Going Local: The challenge has commenced

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When I started this blog, I had other intentions on my mind. To transcribe the deepest thoughts of my heart on a blank page, to share my hopes and fears, or at the very least, to make you laugh or smile with the intricate noodle brain I possess. But like my life, this blog has never stayed on one path, but instead has turned left and right, and gone up and down. It's become a mish mash of my doings, my likings, becoming a mother, my journey to becoming fit, delicious recipes and so forth. Now, it has come to a new fork in the road.

In the past year or so, my husband and I have become very fond of "supporting local". This comes with a price, as small businesses have no way to compete with the large scale, over produced mass of clothing, food, etc that you can get at any of the large stores like Costco, Superstore, Walmart….well you get my drift. Don't get me wrong, I still shop at all those places, but I'm starting to become aware of, and seek out, what is made and grown around me and how I can make a difference by supporting my neighbour, in a sense. Not only that, but with the growing media surrounding our food these days, what is sprayed on it  (those delicious pesticides), what is put in it (pink slime anyone?), where it comes from (thanks China for making almost….everything), or who's making it (let's support those 6 years olds!). I'm not saying this to offend, but let's face it, this is what we are deciding with every purchase we make, whether we realize it or not.

Yes, we can buy organic foods now, free trade labels are popping up everywhere, and thank goodness for that health food aisle that makes us feel good. I like to buy those things as well and you're more then likely to find me wandering up and down that aisle. Those products can be more expensive, but quality usually is. However, how is this helping those around me who are making, growing and selling those very same things? And how do we really know where it's all coming from? What are those ingredients that I can't pronounce? I'm tired of filling my body with food that is filled with unnecessary ingredients and sometimes paying more for it. Corn is in everything and made into almost every form. Antibiotics and hormones are injected into our meats, corn is fed to these animals, thus causing the meat to need ammonia baths, sugar and high fructose corn syrup are rampant, artificial food coloring and flavors ravage foods of all kinds, fruit and vegetables are picked early and then chemically ripened after the fact. These are just a few of the things that we can easily avoid.

Thus I've decided to begin a new series. How long or how short it is is slightly dependant on you, my readers. There are a few local businesses (sorry everyone who doesn't live around Medicine Hat) that I would like to feature and support and my challenge to you is, try them out! I dare you. Will you pay more for what you're getting? Only a little. Is it better then what you'd get in a chain store? Absolutely. Is it healthier and more delicious? Yes. Is it worth it. Heck yes! Your wellbeing and health is ALWAYS worth it. But the problem is that I only have just a few businesses thus far.

With that said, here's my other challenge and proposition to you. If you know of a local business (someone who grows or makes something and sells it locally, not a chain store), that you think is amazing, does their best to be original, healthy, organic, not adding sprays or toxins or anything else to their products, and is looking out for the wellbeing of us all, tell me about them so I can look into their business and then maybe do a feature on them to help support their business and get the word out. I don't care where you're from. I have readers from all over the world and I want you to all find businesses around you who are trying to make a difference for the better in our world. Nominate someone who you think should be featured on my blog so we can help spread the word about their business. I've become quite passionate about this and about being healthy and eating healthy and watching where I put my money. It has especially stirred up since I've become wheat intolerant. Interestingly enough, however, I've discovered it's only the altered, new strains of wheat that affect me (which is what is in most everything you'll find at the store). Where there used to be 3 or 4 varieties, there are now 30 - 40 different varieties. Gluten levels have increased in most of them to allow for lighter, fluffier breads and protein levels have decreased in many of them. The original strains of wheat I can eat! There is a business that sells it, and I hope to feature them soon.

So with all that said, I end this entry with this proposition in your hands. Help me spread the word and help me share these often looked over little gems. Message me at growing.green27@gmail.com to tell me about your favourite local businesses and why you love them.

Stay tuned for my first local business feature: TLC Farms
coming soon!

Enjoy these last weeks of summer, head out to the market, and bask in the warmth of the summer sun.

Going Gluten Free: Let's start with some cupcakes!

Gone are the days, seemingly, when I could pick up most anything to eat and enjoy it thoroughly with no consequences. A delicious slice of warm bread, fresh out of the oven, thick fluffy pancakes, donuts dripping with sugary goodness, crispy pita chips to dip in some hummus, grilled naan bread to scoop up buttery curry, just to name a few.

