In Celebration of Pi Day

Tomorrow is Pi Day, guys!  Do you know what that means?  Well, really it means nothing, but we can celebrate it anyway and if celebrating a holiday means eating a bunch of pie, then I'm in.

My mom and sister planned our Pi Day celebration this year so we'll be having chicken pot pie, banana cream pie and whatever I decide to bring to the shindig.  I'm still waffling between pizza and poptarts (they're both pies too!).

Sometimes I think we just need an excuse to invite friends over, stuff our pieholes and have a good time.  So here's your excuse.  Actually here are 10 excuses:

Mocha Trifle

There's pretty much no food group I love more than cake.  Yes, in my head, cake is a food group.

For good reason too.  There are so many different flavors and really I think Michelle Obama and the FDA would agree with me on my recommendation of 1-2 servings a day.

I don't get all uppity about my cake either.  I pretty much like every type and in every situation.  I like it in cupcake, ice cream, cheese, sheet and layered form.  I especially love cake in a bowl.

A cake where you can see all of the pretty layers stacked on one another from the side of the bowl.  A cake where you scoop it out with a spoon and don't have to worry about pulling out the perfect slice.  That type of cake is perfect.

If you've never made a cake in a bowl (aka a trifle), now's the time! No stress about having it come out perfect.  No worrying about frosting it perfectly.  Mmm, it's just...perfect.  And if you have to start somewhere, you might as well start with a trifle that everyone will love and will definitely turn out well.  This mocha trifle is the one you're looking for.

Banana Cream Pie Milkshake

Back in November, we headed South after work one Friday night.  We drove for 6 hours through the flat, empty, sagebrush-filled land of central Utah and made it to the desert in time to set up our tent under the moonlight, then promptly fall asleep.

We climbed some rocks, we slept on the ground and then there was also that one moment where I had a panic attack at the top of a climb because suddenly it was just too hot.

Sometimes this happens to me and usually it's because it's hot and I'm tired and thirsty and mostly I think it's because I don't have enough calories.

It's embarrassing.

If I was smart, I would figure out how to always have a milkshake on hand.  That would solve the hot, thirsty and calorie-depletion problems.  Still working on it though.

End of that particular panic attack did end in a milkshake though.  One of the best milkshakes I've ever had.  It was at this little 'diner' in a strip mall and we were the youngest people in there by over 40 years, but when they said they'd put Nilla Wafers, bananas and whipped cream in my milkshake, I was sold.

Since it's a 6 hour drive through that sage brush, I figured I'd need to just make my own at home though.

Presently

She seems to be making this a regular thing.

Happy Hour: Sweetened Mint Lime Rickey

A few years ago, my family and I went on a safari in Kenya and besides it being the best time of my life.  Besides all of the animals.  Besides the perfectly clear, starry nights.  Besides the insane amount of quality, family time with very minimal bickering.  Besides the sheer bliss of being totally removed from everything.

Besides all of that, there were also 'Sundowners.'

Sitting around a campfire, looking out over the wide open, African sunset with a drink in hand was just the best.  It was the absolute best way to end the day.

What do you say we all adopt the habit of a nightly sundowner?  I know, I'm in.

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Topping

For the past 2 and a half years, I've had a helper with these recipes on the blog.  Sometimes she's really good.  She stays out of the way and does what I ask her to do.  Other times, not so much.

Her favorite ingredient is peanut butter so when it makes an appearance in a recipe, she gets pretty pumped about it and then her helpfulness really goes downhill.

After rereading the description, I'm starting to think I should get a new assistant.  But since she's my four-legged, furry friend I think I'll keep her.  Sometimes it's nice to have someone else helping out even if she does sometimes get in the way.  It's also nice to know that I'll always have someone that will like what I make. :)

I have a hunch your dog won't be the only one that likes this peanut butter ice cream topping though.*

Since I'm pretty much in an exclusive relationship with vanilla ice cream, I only tried it on that, but I'd imagine that pouring some of this warm, sweet, peanut buttery sauce over some chocolate ice cream would be divine.  I mean, chocolate and peanut butter.  That's a thing for a reason.

Presently

The teardrop is taking shape!