The Graduate

Thirsty Thursday:

The Graduate Martini

In honor of my upcoming graduation this weekend and this past week of constant college student behavior of making memories and then forgetting them, 

(cue "Graduation" by Vitamin C)

I hereby toast Villanova's graduating class of 2012 with the Graduate Martini. 

Here's to the continued memories, friendships and liquor flow. 

Make it: 

1/2 oz lime juice 

1/2 oz amaretto almond liqueur 

1 1/2 oz South Comfort peach liqueur

1 oz pineapple juice 

Shake with ice

compliments of Google Images 

Devil Turds

Tasty Tuesday:

Oreo Creamcheese Chocolate Balls

aka "Devil Turds"

My go-to sweet treat that I generally make, whether the occasion is a party, a dinner, or a kiss ass moment, are Peanut Butter Bon Bons, which I posted three weeks ago.

However, because everybody and their mother, niece, brother and uncle has a peanut allergy, the bon bons are not such a bon bon idea anymore.

Google Images

 Thus, I introduce Oreo Creamcheese Chocolate Balls, or, as one of my very creative
 co-workers renamed them: Devil Turds.

These decadent demons are just as quickly made as enjoyed. I have yet to experience a disappointed crowd. Reminiscent of cheesecake with a little bit of crunch and a whole lot of chocolate, Devil Turds have 3 ingredients and 6 simple steps:

NEED:

Google Images

• 1 package of regular Oreos
• 1 8 oz package of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• 6 4.25 oz Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars

MAKE:

• Chop Oreo cookies into little pieces (I usually put half the package in a big plastic bag and go at it with a hammer; repeat with second half).
• Mix Oreos (now crumbs) with entire package of cream cheese. (Leave cream cheese out for 20+ minutes to soften for easier mixing).
• Role gooey, cheesy, chocolately, delicious mixture into little balls.
• Melt one entire Hershey’s bar in microwave safe bowl  (Put in 1 minute at a time on HIGH until fully melted. Do not exceed 1 minute or you will burn chocolate, resulting in a horrible, awful, actually smells like the devil’s turds in your house. No, no).
• Once chocolate is fully melted, using a spoon, roll balls in chocolate until fully covered.
• Place on wax papered tray/pan and sit in cool spot or refrigerate for faster results.

Google Images

Simple. Sweet. Satanically delicious.

Tasty Tuesday

 Grilled Ice Cream Sandwich

Compliments of Google

I received an early birthday present this month when The Meltdown, located right down the street in Wayne, PA opened at the beginning of April.

This adorable eatery has taken the beloved American grilled cheese sandwich and stretched its variations across an entire menu of mouthwatering combinations that will 
absolutely have you asking for "More cheese, please!"

Heaven for the mouth, hell for the waistline.

I digress. This Tuesday is not about cheese. However, keeping its menu consistent, The Meltdown features a grilled dessert sandwhich that is absolutely melt-in-your-mouth DELICIOUS!

Substituting the warm and gooey cheesey filling is, don't worry, another dairy product (and my stomach officially hates me). Not so warm, not so gooey but equally drool-worthy, The Meltdown's Grilled Ice Cream Sandwich is two pieces of toasted pound cake with Häagen-Dazs ice cream filling, available in vanilla or chocolate. 

Jacquie & I enjoying our grilled ice cream sandwiches. Both chocolate and vanilla. A little variety never killed anyone. 

START:

Need?

2 thick pieces of plain pound cake

2 scoops Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream

Honey Butter

Raspberry glaze

How?

Cover both sides of pound cake with honey butter. Toast for 20 seconds. Add ice cream between two pieces, drizzle on raspberry glaze.

Sidenote: ice cream, pound cake, glaze can all vary depedning on personal preference. Duh.

DONE.

Could you die?

The answer is 'yes'.

For a lactose intolerant individual..

'double yes'.

Luckily, I've been resuscitated and have my lactate ready, should the next trip to

The Meltdown come unexpected.

The Meltdown

522 West Lancaster Ave.
Wayne, PA - 19087

To view the menu, click here

Thirsty Thursday: 

"Dirty Hoe"

Calm down, I'm not referring to the b*tch who stole your last boyfriend, this beverage is much classier. The crisp & light combination of Framboise + Hoegaarden = female nonbeer drinker's top choice! 

WARNING: This beverage, like yourself (unless you're a boyfriend stealer), is very sweet. Sweet and/or citrus just happens to be a preference of mine when it comes to beer so this is my go-to, plus I just really like saying the name - "I'll have a Dirty Hoe, please." You CAN'T NOT smile while saying it. I challenge those who disagree and you will lose.  