The change started during my pregnancy with Lalaith. It began as an intolerance to milk, which slowly spread to an intolerance to all dairy. After L was born I was able to consume some dairy products in small amounts again, but milk was still out of the question. this was tough for me, as I grew up a milkaholic. I could down a gallon jug of milk myself in just a few days. I loved milk.

But as I would find, letting go of assorted dairy products was nothing compared to what I was about to embark on.

As the days carried on following L's birth, it seemed that no matter what dairy I cut out, I was still having tummy issues and couldn't pin point what it was. Only just over a month ago did I finally figure out the culprit of my demise…..wheat. But interestingly enough, it's only the new variations of wheat that I have a sensitivity to. Where there used to be only about 3-4 varieties, the wheat has been altered in many ways, including a much higher gluten content (for lighter, fluffier breads) and now there are 30-40 varieties. My mother purchased some ancient, organic wheat, one of the unaltered and original varieties and I had no reaction whatsoever to it. However, most everything on the market is made with the new, gluten rich, altered wheat, thus, cutting it all out was the only solution at this time. That is until I learn to make my own bread :D This is not as bad as it would seem, however, as it has made for a healthier lifestyle for myself and a boost to be creative with my cooking and baking. Thankfully we live in a country where gluten free products are available most anywhere, though more expensive they may be.

I'm proud to say I've made some amazingly delicious meals, all gluten free, that even my husband has enjoyed. I will blog some of them at a later time as they are worth sharing. Today, however, I'm going to share something more on the sweet side, as I do love my sweets. And what could be more glorious then a delicious treat that is not only gluten free, but refined sugar free and dairy free as well. And it doesn't taste like sawdust! It truly is amazingly delicious!

I have my friend Toni Quincey to thank for lending me this fabulous cookbook. I'm excited to try many different cupcake recipes within these pages.

I asked Hayden, my husband, to choose a cupcake for me to try first. His choice, the Strawberry Cupcake with Strawberry Meringue frosting. I was up for the challenge.

The cupcake recipe is simple:
1/2 cup coconut flour
1 Tbsp arrowroot powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
4 Lg eggs
1/2 cup agave nectar
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 8 muffin cups with paper liners. 

In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, arrowroot powder, salt, and baking soda.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, agave nectar, and vanilla extract.

Blend the wet ingredients into the coconut flour mixture with a handheld mixer until thoroughly combined, 

then fold in the strawberries.

Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into each prepared muffin cup

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 1 hour, then frost and serve.

Now for the Strawberry Meringue Frosting:

1/4 cup agave nectar

2 egg whites

2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh strawberries

In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the agave nectar to a boil, stirring constantly.

Decrease the heat to low and simmer for 6-10 minutes, watching constantly and stirring occasionally, until the agave nectar darkens slightly from its original amber color, then remove from the heat and set aside.

In a deep bowl, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks using a handheld mixer. Be sure to push the beaters around the bowl to incorporate air into the whites. This step is important; if your egg whites are not whipped to stiff peaks, the recipe won't work. Stop whipping as soon as the egg whites are stiff; overwhipping will result in egg whites that are dry and grainy. The foam of the whites will be stiff enough to stand up in well-defined, unwavering peaks.

Drizzle the warm agave nectar very slowly into the egg whites, while whipping with a handheld mixer, to keep the peaks stiff. The meringue will become pearlescent and shiny.

Allow to cool to room temperature, then fold the strawberries into the meringue. Use right away.

I then piped the meringue onto the cupcakes in a fun way and voila! a yummy, but still healthy, treat :)

If there is one thing I notice, more then anything, is that I feel SO much better after having taken out wheat from my diet. It's been about a month and I have no wish to re-introduce it at this time in my life. Reducing or eliminating wheat from your diet can be a good, healthy choice, especially if you are trying to lose weight. I encourage you to read Dr. William Davis' book "Wheat Belly". It will change your outlook on what you put in your mouth and hopefully help you develop a healthy lifestyle that is not lacking in food, just changing which foods you consume. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we have and stay tuned for more gluten free recipes that are sure to be delicious!

till next time

A trial of meat!

