As we prepare for our Thanksgiving Day feasts, there’s always one thing besides the turkey (of course) that we look forward to dressing our tables with every year. For some of us, it’s pumpkin pie with whipped topping, or Grandma’s famous stuffing. For others, it’s the tart and tangy apple pie and vanilla ice cream, or the rich creamy comfort of green bean casserole.
In my family, there’s been one glorious dessert that’s been topping off our holiday meals since I was a kid. No one can ever seem to get enough. And when it’s gone in the blink of an eye, all of us our thankful for having tasted a little piece of heaven. I’m proud to say this mouthwatering masterpiece – with its sinfully delicious concoction of chocolate and peanut butter melded together with cream cheese and whipped topping – was passed down from my Grandma Mabel and we’ve been singing her praises for sharing the recipe ever since. My grandma is no longer with us, but her recipe lives on, making its way to a few family gatherings every year.
I’m thankful to say, I’ll be bringing the Peanut Butter Torte to Thanksgiving in a few days, or as my family affectionately calls it, Mabel’s Torte. It’s been missing at our table for the past few occasions so I know it will be a welcome treat and I’m sure the first of the desserts to be wiped clean from our plates.
It’s that good.
If you’re in charge of bringing a dessert for Thanksgiving, come with this knock-their-socks-off creation. I guarantee your family will be asking for it for years to come. Just tell them you got it from Mabel. It’s a simple recipe that you can make ahead of time and leave in the refrigerator until you’re ready to go.
Give thanks for all that you’ve been blessed with this year…..like this recipe!
Peanut Butter Torte
Crust:
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup peanut butter
¼ cup margarine
1 cup flour
Beat sugar, peanut butter and margarine until fluffy. Add flour to mixture. Pat into 9” x 13” pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Let crust cool completely.
Topping:
8 oz. whipped topping (thawed)
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
½ cup sugar
¼ cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips
Beat first 5 ingredients until smooth. Beat eggs separately then add to mixture. Pour mixture onto cooled crust. Melt chocolate chips. Drizzle thinly over mixture and marbleize with a knife. Refrigerate for 1-3 hours. (It also freezes well).
Happy Thanksgiving!
What's your favorite holiday recipe!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Elmo Amoré
La-la, la-la….la-la, la-la… (everybody sing!) ELMO’S WORLD!
Jaisa. Loves. Elmo.
Honestly, I don’t know many kids her age who don’t. Elmo has that irresistible allure that magically makes it hard for toddlers to turn away. Ella was no exception at that age so I’m not surprised that Jaisa has followed in her sister’s footsteps of infatuation for the ever-popular Sesame Street monster. The very moment Jaisa saw that furry, red, (obnoxious) little guy, she was hooked. And I have no idea why.
Is it because he’s red?
Is it his high-pitched voice?
Is it his relentless laugh?
Is it because he likes crayons and his goldfish, too?
I don’t get it. I can’t understand the guy…literally. Don’t even ask me how long it took before I finally figured out what his mustached sidekick’s name was. Mr. Moo Doll? Mr. New Doe? Oh, Mr. Noodle! Of course. It makes so much sense (??). Whenever Jaisa sees Elmo on TV, in books, or sitting stuffed on Ella’s bed, she points, smiles and sings, “La-la, la-la!” She’s yet to utter his actual name, but when she starts singing, we know exactly who she’s talking about.
Elmo didn’t exist when I was a kid, so I was completely thrown off when I started watching Sesame Street again when Ella was a toddler and this red monster showed up on screen with his goldfish Dorothy and you guessed it, Mr. Noodle. I protested for a long time, stating to Matt, “I just don’t like that guy.” But Ella liked him a lot. She was in love with Elmo at first sight, just like Jaisa. I remember that first Christmas….when love turned into obsession. Everything was Elmo—books, movies, toys—Santa even brought her a life-sized stuffed Elmo, the very one that after 4 years, is still proudly displayed on her bed.
