Avalanche Bars

A traditional trip to the lake for the 4th of July, is upon us!  That means all summer diets are out the window and bring on the s'mores.  Well this year I decided for my sweet treat contribution to be Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory's Avalanche Bars :) I worked there for several months in Galveston, for my culinary internship.  I forgot how many hundereds of pounds of fudge I made while I was there.  I can say it was a lot! Anyways they have this awesome inexpensive bar.  White chocolate, peanut butter, marshmallows, rice cereal and mini chocolate chips..... What's not to love, right?!  They are the perfect quick treat mostly everyone who breathes can enjoy.  They don't cost an arm and a leg and they can easily be stored!  Perfect for a long weekend at the lake.  

Avalanche Bars

32 oz White Chocolate

1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

6 Cups Rice Cereal

1 bag Mini Marshmallows

½ cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Extra mini chips for topping 

Melt white chocolate in microwave bowl on medium power for 2 minute intervals.  Once chocolate is completely melted,  add peanut butter and mix.  You can then add the rice cereal and once it is all incorporated, let sit 5 minutes before adding mini marshmallows.  Once the mallows have been added and mixed in, gently fold in  mini chocolate chips and then put in a parchment lined bakers dish, and too with extra chips.  Let sit 30 minutes before cutting up and storing.  Store in air tight container or bag up to two weeks!  

Southern Banana Puddin'

It has been right at a year now since John and I made our way to the Ozark, AR and had the best banana pudding.  Actually John ordered the banana pudding I made the mistake of ordering a fake peach cobbler which was inedible.   He said he handn't had banana pudding like that.  It was fluffy, creamy, sweet and packed with nilla wafers and fresh banana.  Sounds like your typical banana pudding description doesn't it?  Well this isn't just a instant pudding recipe, although it does have some in it.  There are a few other tweaks as well.   For the fact I do not think y'all are complete nimrods reading my blog I only am posting the final product instead of my usual step by step pictures.  The recipe is short sweet and includes a mixer.. Those picture wouldn't have thrilled you at all =)

I am sharing this simple and easy dessert recipe for the mere fact not everyone has time for the "from scratch" recipe every time

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Southern Banana Puddin'

1 - 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 c ice water

1-3.4oz box of instant vanilla or banana pudding mix

8 oz cream cheese (optional)

3 cups of heavy whipping cream (whipped to stiff peaks)

Vanilla Wafers

Fresh Banana (If slicing for later use toss with a few TB of lemon juice to keep from browning)

In a medium size bowl combine 14oz can of condensed milk with your 1 1/2 cups ice water (remove ice chunks before adding).  Mix with a whisk until combined, then add your pudding mix.  You want to mix this for a few minutes before adding the optional 8 oz cream cheese.  If adding the cream cheese mix in now on medium speed until combined then place in fridge to let it completely set.  

If you did not pre whip your chilled whipping cream you can do so now until it forms stiff peaks.  Do not over beat.  You will end up with butter and it will leave a greasy coating in your mouth when eating.

Once your whip cream is ready, fold into your pudding mixture until well combined.

You can layer your banana pudding in individual glasses (martini, mason jars etc.) or make it in a trifle bowl, or even put it in a foil pan for a BBQ drop off.  The point is it's very versatile and the presentation possibilities are endless but always look classy!

I ate this while typing the blog... I didn't add the cream cheese  to this batch but I wish I had.  It really cuts out the too sweet taste and really balances it out.  Plus I love cream cheese in anything.  Even with out it though I have to say I had to stop myself from sticking my tongue in the glass to lick the rim.      

I hate the black table top, but the sun had set and I didn't have good lighting anywhere to take a great springy/summer picture.