With the summer season fast approaching, so also are all the wonderful things that make summer such an enjoyable time of year. Soaring temperatures, the sweet smell of fresh cut grass, the freshness of outside after a rainfall, rumbling thunder, going to the lake, Sunday afternoon drives in the country, and of course…BBQ!!!

There's nothing quite like a good BBQ on a warm summer's eve. Steak, shrimp, burgers, veggies, you name it! Well, burgers were on our mind one night, but of course, not your normal, run of the mill burgers. We were having some friends over and Hayden suggested we BBQ burgers. No problem, I thought, I can get some ground beef and whip up some glorious patties and we will be good to go. But he had other ideas. After perusing the new Home at Home magazine, he found a couple burger ideas he thought we should try. Normally I'm game for trying new things, but that's when it's just us. Cooking something for the first time, for company? Now that's nerve wracking, to say the least. But nevertheless, I decided to go along with it, roll up my sleeves and put my best foot forward. The results….phenomenal! So much so, that I'm now blogging about it and am going to share the recipe of two delicious burgers so you, too, can enjoy these mouth watering, tasty treats!

I do apologize, however, as I have no pictures to show along with the recipe. :( The day proved to be a frightfully busy one, I was running behind on my prep for the evening, and I just barely got our meal in order as it was (and that was still forgetting several things too :P), never mind thinking about taking pictures of my creations. I also didn't have absolute faith in what I was attempting either, so no documentation of a disaster helps to erase that a disaster ever happened. However, this was no disaster by any means, but a beautiful discovery that tantalized the taste buds and infused the nostrils with an aroma close to heaven.

For all you seafood lovers out there, this first burger is for you! It's a Tandoori Salmon burger. I can hear your lip-smacking already.

It would be best, and WAY easier if you got salmon with the skin already removed. This, I didn't have, therefore had to attempt to cut the meat off the skin myself. This proved much more difficult then one would think and the result was severely mutilated salmon meat. Good thing it was going in the blender. I also didn't have the proper amount of salmon the recipe called for, so I attempted to adjust the other ingredients to compensate. It seemed to work well. But here is the recipe as shown in the Home at Home magazine.

Tandoori Salmon Burger:
serves 6


1 1/2 lbs. fresh salmon, skin removed
1/2 cup bread crumbs (as a healthier option, I used oatmeal instead of bread crumbs.)
1/4 cup prepared tandoori paste or sauce
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest, finely grated
1 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
dash hot sauce (this is optional and as I have SPM (severe pansy mouth :D) I skipped this part)

- Place coarsely diced salmon in a food processor with the bread crumbs (or oatmeal) and pulse lightly. ( I used my magic bullet and let me tell you, the result was NOT the same. I suggest a blender over a magic bullet if you don't own a food processor)
- Add the remaining ingredients and pulse lightly
- Shape the burgers into 6 patties and chill until ready to grill
- Preheat the grill to medium-high. Grill the burgers for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until cooked all the way through.
- Serve the burgers on buns and top with sliced cucumbers and peaches, and yogurt or ranch dressing.

I omitted the cucumbers and peaches as I have a personal vendetta against cucumbers and I prefer my peaches in a dessert rather of on my burger. That's just my own personal preference, but try away if you are intrigued. I bought a dill ranch dressing for the burgers and it was delicious as dill and salmon go hand in hand.

The next burger caused less trepidation for me as I prepared it, but had ingredients I'd never worked with before, so a learning curve still. Regardless, the burger turned out beautifully :)

Tuscan Turkey Burger:
serves 6


1 1/2 lbs ground turkey
1/2 bread crumbs (again I used oatmeal)
1 large egg
1/4 cup green onion, chopped
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped (I had never cooked with these before, but there was nothing difficult about it. I just followed the directions on the pkg and blanched them before chopping them up.)
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated (I didn't have any block Parmesan left, so I used powdered)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt

6 ciabatta or focaccia buns
3 cups baby arugula
1/2 cup roasted peppers, sliced (we didn't use any peppers for our burgers)
condiments of your choosing

- Stir the turkey with the bread crumbs (or oatmeal) and egg to blend, then add the remaining ingredients and stir until evenly combined.
- Shape the meat into 6 patties and chill until ready to grill
- Preheat the grill to medium-high. Grill the burgers for 8-10 minutes on each side, or until cooked all the way through.
- Serve the burgers on ciabatta or focaccia buns, (or on whatever buns you have around :)), topped with arugula and roasted peppers, and your choice of condiments.


