Food For Thought: A Halloween recipe to stay home for

Trick or treat!  If you picked treat, good choice, because this week we have a scrumptious and easy recipe that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. This year, Halloween is taking over and a variety of treats are readily available for all who seek a ghoulish night of fun and sugar.  If you’re like many who a tasty treat for less money, try this recipe for Halloween Dirt, and watch your family and neighbors scream with delight.  Preparation time is about 20 minutes and this dessert can serve about 20 people.

What you will need

• 1 large bag (1.25 lbs) of Oreos
• 4 tablespoons of soft butter
• 1 ounce of cream cheese
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 2 small packs of instant vanilla pudding
• 3 cups of whole milk (skim milk may also be used to cut calories)
• 12 ounces of cool whip
• 1 bag of gummy worms (optional)

Begin by crushing the entire bag of Oreo cookies with a mallet or rolling pin until mixture is crumbly and set it aside.

Beat with a mixer the butter, softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and small packets of instant pudding until mixture is blended.  Next, add the milk and cool whip to the mixture and beat only until the ingredients are mixed throughout.

Chill the creamy mixture for about 10 minutes.

A large glass bowl is desired, but not needed.  When mixture is slightly chilled, begin to layer your bowl with a small sprinkling of crushed Oreos, then add the creamy layer and repeat for five layers total.  If you choose to add the gummy worms, intersperse them among the layers as desired.

Chill entire mixture for 10 minutes and serve cold or cool.

Have a happy and safe Halloween from all of us at NEastPhilly!

Food For Thought is a NEast restaurant review column written by Donna Ward that runs every other Thursday on NEastPhilly.com. See all of Donna’s reviews here. Read other NEastPhilly columns here.