Annoyances....

[Grace]

OK, so everyone knows that I love to cook, and from scratch. So what does my boss BEG me to make her??? DIRT!! :mad: :mad: Pudding mixed with CoolWhip with Oreos crushed on top. :mad: I made her a Key Lime Tart last week (the one from the Jan/Feb issue that's so great), and it's still sitting in the fridge at work, while she waits for her DIRT!! :mad: What's the matter with people??

Annoyance number two....

I go to the grocery store to buy the garbage that you need to make DIRT (it killed me to put that stuff in my cart, let me tell you! And I felt the need to qualify myself to the check out lady - "I don't really eat this stuff - it's for my boss"). While I'm there, I want to get more fat free sweetened condensed milk because I'm going to make another key lime tart for the neighbor who blew our snow for us on Saturday. The first two I made using ff sweetened condensed milk that I had in the cabinet. But I go to get two more cans (I like to have one on hand at all times), and I see that these little cans cost $3.29 EACH?!! Since when did a small can of condensed milk get so expensive? I expect maybe $1.79, or even $2.19 or something. But $3.29? Outrageous. But I bought them anyway... :D

[Canice]

I know, Grace. A friend couldn't understand how I can claim to enjoy cooking but wouldn't make a Duncan Hines cake for him. :rolleyes:

May I suggest your Chinese grocery for the condensed milk? Cheap!

[Peggy]

My sister has made that "DIRT" recipe more than once! It's like a signature dish for her, I swear!! Don't forget the little gummy worms to sit on top of the crushed Oreos!;) Gross...

Peggy

[kima]

Get that pie out of the fridge and take it home where it will be truly appreciated!!
I don't quite get it- your boss can just ask you to make things for her???

:confused:
I'll have to remember that nxt time I visit!!!:D :D :D :p
You are just too darn nice (and I have never heard of this "Dirt" dish-perhaps it is aptly named for more reasons than one?:rolleyes: )

[lonetree1353]

Just thought I would post this so Maureen could make it for her DD's :p I am surprised that you have never made this culinary treat for them. I have to confess I made it once for my dd's when they were in elementary school. We did ours in a new flower pot and had a plastic flower with the gummy worms. :)

DIRT CAKE
1 package (about 5.9 ounces) chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix
2 cups (about 45 to 50) chocolate wafer cookies
2/3 cup Chocolate Flavor NESTLÉ NESQUIK Syrup
1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping
1 package (3 ounces) gummy worms

COMBINE cookie crumbs and Nesquik in medium bowl; reserve 1/4 cup.

LAYER half of remaining crumb mixture, half of pudding and half of whipped topping in a large bowl or 8 small bowls. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture; top with gummy worms.

http://fp.image.homeadvisor.com/images/recipes/images/NESTL/1516-Large.jpg

[Gecko]

And don't forget that other famous treasure....the


Kitty Litter Cake

1 pk Spice cake mix
1 pk White cake mix
1 pk White sandwich cookies
1 sm Package vanilla pudding mix
12 sm Tootsie Rolls

Prepare cake mixes and bake according to directions. Prepare pudding mix and chill until ready to assemble. Crumble white sandwich cookies in small batches in blender. They tend to stick, so scrape often.

When cakes are cooled, crumble into a large bowl. Toss with half the cookie crumbs and the chilled pudding. Gently combine. Pour into a clean kitty litter box.

Put unwrapped Tootsie Rolls in a microwave safe dish two at a time and heat until soft and pliable. Shape ends so they are no longer blunt, curving slightly. Repeat until you have nine, and bury them in the mixture. Sprinkle the other half of cookie crumbs over top. Heat three more Tootsie Rolls in the microwave until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with cookie crumbs. Serve with a new pooper scooper.

Note: There was a picture attached but I decided that the recipe was enough. Here is the link for anyone who is curious - Kitty Litter Cake (http://bertc.com/kitty.htm)

I also confess to making the dirt cups for my kids on a few occassions, but not the abovementioned one.

[birdyone]

Grace, Grace, Grace - why don't you 'try' to use up the 'stuff' that you bought and go get a SaraLee frozen crap thingy that looks similar and tell her that you made it - we have a place here called M & M's that sells that crap and works well in a case like yours. If she knows that you like to cook - sounds like she's trying to 'git' ya - NO?

Elaine

[MISSINDI]

Grace - if you have a Target near you, their sweetened condensed milk is $1.89 - not cheap, but not that bad. :) Just make the good stuff for those that will appreciate it.

[wallycat]

Originally posted by Canice
I know, Grace. A friend couldn't understand how I can claim to enjoy cooking but wouldn't make a Duncan Hines cake for him. :rolleyes:

May I suggest your Chinese grocery for the condensed milk? Cheap!

