Party Food

Elie's party theme was dirt and bugs. I made a dirt cake served in a red wheel barrow, garnished with gummy worms.

• 1 (20 ounce) package chocolate sandwich cookies with creme filling
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups of chocolate pudding- I used this recipe (click here)
  
• 12 ounces of whip cream- I whipped up fresh whip cream with a tsp of vanilla (I didn't add any sugar to it) you can use cool whip if you want.
  
• 15 gummi worms

1. Put the cookies in a food processor and process until they become fine crumbs. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the butter or margarine, cream cheese, confectioners sugar and vanilla flavoring. Beat on low speed to mix then beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the chocolate pudding. Beat on low speed to combine.
3. Fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture with a rubber spatula.
4. Assemble in the ungreased 9x13 inch pan in layers as follows: first layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs; second layer, 1/2 pudding mixture; third layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs; fifth layer, 1/3 cookie crumbs.
5. Tuck the ends of gummy worms in the cookie "dirt". Be sure to have a worm on each piece. Store in the refrigerator. Chill for at least 3 hours before serving. Cut into 15 squares, or serve with a clean garden trowel or a toy sand shovel if serving in the flower pot.

HOT PIZZA DIP (after it was mostly eaten)

This is a great party dish. It's a crowd-pleaser, it's easy and can be done in advance; just pop it in the oven 15 minutes before guests arrive.

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon chopped parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 1/4 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
  
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chiffonade cut
  

Preheat oven to 350

1. In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, oregano, parsley, and basil.
2. Spread mixture in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate, or a shallow oven-safe dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese on top of the cream cheese mixture. Spread the pizza sauce over all. Sprinkle with remaining grated cheeses. Top with fresh mozzarella.
3. Bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese starts bubbling. Top with fresh basil and serve hot with baguette or pita chips.

Note: next time I make this, I am going to add about 1/2 cup chopped roasted bell pepper and 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes.
HUMMUS AND BLACK BEAN DIP
To go along with the dirt and bugs theme, I made a "garden" dip with the bottom layer being hummus, and the top layer pureed black beans. I made the carrots by making a whole with a tooth pick and inserted a parsley leaf.