As something different and special, I recommend trying these tasty burgers this summer. They're sure to be a hit with family and friends.

Enjoy the warm weather, late night fires, smores, and all the other wonderful aspects this season has to offer.

Happy eating!

The Mommy Diaries: Part II, To Sleep or Not To Sleep

There are many changes that occur when a baby enters your life. The hardest change, I've found, is definitely the sleep factor. Learning to cope with continuous sleep deprivation is one of the hardest learning curves one encounters as a new parent. Sure there's poopy diapers, baby puke, even times of ceaseless crying, however, if you've ever taken on the role of "babysitter", you've most likely encountered any, if not all, of these sides that come with a baby. The one thing babysitting doesn't prepare you for are the 2am feeds, the 4am crying for no reason, the 5am feeds, the 6:30am diaper changes etc. Your whole world changes when you suddenly lose those solid 8 hrs of sleep you once took for granted. When someone says "I slept like a baby", they obviously have never had a baby. Cause babies wake up ALL THE TIME! To sleep like a baby must mean you had a horrible sleep. :)

I look back over the past 5 months of being a mom, and am impressed with how one adapts to life's changes. I remember a time in my life when I needed at LEAST 8 hours of sleep to even function on a semi-awake level, and that was accompanied with a beautiful, delicious, strong coffee. Now I rejoice if I get a couple 3 hour stretches of uninterrupted sleep. Anything more then that, and I'm just spoiled! Now pair that with a baby who is sensitive to caffeine, and you have a mother who sleeps on average about 6 hours a night, in two or three stints, so never fully hitting that so needed REM sleep, then starts the day without any legal stimulants. It's no wonder we moms have dark circles under our eyes, have no desire to go for that run we've been meaning to for the last 3 months, that our house is in shambles, that it's mac and cheese for supper and we sleep when baby sleeps. There's been times when I've often wondered if I should be driving, how I would survive the day, would life ever get better? Would I ever sleep again? Indeed the body is a miraculous wonder and as the days progress one becomes accustomed to the new sleeping patterns thrust upon you. Where I once needed those solid 8 hours, I now feel like a new woman if I get those two 3-4 hour stretches. I have energy and can smile. If there's no other proof on earth that there is a God in Heaven, then this is it.

One other thing I've discovered is that God really uses those sleepless nights to bring out the hidden things of the heart to deal with them. Who knew intense frustration and anger could reside hidden inside me. But let me tell you, at 3am, when you're tired out of your mind, half asleep, trying to sooth a crying baby who is inconsolable and won't go back to sleep, that frustration and anger creeps forth from it's lair ready to pounce. I believe that's why God made babies cute. Because one small smile from them, and all anger dissipates and fades to nothing. You find yourself kissing their little forehead and whispering "I love you". Although, even then, it's still maddening when your baby finally falls asleep, you lay them down, and as soon as your head hits the pillow….they wake up. And this cycle continues for an hour or so.

In the early stages of a babies life, there is a great chance that they will have their days and nights mixed up. This is annoying as you are extra tired those first few weeks after having gone through labour and all you want to do is sleep for the next year. There is one old wives tale that I was told and in my desperation for sleep and willingness to try anything, decided "why not!" You swaddle your baby, hold them so their feet are towards you and their head is away from you. Then at midnight you slowly rotate them once, counter-clockwise. It's supposed to "re-set" them, like you would re-set a compass. Well, I kid you not, I tried it with Lalaith and from that night on we had no more problems with her day and night mix up. She still woke up through the night to eat and what not, but she always slept at night and was more awake during the day. It sounds crazy but I say, don't knock it till you try it. :)

A baby will change their sleeping habits so quickly, you really never know what to expect. One night they'll sleep 7 hours straight and you think, "yes! I've arrived!" Only to have them wake up every hour the following night. They finally get into a sleep routine, and then they start teething and all goes awry. They start napping better and go down with ease, then one day they start fighting you every time you try to put them to sleep. One can try this or that to train and create routine, but all-in-all, those darn cute babies keep you on your toes.