I was going to suggest the Asian market for that as well ($1.39 here) and coconut milk as well (my co-op is selling if for 1.49 :eek: and I paid 69 cents at the Asian grocer :) )

Gosh, your boss is lucky you bake for her (must be nice!!)...and then to make requests...sheesh.

[dixie]

I love to cook from scratch too....but I have to admit to the fact that I kind of like the cool whip/pudding stuff (minus the gummy worms tho)!!

[Beth H]

I love to cook from scratch too....but I have to admit to the fact that I kind of like the cool whip/pudding stuff (minus the gummy worms tho)!!

Me too. I also admit to making "Dirt" for a picnic, serving it in a sand pail (a clean one :)), and loving it. I love oreos, though, so maybe that's why.

[Peggy]

OMG!! That Kitty Litter Cake is over the top!:eek: :p

Peggy

[Grace]

Yes, I do take requests from my boss. She's done so much for us (DH and I) it's not even funny. And I LOVE to cook/bake, so it's not like it's any skin off my nose. But when I bake something REAL, she doesn't want it (like the tart still sitting in the fridge), and she actually loves that DIRT stuff and pretty much any other "chemical concoction" as I like to call it :rolleyes: . That takes the fun out of it, I must say, as I get NO enjoyment out of making that junk. But ultimately, I'm making her happy, so it's worth it I guess. I just wish she had some TASTE! :D

[AvrilH]

Grace: I hear you! SOme people just don't know what they are missing. I grew up on the good stuff (although, apparently I asked a friend's mom if they could "teach" my mom how to make Jello), and now my kids are. People I know are utterly FASCINATED by full-fledged home cooking. I had a potluck recently, and frozen cheesecake and other things from Costco were presented - and people LOVED THEM.

Argh! Do foodies have to be such a minority??????

[SusanMac]

I've never heard of Dirt either. Won't be trying it soon.

All this talk about the key lime tart makes me want to go try it, though.

When flipping through stations & seeing Alton Brown this weekend, DH proclaims that he absolutely loves lime mirange (sp?) pie! I've known this man for 12 years and never knew that! Maybe the tart will satisfy his craving!

[jellyben]

DS and I made a Dirt Cake last year for a cake contest, and he won first prize!! So Dirt Cake certainly has its place. We even served it in a plastic beach pail!

I am often surprised at the price of certain items(nuts!). I have found that our Target is stocking more staples, and much cheaper than the grocery. Like I need another reason to go to Tarzhay!

[funniegrrl]

I can understand how someone can grow up and not have homemade things. And, I can understand having a few processed-food guilty pleasures -- childhood favorites that you know are junk but every now and then you just have to have. But, to PREFER the junk over the real thing is just a mystery to me. *sigh*

Still, to be fair I think it is a matter of conditioning. For example, I know that as a kid I loved Oscar Meyer all-beef bologna. It was a childhood sandwich staple. But, in my late teens I went several years without eating it, and the next time I had it, I was appalled that I'd ever eaten it in the first place. Same with anything else I guess ... what we consider "the good stuff" tastes different to them, and people generally prefer familiar to different. You have to eat enough of something for it to also become familiar before you can really appreciate the difference.

[helene]

Originally posted by lonetree1353
Just thought I would post this so Maureen could make it for her DD's :p I am surprised that you have never made this culinary treat for them.



I'm with Maureen, never heard of DIRT and never made it either.

I would be upset if I make an homemade pie to bring to work and nobody touches it.

Also, if someone would ask me to do them that DIRT dessert and expects to get it from me, I would tell her to make it herself I would be annoyed with someone asking me to make a 'specific' dessert. When I bring dessert I always bring a surprise. I don't tell people what I will be making for them. Baking is an art and we should be proud of it and people should appreciate anything baked from scratch when it comes from the heart.

[pattiarl]

I, too, have been shocked at the price of SCM. I found it at my parents Wal-Mart for $1.00. I think it was the house brand so I'm hoping it's fine.

The Asian market is a great idea.

Sorry about the dirt thing. :)

Patti

[Grace]

Originally posted by helene


I'm with Maureen, never heard of DIRT and never made it either.

I would be upset if I make an homemade pie to bring to work and nobody touches it.

Also, if someone would ask me to do them that DIRT dessert and expects to get it from me, I would tell her to make it herself I would be annoyed with someone asking me to make a 'specific' dessert. When I bring dessert I always bring a surprise. I don't tell people what I will be making for them. Baking is an art and we should be proud of it and people should appreciate anything baked from scratch when it comes from the heart.

I think I didn't express myself clearly. I am not offended by her asking me to make her something specific. I made the tart for HER, not for the office. I'm quite sure if I had put it out for the office it would have been gone in 30 seconds, no matter if it was good or garbage! Those guys will eat anything.

