Mud Pie My Way!

I've been extremely busy the past couple weeks, teaching classes and working various events, that I've barely been online.  I feel terrible but, after the end of this coming week, should have a few days to relax.  I'm sorry to those whose posts I've missed.  I promise to get to all of them this week.

Today is my husbands birthday - he insisted I don't make him dessert.  Of course, he knows who he's dealing with.  I can't ever go without making some sort of birthday cake or pie when I'm celebrating someones birthday that I love. 

While vacationing in Colorado over the summer, we frequent the Breckenridge Brewery, a bar and grill that has tasty grub, I guess you'd say.  One of my husbands favorite items on the menu is their Mud Pie, an ice cream pie dessert.  So in an effort to recreate it, I also made a few changes from the typical ones you may have had.

My husband loves Oreo's, Heath Bars and chocolate fudge so I decided to make my Mud Pie to include all those ingredients.  I made mine in a 9x13 plastic container, mainly so we could have smaller bites. However, I think a pie pan would be ideal and give thicker, heartier slices.

He wasn't thrilled at first when he saw I made this, since we've been overloaded with birthdays and sweets lately. None the less, he did enjoy every bite he took.

Here's the recipe:



Mud Pie My Way
serves 8-10

For crust:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick unsalted butter), melted
20 Oreo cookies processed in a food processor

For filling:

1/2 gallon coffee ice cream
4 oz. Heath Bar Toffee Bits

For sauce:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick butter)
1 (6 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Caramel Topping (jarred), optional ( I used Hershey's brand)

Directions for preparing crust:

Mix melted butter and oreo's together; pat into a 9x13 inch pan or round pie pan.  Place in freezer until cold.

To prepare the filling:

Soften the ice cream.  I do this by placing it into a large bowl and stirring.  It softens quicker.  Mix in Heath Bar pieces.  Spread softened ice cream mixture over cold crust.  Return to freezer.

To prepare sauce: 

Melt butter and chocolate chips in saucepan over low heat.  Stir in evaporated milk and powdered sugar. 

Cook stirring constantly with wire whisk or wooden spoon, until mixture thickens.  Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.  Set aside to cool until room temperature.

When ice cream in container has hardened, pour cooled sauce over top and spread to cover edge to edge.  Cover and return to freezer and chill. 

Cut into squares to serve if using a rectangular pan.  Otherwise if using a pie pan, cut into wedges.  Drizzle with Caramel Sauce and Serve.

Enjoy!

Coffee Granita with Bailey's Drizzled Whipped Cream

Yesterday morning I made a large pot of coffee only to find out I was the only one drinking it. So with the leftovers I decided I'd make a batch of Coffee Granita's that I knew would be ready in time for dinner.

I took 2 cups of the coffee (any kind will work) and 3/4 cup of sugar. Blended them together until the sugar dissolved and then placed the mixture in the freezer. About 2 hours later I opened the freezer and with a fork I scraped the edges to loosen which were frozen. Then put the glass bowl that the mixture was in back to the freezer.

An hour later I did the same thing again and continued with this process until all the mixture was frozen and had been scraped into what looked like shavings or snowcone-like.

Then after dinner last night I took a martini glass and placed some of the frozen Coffee Granita into it. I then placed some homemade whipped cream on top and drizzled it with Bailey's Irish Cream Liqueur.

All I can tell you was that it was so unbelieveably delicious! It was cold and refreshing plus with the whipped cream drizzled with the Bailey's it put it over the top. It wasn't too sweet but smooth and just right in my opinion.

If you don't want to make homemade whipped cream which is so simple with an "iSi" then just purchase some of the ready-made stuff. However, if you've never used an iSi you might consider purchasing one. It makes making whipped cream a cinch. Just add the whipping cream, CO2 cartrige, shake and you've got the real stuff. You can even doctor it up if you like with various syrups, etc. Use it as a topping for beverages, desserts, use it for sauces and even soups. It's simple and quick! Here's a video demo from the makers of iSi. I think you'll find it entertaining!

At any rate, if you like coffee I know you'll love this Granita. It was like having an after dinner drink and dessert all in one. YUM!!!