 

Day 176/365: Easy Homemade Granola Bars

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This easy homemade granola bar recipe is courtesy of Red Feather Guides in North Park Colorado.

A few years ago my husband (then fiancee) had a wonderful half day horseback ride into the mountains and the guide brought these delicious healthy homemade granola bars. I Can’t say enough about the company and the people. Not only was it a fantastic horseback ride in the Rocky Mountains, but we brought back this amazing recipe which I love to fix for school snacks, hiking trips, and we even took them skiing.

Healthy granola bar ingredients

The recipe is at the bottom, but needless to say the “goodies” inside the granola bars can vary, instead of raisins I used dried blueberries (I have 6 lbs a friend gave me). Dried cherries substituted for cranberries too. I added dates too. Can I ever leave a recipe alone? Never!

Healthy Homemade Granola Bars are easy to makle
Homemade Granola Bars- before baking

The first batch was so popular I ended up making two batches. So I’ll be taking these to work this week and have snacks for the kids during their summer school vacation.

Homemade granola bars - recipe easy to make with common household ingredients. Delicious and easy

These weren’t nearly as good as eating them at 12,000  feet. But then again is anything? Here’s a picture from that trip and another shout-out to Red Feather Guides. If you ever are in northern Colorado and want to go on a horseback ride into the mountains they are the ones to call.

Horseback Riding in the Rockies
Horseback Riding in the Rockies

Here is the snack spread the guide shared with us at the summit. We sat on this ledge which overlooked Lake Agnes, it’s behind us in the valley, sorry you can’t see it, and ate our lunch.

Snack at the top of the Rockies
Snack at the top of the Rockies

Ok, enough of the teasing here is the easy homemade granola bar recipe.

Lurch Germany Flexiform Cereal Bar / Granola Bar Mold 11.8 x 6.9 in 6 cavity - brownLurch Germany Flexiform Cereal Bar / Granola Bar Mold 11.8 x 6.9 in 6 cavity – brownKirkland Signature Whole Dried Blueberries: 2 Bags of 20 Oz (1 Bag is 1LB 4 OZ which is 20 Ounces)Kirkland Signature Whole Dried Blueberries: 2 Bags of 20 Oz (1 Bag is 1LB 4 OZ which is 20 Ounces)Food to Live Certified Organic Dried Cranberries (Non-GMO, Kosher, Unsulfured, Bulk) (8 Ounces)Food to Live Certified Organic Dried Cranberries (Non-GMO, Kosher, Unsulfured, Bulk) (8 Ounces)365 Everyday Value Organic Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats, 18 oz365 Everyday Value Organic Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats, 18 oz

Red Feather Homemade Granola Bar Recipe

  • 1/2 Cup Butter
  • 1 1/4 cup sugar (brown packed, or white)
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/3 cup Molasses
  • 1 3/4 cup Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 2 cups Old Fashioned Oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup nuts
  • 1/2 cup Raisins
  • 1/2 cup dried Cranberries
  • 1 cup Chocolate Chips

Directions

  1. Combine flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda together in a bowl
  2. Combine butter, molasses, sugar and eggs together in 2nd bowl
  3. Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients
  4. Combine oatmeal, raisins, chocolate chips, nuts together then add to mixture
  5. Spoon into a 19′ x 13′ pan  (parchment paper and spray with Pam-don’t forget this, seriously they will stick, you will regret it)
  6. Cook for 20 minutes at 350, check for doneness at this point and length time 5 minutes until the consistency desired.
  7. When cool turn upside down with parchment paper, seems to be easier to cut up into bars this way.

I tend to be generous with the “goodies” and find myself adding an extra cup or so of nuts, fruit or chips, still turns out fantastic! Enjoy

More Easy Home Made Granola Recipe Ideas

Granola Recipes: The Ultimate GuideGranola Recipes: The Ultimate GuideHomemade Granola Bar RecipesHomemade Granola Bar RecipesGranola! The Ultimate Recipe GuideGranola! The Ultimate Recipe GuideGranola Cookbook: Delicious Granola & Oat RecipesGranola Cookbook: Delicious Granola & Oat Recipes

Stay Tuned for more Easy Homemade Granola recipe ideas.

I just bought a new Pampered Chef bar snack mold and I’m excited to try it out.