Oreo Pudding Cake

Ah...Pinterest. One of the greatest resources for recipes, crafts, decorating ideas and SO MUCH MORE. A friend pinned this recipe and I've made it twice now! It's a great dessert that everyone is sure to love, unless they don't like chocolate...which is insane! ;) It's also SO FUN to make this with your kids. My 3-year-old loves to help me in the kitchen and she's become quite the little baker. I measure the water and oil but let her pour them in the bowl. Then, I let her crack the eggs...I know...risky, but she's actually very good. I hardly ever have to fish out little pieces of the shell! The fun part of this recipe is poking holes in the cake after it comes out of the oven! Let your kids help you! It may be messy but they cherish the time and you will, too!

Oreo Puddin' Poke Cake (from TheCountryCook.net)

Ingredients:

1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix

Ingredients needed to make cake (usually eggs, oil and water)

2 (4 oz.)packages of Instant Oreo pudding

4 cups milk (2% or higher)

Crushed Oreo Cookies (optional)

Directions

Make cake mix according to directions and bake in a well-greased 9x13 pan.

Just before cake is done, start making pudding. In a medium bowl, begin to add milk to pudding mix and continue to whisk until most of the lumps are removed. Let pudding mixture sit for about 2 minutes. You want it to thicken slightly so it isn't runny but not fully thickened into pudding.

When cake is finished, while still warm, poke holes all over cake (about 1-inch) intervals using a wooden spoon handle or a straw. Pour pudding mixture over warm cake.

Allow the cake to cool for several minutes on the counter then put into the fridge to set up. About an hour.

Once it is set, top with crushed Oreo cookies

Mini Meatloaves

Here's a fun twist on the same ol', same ol' Meatloaf recipe. The recipe is actually quite simple, but the meat is baked in a muffin pan instead of a loaf pan! It was so easy and made such a delicious dinner. My 3-year-old loved it because they looked like big meatballs (she LOVES meatballs!). I made it a complete dinner by adding Au Gratin Potatoes, Green Beans and Crescent Rolls. Enjoy!

Mini Meatloaves (from e-mealz.com)

1 lb ground sirloin (could substitute with ground turkey!)

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

2/3 C italian breadcrumbs

1/3 C lemon juice (I did not have a lemon so I left it out)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese

Mix meat, onion, breadcrumbs, lemon juice and egg in large bowl. Pack mixture evenly into 6 greased cups of muffin tin. Distribute cheese evenly in a mound, over each mini loaf. Bake for 30 min @ 350 degrees, until done.