Recipe 17: SYMPHONY BAR PIE (dessert)

 I have one thing to say about this dessert: 3 ingredients.
Yep. THREE.  Thats it. It is SO GOOD.
My Mom and Dad had this pie and gave me the recipe. I think they said they got it from my Aunt Bert, who most likely got it from Hershey.Com .
 It will be licked clean with no hopes of leftovers.
Whip it up, freeze it and then serve.


THE RECIPE:

1 king sized Symphony Bar. (I use the almond Toffee bar, but you can use whichever you prefer)
1 8oz tube Cool Whip (NOT FAT FREE or LIGHT!!!)
1 pre-made Graham Cracker Pie Crust or Oreo Pie Crust.

Over a double Boiler chop up the symphony bar and melt.
Add this melted chocolate bar to the tub of Cool Whip.
Mix very well so it is all incorporated.
Place mixture in pie shell and freeze at least 4 hours before serving.  Bring out about 20- 30 minutes before you are ready to serve if you want it softer. Or let sit out for about 10 for a firmer, more ice cream pie consistency.
VOILA!!
 

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If you do not have a double boiler, here is what you can do.  Place a pyrex measuring cup in a saucepan that is filled with a couple inches of water.  Put the chocolate in the pyrex cup and melt that way.(make sure you use hot mitt to handle the pyrex...speaking from experience. Burned the hell out of my hand being careless once)
Or you can boil a saucepan of water and place a stainless steel or glass mixing bowl on the pan to create your own double boiler.(Again, hot mitt!!)

you CAN microwave the chocolate, it is just so unreliable that way. Your eally need to use some sort of double boiler method for this to make sure the chocolate gets melted evenly and smoothly and doesnt get overdone.

ENJOY!!

PS: A note about the symphony bars: I have tried every variety for this pie.  The almond toffee, in my opinion, is the best bar to use.  The milk chocolate symphony bar makes a nice, creamy chocolate pie.

Also, this pie can be frozen and saved for several weeks!

Recipe 14: FRUIT DIPS (appetizer, kid friendly)

I think everyone has a recipe for fruit dip, but I just cant get enough of them.
I really do love fruit.  But what I love even better than that is fruit slathered with a delicious dip.

When I was a kid I HATED cream cheese. I dont know why, but I did.  One day we were at a friends house, and the wife pulled out a tray of chopped up fruit and a fruit dip.  It was so good.  When I found out what was in it, I couldnt believe it.  I had been eating cream cheese all along!  As I have matured, I realize that Cream Cheese is a gift from God and we should cherish it.  Over the years I have collected 3 FANTASTIC fruit dip recipes, all using cream cheese.

I pull these out as often as possible and rarely have leftovers.

RECIPE 14A: Strawberry Fluff Fruit Dip.
This is great for apples, pears, grapes, strawberries, bananas...or just eating it straight with a spoon.  Who am I to judge?? 

1 8oz pkg Strawberry Flavored Cream Cheese, softened
1 small jar Marshmallow Fluff
1/4 to 1/2 tsp  dry tang drink mix (optional)

Mix well.

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RECIPE 14B:  Plain Fruit Dip
Same as above recipe, but for people who like their dips a little more au natural.

1 8oz pkg plain cream cheese softened
1 small jar marshmallow fluff
1/2 tsp vanilla

mix well and serve with fruit of your choice

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RECIPE 14C:  Toffee Apple Dip
I got this recipe from my friend Lisa. This goes so wonderfully with apples, I am scared to try it with anything else.

1 8oz pacgake cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
beat well.  to this stir in gently
1 cup heath toffee chips.


ENJOY!!!

Recipe 7: ORANGE JULIUS (Beverage/smoothie)

SOURCE:  I was about 7 years old and we went up to Michigan to visit family.  We stopped by an old friend of my mom and dads. He made us this drink and gave my mom the recipe.  I made it CONSTANTLY for years.  I havent made it in awhile, but now that I am putting this as a recipe, I think i may break out  my blender and have myself a refreshing Orange Julius.

This is NOT the same Orange Julius that they sell in the mall.  This is WAY better than their watered down version.

THE RECIPE: 

6oz Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate (it is about 1/2 a tube)
1 cup milk
1 cup cold water
1/3 cup white sugar (you can use up to 1/2 a cup if you prefer it sweeter)
1  tsp vanilla  (if using imitation vanilla, add an extra 1/2 tsp)
1 cup ice (about 10 cubes)

Add all ingredients and 1/2 the ice.  Blend for one minute.
Add remaining ice and blend for abother minute.

this makes enough for 4 people (1/2 cup servings)


If you do not have frozen OJ, you can use 12 oz regular orange juice and omit the water and add an extra cup of ice.