Eclipse Cake aka Christy Jordan's Moon Pie Cake

I will admit that we joined in on the eclipse craze.   We drove to Tennessee to the totality line.  It was an amazing site to see.  So when I came home and saw Christy's recipe for the Moon Pie cake I knew I needed to make it to continue the eclipse craze a little longer.  I changed things up a little bit and I will share that with you as we go along.

This was so easy to make.  I put it together in just a few minutes before dinner. 

 I found the Moon Pies on clearance at Walmart last week before the eclipse so thought we would take them on our trip and then didn't.  They are vanilla.  You can use any flavor you like or can find.

 You use 6 of the large double decker ones.  Cut them in half and then each half in half.

 Take a 9x13 pan and lay them in the bottom with the cut side up.  This is the cake part of the cake.

 Prepare a large box of pudding.  Christy used a cook and serve pudding mix.  I got instant.  If you use the cook and serve you have to let it cool completely which will be a couple of hours instead a few minutes to let it set.  This is vanilla pudding.  You could use banana cream if you like.  Prepare it per the directions which was 3 cups of milk.

 Pour over the moon pies.  Put in the fridge to set.

 The pudding is set so ready to finish the cake.

 Take prepared caramel sauce and drizzle over the top.

 The caramel looks really good.

 Now slice some bananas on top.  I cut two bananas.  This will depend on the size of your bananas and how well you like bananas.

 Then I had an idea.  We brought this chocolate sauce back from Hershey.  This can be the dark side of the eclipse.

 So I drizzled some more caramel sauce and some chocolate on top.

 Then cover the top well with cool whip.  Christy said use a 16 ounce tub.  I thought I could get by with an 8 oz tub.  The 8 oz covered it but not a thick layer.  I don't think 16 oz is right but maybe 10 oz would be perfect.

 Then drizzled a little more caramel and chocolate on top.

 Chop up another moon pie for the top.  Cover and put back in the fridge until you are ready for it.

 I dipped it up and didn't cut it in squares like a real cake.

Then enjoy  I think you will like this eclipse cake.  You can be ready for the 2024 eclipse.

Eclipse Cake Recipe

bananas
caramel sauce
chocolate sauce  if you like
6-7 double decker moon pies
8-16 oz cool whip
1 large box pudding mix
milk

Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub

Trying some sugar scrubs.  These homemade scrubs are made from food safe items so you don't have to worry about the kids getting into them.  If they eat them they probably won't like them but it won't hurt them. 

This made two small containers of scrub.

One of the uses of coconut oil is for skin care.

Start with 1/2 cup solid coconut oil

Use your mixer and whip it a little bit.

Add 1 cup sugar

Then add peppermint oil.  Add as much or as little as you like.

Zest one lime.

Add the zest

Mix well.

Store in an airtight container.  Use it in the shower or tub.  I will tell you if you use it in the tub it will leave a little residue which could be slick.  Be careful.  But this makes your legs and arms feel really good.  It is great on those dry patches of skin.  The coconut oil really moisturizes.

Coconut lime sugar scrub recipe

1/2 cup solid coconut oil
1 cup sugar
peppermint essential oil
zest of one lime

Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Okay this recipe kinda got lost.  I made this and uploaded the pictures back in January when you would want to eat soup.  Here it is July and I am writing up a soup recipe when it feels like its 90 degrees outside.  So save this recipe for this fall and winter.  It really is a good recipe.

Add some fresh Parmesan cheese on top and you are good to go. 

It is really easy to put together.

Chop one onion

Cook the onion in a little in some olive oil and then brown the ground beef.  Drain the fat from the ground beef when it is brown.

Add a chopped carrot.  You will want to cut the pieces pretty small so they will cook evenly.

Add 1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon basil

1/4 teaspoon thyme.  I would probably leave this out next time.  Not a fan of thyme.

15 oz can of beef broth

15 oz can of red kidney beans.  Do not drain.

15 oz can white kidney beans.  Do not drain.

28 oz can crushed tomatoes

15 oz can tomato sauce

Stir well and let cook for a few minutes.

Now here is where I didn't read the recipe all the way.  I added the uncooked ditalini pasta.  I was suppose to cook the pasta first.  If you add the uncooked pasta you will have to let it cook a little bit longer.  Ditalini pasta is the small round pasta.

It was good no matter that I didn't follow the directions all the way.

Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup Recipe

1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 carrot chopped
2 stalks celery chopped ( I didn't have any)
2 cloves garlic minced
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
15 oz can tomato sauce
15 oz can beef broth
15 oz red kidney beans undrained
15 oz white kidney beans undrained
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
parmesan cheese
8 oz ditalini pasta

Easy Beef Stroganoff Casserole

We like beef stroganoff and I do find myself making it a lot, especially when I don't have much time to cook.  I usually keep the ingredients in the pantry for those quick meals.  So when I found this recipe I thought it would be a nice twist to what I usually make.  I think you will like it as well. 

It is as good as it looks.

The onions really make this recipe.

Chop about  half of an onion.  Saute the onion in some olive oil.

Make sure your stew meat or beef tips are in small pieces.  You will want to brown the meat.  It doesn't need to be cooked all the way through because you will be putting it in the oven.

1 cup beef broth

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup sour cream

Mix that well.

I drained the fat off the meat.

Add the sauce.

Add the sour cream

Stir well.

Add 2 Tablespoons steak sauce.  Cook until heated through.

Cook 3 cup egg noodles

Add the meat mixture to the noodles

Mix well.

Place in a 9x13 baking dish.

Cover and place in a preheated 350 oven and bake for about 20 minutes or so.

Uncover

Add the crispy fried onions on top.  Place back in the oven for another 5 minutes or so.

Doesn't that look good.

The crispy onions on top really make this.

Easy Beef Stroganoff Casserole Recipe

1 lb stew meat
3 cups egg noodles
1/3 cup onion diced
1 1/2 cup mushrooms ( didn't use them)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup beef broth
2 Tablespoon steak sauce
1 cup sour cream
1 cup crispy fried onions
1 Tablespoons minced garlic
2 Tablespoon olive oil