I did ask her to tell me what she likes - what good is bringing her something chocolate if she hates chocolate or tapioca pudding if she hates it (as examples). That makes no sense, and it's not such a great gift, and would be a waste of my time, money and energy if she just ends up not eating it and throwing it out. She told me she loves DIRT and asked if I was going to bring her something (which I told her I would), could I please bring her what she LOVES, which is dirt! I'm only commenting on how people (in general, not my boss in particular) can love the chemical concoction dirt and turn up their nose at homemade stuff. She's not an anomoly. There are LOTS of people like her, and that was my annoyance.

I still love my boss and made her the dirt because I want to thank her for the millions of wonderful things she does for me (and I mean millions). I would make her anything she asked for, gladly. I'm annoyed that she wants crap and not something good.

[funniegrrl]

Grace I'm also puzzled why someone would need someone else to "make" this for them? How hard is it to make instant pudding and layer with cool whip and crushed cookies? Is she one of those people who can't even prepare convenience foods? Not a slam, just curious.

[Grace]

She doesn't enjoy cooking at all, and more than that, she has no time whatsoever. I mean that. She owns the business where I work and she works from 9 am to 9 pm every day. She has a new baby too. She's practically a walking zombie. She has tons of money, so I can't really buy her anything as far as a gift when I want to thank her for things. So I told her I'd make her something instead. Her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree and when I asked her what she liked, she said DIRT! I had the stuff in the house for the key lime tart, so I made that for her first, and as I said, it's still in the fridge. She keeps asking when I'm bringing the dirt :rolleyes: . She can't wait. I'm bringing it to her today.

But honestly, even if she did have the time, she still wouldn't do it because she hates to cook. She'd be more likely to pay someone to make it for her. That's just how she is - not lazy by any stretch, but not into doing things she doesn't like, even if they are easy. Easy is in the eye of the beholder.

[funniegrrl]

Yup, it's just more than an effort than some people can / want to put out!

[BarbaraL]

Strange as it may seem, some people just really don't enjoying cooking. My SIL is amazed at my collection of cookbooks; we both love bookstores, but she never buys cooksbooks! Food just isn't a big thing for her (maybe that's why she's as thin as a rail, and I have weight issues!).

My family and I love pudding, so I'm not grossed out by the "dirt" thing (although I'd prefer just regular, unadulterated pudding). Then again, I'd LOVE to try your key lime tart (did I mention I have weight issues?) Maybe the "dirt" is a special treat from her childhood. Anyhow, it's a gift to her, so I'd make her what she wanted. Just MHO.

[Grace]

Exactly Barabara. I did make it for her, and she loves it. She's eating right now actually! And I'm glad to make her happy. But I'm just blown away by people who prefer processed food over fresh, real, homemade food. This just does not compute to me! :D

I like pudding too, but not instant pudding mixed with Cool Whip. Yuck. Nice homemade pudding or custard is wonderful. But to each their own!

[helene]

Grace,

I get it now. You are so right, some people feeds themselves on chemicals while others, like us, like the real stuff.

Next time send that key lime pie at my place, it will be gone in no time.

Nothing beats good 'homemade' chocolate mousse. Maybe next time, bring her a 'sample' of homemade chocolate mousse, covered with a dollop of 'real' whipped cream. And top the dessert with 'real' chocolat morsels.

Never know, she may discover new tastebuds.;)

[patt]

Jellybean, there is a Trader Joe's in Issiquah, WA (sp?). They carry nuts and dried fruits at much lower prices than the grocery stores

[funniegrrl]

Tastes are funny. I said my mother was a good home cook, and it's true, but we had our share of processed food as kids. But, all 4 of us are more "gourmet" than the parents. Two of us have worked in good restaurants, the brothers and a sister-in-law are serious wine freaks, and my sister married a CIA-trained chef! We are all more adventurous, more "serious," more "snobbish" cooks and diners than our parents. Still, one brother adamantly insists on Cool Whip for desserts and does not care for real whipped cream!

[capres]

It's possible that she doesn't know any other cakes or special things to ask for. If she doesn't cook and really has no interest, she might not know what to reply when you ask her what she wants. Maybe she had a dirt cake a long time ago and remembers that.

Perhaps you can ask her next time what flavors/textures/etc. she likes. Cookies, pies, cakes????? She may be embarassed by her lack of knowledge in this area.

I've had dirt cake - used to make it for my kids, but wouldn't make one now unless it was for my grandchildren. We do anything for them!!


Carol

[Grace]

I've brought her so much stuff already over the years. Like I said, I brought her that key lime tart just last week, and she ate one little piece and the rest sat in the fridge.

She does like Chocolate Eclairs, and I've made them homemade for her twice, but truly, they are the biggest pain in the world and I have no desire or time or energy to always make those.

She likes pudding and custard. And she loves pudding mixed with Cool Whip. :rolleyes: It's just her taste. Kind of like a little kid that never grew up (IMO).