Now it’s Jaisa’s turn. We have yet to succumb to the Hokey Pokey Elmo, Chatters Elmo, Teach Me Elmo, Kiss Me Elmo or (gulp) Tickle Me Elmo. I guess I was hoping the craze would fade. I worry that if one of the “talking” variety made its way into our home, the poor guy may turn into “Pummel Me Elmo” after a few days. There’s no telling what Matt might do.
In all motherly seriousness, I have to say this: The next time you wonder, “What’s so great about Elmo?” and wished your children looked at you with the awe and whimsy reserved for their furry friend, just be happy he can keep them entertained long enough for you to get a load of laundry folded.
Elmo is a monster to love.
YouTube, anyone?
Someone sent me a YouTube video awhile back on the voice of Elmo. Have you seen it? Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined this person behind the monster that is Elmo. It actually made me warm up to the fuzzy guy a little bit.
Jaisa. Loves. Elmo.
Honestly, I don’t know many kids her age who don’t. Elmo has that irresistible allure that magically makes it hard for toddlers to turn away. Ella was no exception at that age so I’m not surprised that Jaisa has followed in her sister’s footsteps of infatuation for the ever-popular Sesame Street monster. The very moment Jaisa saw that furry, red, (obnoxious) little guy, she was hooked. And I have no idea why.
Is it because he’s red?
Is it his high-pitched voice?
Is it his relentless laugh?
Is it because he likes crayons and his goldfish, too?
I don’t get it. I can’t understand the guy…literally. Don’t even ask me how long it took before I finally figured out what his mustached sidekick’s name was. Mr. Moo Doll? Mr. New Doe? Oh, Mr. Noodle! Of course. It makes so much sense (??). Whenever Jaisa sees Elmo on TV, in books, or sitting stuffed on Ella’s bed, she points, smiles and sings, “La-la, la-la!” She’s yet to utter his actual name, but when she starts singing, we know exactly who she’s talking about.
Elmo didn’t exist when I was a kid, so I was completely thrown off when I started watching Sesame Street again when Ella was a toddler and this red monster showed up on screen with his goldfish Dorothy and you guessed it, Mr. Noodle. I protested for a long time, stating to Matt, “I just don’t like that guy.” But Ella liked him a lot. She was in love with Elmo at first sight, just like Jaisa. I remember that first Christmas….when love turned into obsession. Everything was Elmo—books, movies, toys—Santa even brought her a life-sized stuffed Elmo, the very one that after 4 years, is still proudly displayed on her bed.
Now it’s Jaisa’s turn. We have yet to succumb to the Hokey Pokey Elmo, Chatters Elmo, Teach Me Elmo, Kiss Me Elmo or (gulp) Tickle Me Elmo. I guess I was hoping the craze would fade. I worry that if one of the “talking” variety made its way into our home, the poor guy may turn into “Pummel Me Elmo” after a few days. There’s no telling what Matt might do.
In all motherly seriousness, I have to say this: The next time you wonder, “What’s so great about Elmo?” and wished your children looked at you with the awe and whimsy reserved for their furry friend, just be happy he can keep them entertained long enough for you to get a load of laundry folded.
Elmo is a monster to love.
YouTube, anyone?
Someone sent me a YouTube video awhile back on the voice of Elmo. Have you seen it? Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined this person behind the monster that is Elmo. It actually made me warm up to the fuzzy guy a little bit.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Teething Bites
Go ahead. Ask me the question I get asked by family, friends and complete strangers at least a couple times a month….
“Are you going to have another baby?”
My answer today: Nope! Two is plenty.
Shocked? Puzzled by my lack of hesitation? Don’t understand how I couldn’t possible want to bring a third child into this world?
I’ll give you my reason in one word: TEETHING.
Yuck. Yuck. Triple Yuck.
There is nothing fun about it. And how quickly we parents forget what an awful time it is. Sure, there are those lucky few who barely know what hit their child who one day was giving that gorgeous gummy grin and the next flashing a mouthful of teeth.