To sleep or not to sleep: That really is the question….every single night

till next time

Pina Colada Quinoa

In the past, if one were to mention "quinoa" it was usually followed with a quizzical expression by the one hearing the word. What on earth was "quinoa"? Until recently, that is, as this healthy little sprouted grain has gained fast popularity in most circles and is now found at any number of restaurants. Taking the place of rice as a choice side in many dishes, it has a slight nutty taste and is a go to option for the health conscious at heart.

With that being said, I broke out my quinoa recipe book, and, at the advice of a friend who had made it, set about making myself some Pina Colada Quinoa. This tasty treat can be eaten as breakfast, as a nice snack during the day, for lunch, or a little later after supper, when you just want something a little sweet to sink your teeth into. Whenever it strikes your fancy actually :) It can be eaten hot or cold, however I prefer cold and allowed my little dishes to cool off in the fridge before indulging myself.

Pina Colada Quinoa

1 cup quinoa

One 14 oz (398 mL) can light coconut milk

One 14oz (398 mL) can crushed pineapple

1 Tbsp brown sugar (I used agave nectar)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, bring the quinoa and coconut milk to a boil. 

Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat

and leave the covered saucepan on the burner for an additional 6 minutes.

Drain the pineapple, reserving the juice

(I only had chunked pineapple, so I used my magic bullet to mulch it up a bit)

Stir 1/2 cup of the juice into the saucepan. Add the sugar and vanilla and mix well.

(I didn't measure my agave nectar, I just added what I thought looked right :) )

(vanilla and agave nectar)

Stir crushed pineapple into the mixture and serve. Store in the refrigerator 

in a sealed container for up to 2 days.

(made 4 small dishes)

I garnished with the raspberries and it was delicious! 

Enjoy this tasty, yet healthy, treat.

till next time.

The Mommy Diaries: Part I, Transition

I had hoped and to start this new series of my blog earlier, but as I mention later, just to use the bathroom can be a challenge, let alone finding time to sit at my computer to blog. And when I do have a moment when my little girl is sleeping, the house and laundry seem to call my name to bring back some sense of order in the chaos. But here we go…

The transition to parenthood was tougher then I anticipated. One dreams of snuggles, coos, giggles, and a baby resting peacefully on your chest. What one doesn't even begin to imagine, let alone dream about, are endless squirminess, poop, reasonless crying, poop, lack of sleep, poop….did I mention poop?

All of sudden it's not about "me" anymore. Having a child takes every ounce of selfishness you may have, and flushes it down the toilet. Speaking of toilets, even something simple, like using the bathroom, takes planning and coordination. It's amazing how one can go from needing a solid 8 hours of sleep just to function the next day, to rejoicing when you can get a couple solid 3 hour chunks and feel like a new woman when you do. This is God's grace on us, to adapt and survive and still smile on the other side of it. :) To get to know this little person, to understand their needs and respond accordingly, takes hard work and dedication, but it's such a joy and all it takes is one little smile to forget the frustration you were feeling mere moments before. God is good.

9 weeks ago our life was, in a moment, changed forever. Lalaith Elizabeth Werezak entered our lives and, life as we knew it flew out the window. It's true, it was love at first sight, but within the first night, when your new baby just wants to suckle, cry, and poop, you soon find yourself slowly receding into a state of shock as the realization hits you: You have a baby now. Gone are the long nights of uninterrupted sleep, gone are your moments of free time, no more can you come and go as you please, when you please, for as long as you please. What have we done?

This then is followed by a new day, which brings new waves of wonder and love for this little one laying in your arms. That first day is huge. You're sharing your little miracle with friends and family and beginning to become acquainted with their little personality. Then the second night hits even harder, with even less sleep causing you and your husband to find yourselves revisiting the option of a pacifier. You may go into child birth with the notion that you do not, by any means, want a pacifier for you baby. Yet by four in the morning, you find yourself bordering on delirium as your baby continues to cry for no seemingly logical reason, and before you know it, your new bundle has a soother in their mouth and your catching a few well deserved moments of peace and quiet and sleep. It's amazing how ideas change the moment your baby enters the world and reality hits you like a deer loitering on highway 1.

