April 1, 2020

April Fools!

My beautifully illustrated Charles Harper calendar says it is April 1!

Let me begin this post by saying that I am NOT a big practical joker, and am not a fan of such things.  But several months ago, I got the idea of doing an April Fools post to share my recipe for yummy dirt cake.  Things being what they are (the “stay at home” directive) I was not able to acquire the ingredients to make up a batch today. So instead of sharing my photos of its creation, I will share with you a couple of old photos, and the recipe (below). This tasty dessert is a favorite of my second-born son, and was his birthday “cake” of choice growing up.  

My second-born’s (in the white on the far right) favorite birthday dirt cake,
at his 12th birthday party.
Having already blown out the candles, “Birthday Guy” generously allows his younger brother a chance to make a wish, too. :o)
February 1999

This dessert really does look like dirt, even though that dirt is of the Oreo variety.  Many years ago, I made up this dessert for an adult pot luck, serving it in a clean plastic planter (like that shown above), pushing a bouquet of artificial flowers into the “dirt”  (stems wrapped in foil), and bringing along a washed and newly purchased spade to serve it with, notifying only the hostess that her “hostess gift” was indeed, a dessert.  You should have seen the looks of shocked surprise, as I placed the spade into the Oreo “dirt” and served the first bowl full!  :o)

Home Alone Party

Probably the biggest prank/joke that I ever played on any of my children was the year that my oldest turned seven.  With Home Alone just having been released the year before, my son decided that this would be his birthday party theme. 

Home Alone was my son’s birthday theme of choice.

It was a fun party to plan, complete with a Home Alone “pizza cookie cake”, and of course pizza for the main course, too.  To add to the kiddo’s Home Alone experience, I ordered the pizza, announcing that the pizza delivery man would be there shortly. In reality, I had my hubby pick up the pizza on the sly.  

The front of my son’s 1992 “Home Alone” birthday party invitation.

Pretending to be the delivery guy, my hubby rang the door bell, but instead of answering the door, (in Home Alone style) I loudly played the part of the movie where the Little Nero’s Pizza guy hears gun shots from behind the door that scare him away.  The birthday boy and his guests were all majorly surprised and nervous, until I announced that it was all just a Home Alone joke.  :o)

My eldest and his Home Alone pizza cookie cake for his eighth birthday party.
1992

View a clip of the Home Alone pizza delivery scene, here.

Go here, and here, for other Aprils Fools goodies to cook up.

Classic TV Practical Jokes

Beware! Those April Fools jokes can have adverse consequences.
Check out these classic TV episodes, where practical jokes seem to run rampant.

The Dick Van Dyke Show

The Impractical Joke (1965)
Season 4, Episode 6

Watch, here, or on Hulu.

The Brady Bunch

The Impractical Joker (1971)
Season 2, Episode 13

Watch it on Hulu.

Leave It To Beaver 

Wally’s Practical Joke (1963)
Season 6, Episode 35

Watch, here.

Recipe

Dirt Cake

This may be made and served in a plastic pot (with no holes in the bottom).

INGREDIENTS:

1-1 lb. 2 oz. pkg. regular Oreo cookies

1 (8oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 stick butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar (I prefer a lesser amount, maybe ½ cup)

2(3.4 oz.) 4-serving size, instant chocolate pudding
(Flavor may be varied to taste.)

2+3/4 cups milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Large (12 oz. or larger) cool whip, thawed

Gummy worms -optional

Directions:

Finely crumble pkg. of Oreo cookies in blender, or food processor.
(I do everything in a food processor.)
Set aside.

Cream together cream cheese and butter.
Add sugar.

In separate bowl, mix pudding with milk and vanilla until set.

Combine the cream cheese mixture with the pudding mixture,
and then stir in cool whip completely.

Beginning with the Oreo cookies, layer with creamed mixture, alternating several time.  

Make sure that the Oreo layer is on top, with enough “dirt” to cover.

Add a few gummy worms, if desired.

Refrigerate.

Note:  

 This recipe will fit into a clean plastic flowerpot (no holes in the bottom),
and can be completed with a few clean artificial flowers in the center (wrap foil around stems), if desired.

May be served with a new, clean gardening spade.

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day 2020
in United States

 I love peanut butter, so I couldn’t let the mention of tomorrow’s, National PB and J Day, pass, without sharing a few of my peanut butter recipes.
(Did you know that in the early 1900’s peanut butter was considered a rare treat?)

April 2 is National PB and J Day.

Read about PB and J, here and here.

Enjoy These Peanut Butter-Related Posts

A New Stove and Disney Peanut Butter Cookies (2016), here.
How to make a”knock-off”of those oh-so-yummy Walt Disney World cookies.

Peanut Butter and Elvis (2014), here.
I usually make my own peanut butter.  Here is how.

Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars (2013), here.
  My favorite cafeteria treat in high school.

Peanut Butter Bars, a Taste of Home (2013), here.
A family favorite!

Made Me Smile :o)

Here are a few items that made me smile this week.  Sharing these smiles with you. :o)

Pretty Window

My friend posted this colorful and uplifting (yes, that was a pun) photo
of her daughter decorating their window like the Disney movie Up .
Thank you for the use of your photo, Abby!

Funny Song

My talented friend, Lisa, (and former Disney tour guide extraordinaire),
made this fun video showcasing her amazing voice and wonderful sense of humor.

Watch Lisa’s video, “Social Distance” – A QuaranTUNE
by Lisa Donahey, here.

Read my 2016 blog post about enjoying time with Lisa, here.

Happy Wedding

My last blog post, here, mentioned that my blogging friend, at Silver Screen Suppers, was married a couple of weeks ago, amid the coronavirus chaos.  You can read her blog post featuring her big day, here, in her latest post “I Got Hitched!“.

Read my 2018 blog  post feature on Jenny, here.

The Internet “Connection”
(Yes, that was, yet, another pun!)

 Grandparent FaceTiming!
I love reading to my grandchildren!  :o)

 

Do you need something to read?

I been blogging for seven years, and have over 150 posts available to read!
Check them out in the archives section on the right-hand side of I’m Annette, here.

Thank you for reading!

May your days be blessed, and your taste buds happy!
Stay in and stay safe!

I’m Annette Stuff

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 “What I’m Watching” 

My first What I’m Watching post on Instagram.
March 31, 2020

I attempt to post my blog at least once per month.
Look for my next post on, or around,
Thursday, April 30, 2020.

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Stay in, stay safe and keep washing those hands!

This cute Mickey soap dispenser was a Christmas gift from my daughter and son in-law.
Such a fun way to watch my hands!
Find theses soap dispensers for sale, here.