The name, Delicious Delight, really doesn’t do this dessert justice. I prefer to call it Piña Colada on a Plate. Minus the alcohol, that is really what it tastes like. If you put on your sunglasses, blast some Jimmy Buffet in the background, close your eyes, and take a bite, you might be able to imagine yourself on a tropical island somewhere. The Illinois heat index this week is hot enough to rival most of the tropical islands around the world. Unfortunately, we all are experiencing the heat, but not the sandy beach. Make this dessert, and you may experience a glimpse of a good looking cabana boy or a Hawaiian hula dancer.
My family has sampled a lot of desserts over the last few weeks, and according to my mother, Delicious Delight is the best dessert recipe thus far. Quoted by my mother, “It is a good summer dessert because it’s not so rich. It’s just light and sweet.” Delicious Delight is one of those desserts that you cut yourself a piece of, finish completely, then proceed to eat more of it straight from the pan. It’s light and smooth, and easy to eat way too much of. Consider yourselves warned.
Because of the awful heat, I am leaving for the Kankakee River in a few hours to cool off on the boat. The only way to be outside is if you are immersed in water. I have been learning to water ski this summer, and although I have been successful on a few attempts, it certainly isn’t consistent yet. While we were making Delicious Delight, I was entertaining Grams with stories of ski adventures that generally result in a face full of river water. Grams shared with me that she has never learned to swim, and is by and large afraid of water. She said that when she was younger, it just wasn’t something that her family was concerned about. There were more important things to spend time learning. She is pretty sure that even her brothers weren’t taught to swim. Now that she is older, she really wishes she had learned to swim. Not just because it would be fun and cool on a hot day, but because you never know when a freak accident will require the ability to swim. I told her she is never too old to learn something new, and she could take a swim class at a YMCA. She just laughed at me and said, “Oh, Amber”. I think we’ll just stick to learning new baking techniques.”
Delicious Delight (aka Piña Colada on a Plate) isn’t difficult to make. It is composed of four tasty layers: pecan crust, cream cheese and pineapple fluffy layer, vanilla pudding layer, and a top cool whip layer. I may have added a little extra cool whip to the top because I absolutely love cool whip. With a spoon in my hand I can seriously eat an entire container of cool whip in one sitting. The only road block we ran into occurred during the vanilla pudding layer. I bought the ingredients last night and didn’t buy INSTANT vanilla pudding. When I read Cook and Serve on the box, I realized we had a slight problem. Grams and I hopped into the car and drove to Gilman for some INSTANT vanilla pudding -- problem diverted, and lesson learned. Write down exactly what you need on your grocery list. Piña Colada on a Plate did turn out to be one of my family’s favorite desserts from the Ahlden cookbook. I sprinkled a few more chopped pecans on the top for a little extra cuteness. Highly recommend this one!
Grams and I would also like to wish luck to all of our 4-H family and friends at the Iroquois County Fair this week. She remembers watching her grandkids show Chester Whites and craft projects, and the Sunday service with A Natural High is always a favorite for her. If you’re at the Iroquois Co. Fair this week, have fun, drink LOTS of water, and make yourself a pan of cool DELICIOUS DELIGHT to relax with in the evening!
Delicious Delight--- Connie Ahlden
Mix 2 cups flour
1 cup margarine
1 cup chopped pecans
Press into 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Cool.
Mix 1 cup powdered sugar
1 8oz cream cheese (softened)
Large (12 oz.) container of cool whip (use only ½)
1 can 15 oz. crushed pineapple (drained)
Spread over cooled crust.
Mix 2 large INSTANT vanilla pudding with 4 cups milk.
Let set.
Spread over cream cheese layer.
Top with remaining cool whip.
No comments:
Post a Comment