Make it: 

1/2 Hoegaarden Beer 

1/2 Lindemans Framboise Raspberry Beer 

And the best part........ IT'S PINK! Okay, more like a raspberry-ish but still, a SHADE of PINK! So girls, don't order this for your man, he WILL NOT drink it! That's okay though, more for you! 

Tasty Tuesday:

Samoa Cake

YES, like the Girl Scout Cookie - not the Independent State located in the South Pacific. 

So my birthday is next week but my family and I celebrated this past weekend while we were all together for Easter. My mom made this cake for my early celebration and I am now reassured that she loves me. We'll see if this feeling is the same by the end of this week -  my Mastercard bill will be there by Friday..

Reminiscing on my Girl Scout days - On my honor, I will try...to enjoy this cake to the fullest and not share any of the leftovers!! Done. How 'bout that troop leaders?

Mom found this recipe on Pinterest.

BEGIN:

Batter #1 (two batters to create a 'marble' effect)

• 1 stick of butter, softened
• 1 cup of dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup ap flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup whole milk

Batter #2

• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup + 2 T ap flour
• 1/2 cup + 2 T cocoa powder
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup milk

and, of course, the frosting..

• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
• 2 T vanilla extract
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup toasted coconut
• topping 1 1/2 cups toasted coconut
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted

WARNING: Making this cake is very time consuming but sooooo worth it!

The original recipe calls for submerging your unopened can of condensed milk in your crock pot by at least 3 inches while cooking it on medium for 10 hours or on high for 7; OR you can boil it on the stove fully submerged at all times for 4 hours and let it cool. 

ALTERNATIVELY, my oh-so-productive and non-baking, Italian mother used Dolce de Leche instead of cooking the condensed milk. Same thing!

However, and I quote, "I had to go to a Mexican grocery story to find it, though." Cómo se dice big pain in the ass.... Gran dolor en el culo! Thank you, Google Translate.
Now... 

Preheat the oven to 350F

Prepare each batter separately. Once prepared, in separate bowls sift together dry ingredients for each batter. Add  dry ingredients to wet ingredients slowly and mix until well combined.

(add boiling water for cocoa cake HERE)

Grease and flour the bundt pan REALLY, REALLY WELL!

layer the cake pouring some of the brown sugar batter, then cocoa batter, then brown sugar, until both batter bowls are empty. Bake approximately 1 hour or until skewer inserted in center comes out clean. 

LET COOL ENTIRELY

For the frosting

toast sweetened flaked coconut either on a cookie sheet in the oven on 350F tossing occasionally or in a dry skillet constantly stirring until desired color is reached. Beat cooled cooked condensed milk, butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla and salt for 3 minutes. Add in 1 cup toasted coconut. Chill for 1 hour

frost cake with frosting and top with remaining toasted coconut.

melt chocolate chips in the microwave, place in a pastry bag with a small tip or ziploc bag with a corner cut out about 1/4″ up from the corner, and drizzle stripes on the cake.

DONE. ((pheww))

Side note...

So I did end up sharing the cake with one of my oldest and truest friends, and her family. In exchange for cake, they brought me something so sweet, so perfect; the absolute essence of my being and the MOST appropriate birthday gift - an all chocolate stiletto heel, with little chocolates inside!

Attention shoe lovers, this is what heaven looks like..

This scrumptious heel of perfection can be found at the one & only Enjou Chocolat located in the best town in Jersey!

Enjou Chocolat

8 DeHart Street, Morristown, NJ 07960

Special shout out to the Johnson Family for knowing me all too well!!! 

Love, Filter.

Thirsty Thursday: 

Rabbit Food 

3 parts light rum 

1 part carrot juice 

Splash of sour mix

Shake with ice and strain. 

compliments of Google Images 

In honor of the bunny of all bunnies who will be providing an endless assortment of Cadbury eggs this upcoming Sunday. Counteract those Cadburys with a healthy treat and welcome this little mammal with some rabbit food that you can both enjoy. 

Hop to it!

Tasty Tuesday: 

PEANUT BUTTER BON BONS

Compliments of http://2.bp.blogspot.com//s640/bonbon.jpg

2 cups powdered sugar
3 tbsp melted butter

1 1/2 cups peanut butter (not chunky!) 

2 cups crushed graham crackers

2 containers of La Dolce Fruitta dipping chocolate 

Mix together first 4 ingredients and roll into balls. 

Melt chocolate on low and dip balls. 

Place on wax paper to set (will set faster in fridge!). 

Lots of ball handling, melt-in-your-mouth deliciousnessssss. Need I say more?