In our society, we are bombarded with books, educational videos (most apparently from the early 1990's), the internet, others' unsolicited advice, and anything else we can get our hands on, all of which tell us the secrets of how to raise perfect children who never cry, sleep at night, and feed every 4 hours. The missing factor: Our children are all individuals and thus there can be no formula. This thing called "parenthood" is a learning curve, a massive learning curve. The largest we could possibly encounter, and we need to figure it out for ourselves. This is something that occurs over again with each new child, as they are all unique. They will all feed at different times, have their growth spurts at differing times, start teething at different ages, walking, talking etc. There's no logic to any of it, so as a new parent, I'm learning to just go with the flow.  Do I still ask for advice here and there from those who have traversed this road ahead of me? Absolutely. Do I research and read up on things I don't know? In a heart beat. But I also know to allow for some flexibility and use some common sense too. That's what makes this ride as a parent much easier. Sarcasm also helps :)

All in all, though the transition from 2 to 3 can be abrupt, crazy, and a wild ride, I've also found it to be inspiring, rewarding, and the most amazing gift. Being a mommy is the single greatest thing, next to being a wife, and there's nothing I would rather be doing in this moment. I thank God for my little latte, fall more and more in love with her everyday, can't seem to get enough kisses, and am learning a whole lot more of myself in the process and God is teaching me the value of patience and grace. I have to relax and take one day, and night, at a time.

Having a child is a truly grand transition indeed.

sleeping beauty

sleepy snuggles with mommy

hanging out

Till next time…

Scrumptious Creations: Banana Split Cake

There are times in life when you just need to indulge. In our health driven society, it's hard to justify sugar, cake, chocolate, or any sweet dessert. I am a health conscious individual, don't get me wrong, but once in a while there's nothing like having a slice (it can be small) of some delicious, non-healthy item. As long as you're not consuming it daily, a treat now and then can be good for the soul and make the heart happy…figuratively speaking. As my mother would always say "Everything in moderation." I agree.

My husband, Hayden, and I were heading to a pie social dessert night potluck (sounds sinful doesn't it? yum!) and needed to make something to contribute. I, of course, was going to fall on my very relying and delicious apple crisp. It's always a hit and easy to make. We had just recently been to a friends birthday party, however, where we tasted the most amazing banana split cake. Thus, my husband suggested we try it for the evening. There's nothing more intimidating then trying something new then taking it out where a vast multitude of people will be sampling it. But I was up for the challenge, as was Hayden. We searched for recipes online and found one to our liking, and then modified it further. Hayden is very ingenuitive when it comes to food, so I knew we could try it and our modifications would not only work, they would be delicious. Especially because it was a no bake dessert. Bonus!

The ingredients are:
about 2 1/4 cup oreo cookie crumbs (you can buy the boxed crumbs)
6 Tbsp butter, melted
1 pkg (250g) of cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp cold milk
Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed
Bananas
Strawberries
Pineapple
Magic Shell chocolate sauce

We opted for an oreo cookie crust over a graham cracker crust, because who doesn't like oreo cookies!
We used 2 1/4 cups of the crumbs, but next time I think we'll use the whole box to make the base thicker, therefore needing more butter as well.

Mix the cookie crumbs with the melted butter and then press into a 9x13 pan. Refrigerate until you're ready to add the other layers.

Beat together the cream cheese, sugar and milk until well blended. Then stir in or beat in about 1 cup of Cool Whip. Spread this on top of the cookie crumb base.

Add a layer of sliced bananas. (We were quite meticulous with our fruit layering as we wanted everyone to get all three fruits in every piece, if not every bite.)

Add a thin layer of Cool Whip

Add a layer of fresh sliced strawberries

Add a thin layer of Cool Whip

Add a layer of fresh sliced pineapple

Top with a thin layer of Cool Whip

Sprinkle with some small, chopped strawberry pieces and then drizzle with the Magic Shell chocolate sauce. We put it in the freezer to harden the chocolate.

Keep refrigerated until ready to consume. It's also a good idea to put it in the freezer for about 1/2 hr to an hour before cutting, to help firm everything up.

This was our first attempt and already we are figuring out how we would modify it further to create an even more delicious collision of flavours. perhaps adding another layer of the cream cheese mixture in there somewhere. No matter, the cake was a HUGE hit at the pie social and we hardly had anything to bring home. It was a good thing we indulged at the event :)

Thus, I highly recommend trying this recipe out. It took mere minutes to make and required no baking (always a bonus and especially nice during the hot summer months). Allow yourself to indulge, just a teeny bit, and sit back and enjoy.

till next time...