100th Post Giveaway! Low Fat Ice Cream and Brownie Pie

Well it took long enough! Didn't it? I finally hit 100 posts and I am finally having my first giveaway!

I have two obsessions. Well three. Food, diets and organizing. You already know about my food and diet stuff, but ever since I can remember I have loved paper. I am obsessed with paper, calendars, lists, planners, stamps, labels, containers...you get the picture. In my perfect world everything has a place and a label on it!

But as we all know, the world is not perfect. I struggle to stay on top of clutter, but I never lose hope that one day, I'll have my house back. At the moment it has been hijacked by 3 messy children who, like clockwork, drop their coats and backpacks on the floor everyday at 4 pm. Instead of organizing, I am just trying to stay on top of the mountains of laundry and keeping my 2 year old from mortal harm.

So for now, I am just going to have to settle for being the Queen of the Calendar. This is do-able for me.

I found this great calendar system that sticks right onto any flat surface. It is used like a wipe board with a dry erase marker (included), but it is vinyl so it is very thin and looks like it is part of the wall or refrigerator. It comes with the calendar, a to do list and a contacts list for important phone numbers to have on hand.

Here are the details:

Stay organized with these calendar wall stickers. In brown.

• Calendar, to do list and contact list offer customized use.
• Dry-erase design lends reusable style.
• Self-adhesive vinyl construction clings to the wall like a decal, so you can remove and reposition without harming your paint.
• Details:
  • 14"H x 26 1/2"W
  • Horizontal display
  • Includes: 3 stickers & dry erase marker
  • Vinyl
  • By Die Cuts With A View
    

Here is my calendar:

I like how it has 6 weeks on one calendar.

This is how I give my husband subtle hints!

Right now I have this calendar set up for the family, but I may use it for something else like my dieting obsession. I'll let you know when I get it all sorted out.

ANYWAY..........

I am giving away one of these calendar systems to one lucky reader!

Here is how you enter:

• 1 entry: Leave a comment and tell me your obsession!
• Extra entry: Become a follower of Cheat Day Cafe and leave a separate comment telling me that you are a follower.
• Extra entry: Share this giveaway on your blog. Leave a separate comment with blog address.
• Extra entry: Grab one of my cute "Cheater" buttons to put on your blog. Leave separate comment with your blog address.
  
• Extra entry: Share this giveaway on Facebook.
  

1. You must be 18 or older to enter.
2. You must live in the continental US.
3. You don't need to be a blogger to enter. Just leave an anonymous comment but be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner. :)

I will choose a reader by random draw on Thursday, March 4th.

Now for the refreshments:

This is so easy and good. How could it not be?

Low Fat Ice Cream Brownie Pie

Ingredients:

1 boxed low fat brownie mix
1 half gallon of 1/2 fat ice cream (I like Edy's or Dryers)
hot fudge or chocolate syrup

Directions:

1.Make brownies according to package.

2. Spray springform pan or just use a 9x13 or 8x8 dish. Add brownie batter and bake according to box direction. Let cool completely in pan.

3. Let ice cream sit on counter for 10 minutes or so to soften. Spoon ice cream onto cooked brownie. Use a knife to loosen edge of brownie from around the springform pan.

4. Drizzle fudge or chocolate sauce on top. Place in freezer for at least 4 hours.

5. Open springform pan and cut. Use thin spatula to lift servings.

Good luck everyone and thanks for reading!!!!

Homemade Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich

This was the result of having a cookie attack and having some cream in my fridge that I didn't want to go to waste. Yeah....that's right.....it was just sitting there....and I HAD to use it. I wouldn't want it to go bad or anything. So I made some ultra creamy, deliciously dreamy, peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream. So good!

Oh! And look what I did last week.

I made over 150 Oreo truffles for a wedding reception. Call me sick, but I really enjoyed making these.

Back to the ice cream sandwiches.

I got the cookie recipe from Risa at Baked Perfection and the ice cream from Katrina at Baking and Boys. Thanks guys!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 package vanilla instant Jell-O Pudding (not prepared)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, package of vanilla pudding mix, and dash of cinnamon. In a second larger bowl beat together the butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Slowly beat in the flour mixture until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Recipe makes between 4 and 5 dozen cookies.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

¾ cup smooth peanut butter

¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

2 2/3 cups half-and-half

Pinch of salt

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups mini chocolate chips

Puree the peanut butter, sugar, half-and-half, salt, and vanilla in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Chill the mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After churning, stir in chocolate chips.

Incredibly Impressive Ice Cream Pie

Mmmmmm.......Ice cream pie!

Need I say more? Not really, but I will anyway.

This is one of my mom's signature desserts. You know...the one that us kids would ask for on our birthdays, when company came over, for Christmas dinner or pretty much any occasion that called for a special dessert.

I loved when she made this at Christmastime with peppermint stick ice cream on top and chocolate on the bottom. It was so pretty and festive for the holidays.

You know....I never liked fruit pies growing up and I think that this Ice Cream Pie is the reason. In my book, ice cream trumps fruit any day of the week!

Do you have a "signature" dessert or other type of food that you are known for? I'd love to know! In the mean time......I give you:

Ice Cream Pie (Makes 2 pies)

What you will need:

2 chocolate cookie crusts

(2) 1/2 gallons of ice cream (I usually put chocolate on the bottom and a different flavor on top)

1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup whipping cream (not whipped)

Spoon 1/2 the container of chocolate ice cream in each pie crust. You might need to let the ice cream sit on the counter 5 minutes or so until it is soft before you scoop it into the crust. Put pies into the freezer to harden.

While pies are in the freezer make your chocolate sauce by putting your chocolate chips and whipping cream in a heavy sauce pan. Melt the chocolate until smooth and then let mixture cool to room temp.

Take pies out of the freezer and drizzle chocolate sauce over the 1st ice cream layer. Place back into the freezer to harden chocolate sauce.

When sauce is hardened, remove pies from freezer and spoon 2nd flavor of ice cream on top. I like to mound it more in the center so that it is kind of "dome" like. Drizzle with remaining chocolate sauce. Place in freezer to harden.


When hardened you can put it in a large Ziplock freezer bag to store. Your second pie can keep really well in the freezer until you need it. (if it lasts that long)

This time I put cookies and cream on my first pie and Moose Tracks on my second pie. I had some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups on hand so I chopped them up and put them between the layers and on top of the Moose Tracks pie. It was delicious!

From my family to yours.....I hope you like it as much a we do!

Kid's Corner: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Do you want to boost your child's self confidence and help them feel proud of an accomplishment? Let them make cake!

THIS CAKE!

Kenna made this cake, from start to finish, with verbal direction from me. She was so proud of her creation and couldn't wait for us to try it!

It was delicious and we let her know it!!!!! She was beaming inside and we had such a good night with her. She was so helpful and even lightened up on teasing her brother. Now that is a miracle!

It is amazing what a little praise and success can do for a child.

Here is the recipe for success:

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

24 Ice Cream Sandwiches (can use reduced fat, or mint)

12 oz. whipped topping (used light)

Your favorite chocolate sauce

Here is the step by step:

Get those ice cream sandwiches out of their wrappers!

Layer 1/2 of the sandwiches in glass 9 x 13 dish.


Top with 1/2" of whipped topping

Repeat layers.

Drizzle top layer with chocolate sauce.

Freeze until ready to serve.

Note: You can add toffee chips, chopped peanut butter cups or whatever your heart desires on the whipped topping layer. This is a great time to teach creativity and self expression!

This dessert serves 12