I have to admit, I thought I WAS one of those lucky ones. I don’t remember Ella having a difficult time of it…maybe a handful of rough nights…a few runny diapers... but nothing to bat an eye at. Or is that just because my brain doesn’t let me go there? You know, kind of like what happens with child birth? After a year or so, we foolishly say, “Eh, it wasn’t so bad.” And then comes baby #2, and we say, “What the heck was I thinking—2 am feedings are SO not cool!”
Why don’t we accurately remember these trying events?
Well, this time, I’m not forgetting. No foggy recollections or sugar-coating reality. I’m going to remember exactly what it was like at this exact moment if and when I get that itch.
Here’s the story. Jaisa is not having an easy time of this teething business, and hence, neither are Matt and I. In fact, the past few weeks have been a nightmare, as a whole crop of teeth have been popping up in Jaisa’s mouth all at once. Poor thing. We’ve tried everything to ease her pain—Orajel®, ibuprofen, chilled teething rings, cold meals—but when it comes to teething, there’s only so much a parent can do, and then you’re left to let it run its course.
Unfortunately, the worst is always at night. We’ve reentered the infant stage, awakened by shrieks and hollers at least a couple times a night. Against my better judgment, I’ve been reduced to rocking Jaisa back to sleep, which I’m pretty sure I’ll be paying the price for once the teeth come in. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. This mama needs some sleep!
On top of the sleepless nights, the poops are on the loose and the bottom is red. Can you blame me for not wanting to go through this all over again?
Yes, teething bites. Thankfully, that adorable little smile is coming in quite nicely, and Jaisa sure loves showing it off. But if that “million-dollar question” comes up six months from now and I pause to consider the idea, please send me to this blog post to refresh my memory.
“Are you going to have another baby?”
My answer today: Nope! Two is plenty.
Shocked? Puzzled by my lack of hesitation? Don’t understand how I couldn’t possible want to bring a third child into this world?
I’ll give you my reason in one word: TEETHING.
Yuck. Yuck. Triple Yuck.
There is nothing fun about it. And how quickly we parents forget what an awful time it is. Sure, there are those lucky few who barely know what hit their child who one day was giving that gorgeous gummy grin and the next flashing a mouthful of teeth.
I have to admit, I thought I WAS one of those lucky ones. I don’t remember Ella having a difficult time of it…maybe a handful of rough nights…a few runny diapers... but nothing to bat an eye at. Or is that just because my brain doesn’t let me go there? You know, kind of like what happens with child birth? After a year or so, we foolishly say, “Eh, it wasn’t so bad.” And then comes baby #2, and we say, “What the heck was I thinking—2 am feedings are SO not cool!”
Why don’t we accurately remember these trying events?
Well, this time, I’m not forgetting. No foggy recollections or sugar-coating reality. I’m going to remember exactly what it was like at this exact moment if and when I get that itch.
Here’s the story. Jaisa is not having an easy time of this teething business, and hence, neither are Matt and I. In fact, the past few weeks have been a nightmare, as a whole crop of teeth have been popping up in Jaisa’s mouth all at once. Poor thing. We’ve tried everything to ease her pain—Orajel®, ibuprofen, chilled teething rings, cold meals—but when it comes to teething, there’s only so much a parent can do, and then you’re left to let it run its course.
Unfortunately, the worst is always at night. We’ve reentered the infant stage, awakened by shrieks and hollers at least a couple times a night. Against my better judgment, I’ve been reduced to rocking Jaisa back to sleep, which I’m pretty sure I’ll be paying the price for once the teeth come in. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. This mama needs some sleep!
On top of the sleepless nights, the poops are on the loose and the bottom is red. Can you blame me for not wanting to go through this all over again?
Yes, teething bites. Thankfully, that adorable little smile is coming in quite nicely, and Jaisa sure loves showing it off. But if that “million-dollar question” comes up six months from now and I pause to consider the idea, please send me to this blog post to refresh my memory.
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