Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Bella Makes a Big Dessert

It's Teacher Appreciation Week in our town, and though my children don't go to school, our church does its best to support the teachers at one of our elementary schools. Bella and I were tapped to bring tomorrow's lunch dessert.

Phyllis assured me that something outrageous and chocolatey was the way to go; ideally there would be both Cool Whip and cake from a mix.

Bella could hardly believe it when I brought home a box of cake mix, four boxes of chocolate mousse mix, two tubs of whipped topping, and a package of candy bars. She made her first ever cake-from-a-box, then put together a huge tub of . . . dessert.

I asked her to show me how she felt about this kind of baking:


 but I think the teachers will like it.

35 comments:

  1. Great face, Bella! :-)

    I am sure it's still delicious and the teachers will love it.

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  2. That's so funny!

    I have no doubt the teachers will indeed enjoy Bella's creation. :)

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  3. That look says it all.........I love to make homemade anything. My neighbor who is in her 60's always uses boxed mixes and she thinks I am nuts for always making homemade. No comparison ~ in my book!

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  4. Her expression is just hillarious!
    I prefer baking from scratch as well. It is way more satisfying to mind and tastebuds than cake mixes and cool whip ;-)

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  5. Bella I think you'd better teach your mum the food course Clara did a few years ago!

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  6. Bella is a girl after my own heart. When I told my 15yo daughter about this and showed her Bella's frown she said "but Mum cooking from a box is silly. It's cheaper and just as easy to make it yourself". My children think cake-mix cakes have a strange flavour. I think they're too sweet. We're all with Bella on this one.

    I hope the teachers feel spoilt and special. I know I would if I were being cared for by you lovely ladies

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  7. The look on Bella's face is priceless.

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  8. Hahaha! Priceless! Bella, youre such a beautiful girl. ;)
    Christina

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  9. What a darling picture! Your girls are all beautiful.

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  10. I concur with the look on Bella's face. The only redemptive ingredient is that package of candy bars. There are those times when the only way to get a dessert somewhere is to use that list. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. I'm sure it's delicious, but I bet Bella could have done better from scratch

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  12. I agree with Bella. Once you get accustomed to from-scratch baking, packaged desserts have a fake and chemically taste to them.

    I think they changed the Cool Whip recipe as well. I bought some last year because I had an unusual craving for boxed chocolate pudding and Cool Whip (ala my childhood). The Cool Whip tasted like all chemicals. I was soooo disappointed. LOL!

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  13. Yes, they always do love those junk desserts, don't they? (and they're always way more expensive)

    Lisateresa

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  14. that LOOK: indignant, confused, hahahahah.

    Our church supports the teachers at a school, too, and I decided long ago to use the expected, run-of-the-mill ingredients. Otherwise, I use special recipes and special ingredients and feel resentful :)

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  15. I hope Bella made the "real" dessert for you. You're a teacher who deserves appreciation too! (PS, You guys should add one of those awful toffee-bar mousse-things to your Christmas Eve buffet, isn't that when you break all the rules and eat things from jars simmered in other things from jars, served on skewers?)

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  16. So did Bella TASTE the creation, too? LOL

    Actually, getting a cake from a box to turn out right is a skill, too. Not everyone can do it!

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  17. Excellent expression.

    One time while visiting my parents, my mom asked my first-born (who was ~5 at the time) if she wanted to help her make a cake and proceeded to get out a box mix. My daughter was completely baffled at what her grandmother was doing since she had never seen one before.

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  18. I hope you all have a wonderful time. I hope you were treated as you're a teacher as well!

    Even with her sour expression, Bella is very lovely!

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  19. haha - Bella, I totally agree!
    FH

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  20. I've given up cake mixes--in fact I am trying to give up wheat exclusively, but I can still have chocolate cheesecake with a toasted pecan crust!
    I bet the teacher's loved it--but I'm with Bella--scratch is always best!

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  21. Outstanding! Her expression perfectly summarizes everything listed on the Cool Whip ingredients label.

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  22. Great face, Bella!

    I have to wonder about the teachers' taste in desserts, though. Is it Rumor or Truth? My mother was a schoolteacher and was most assuredly not a Cool Whip Woman!

    Anyhow, anything gooey is a big hit with big groups of people, so I'm betting they will appreciate it!!

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  23. I love Bella's face and I agree with her!
    Years ago, when my daughters were around 5 or 6 years old, my husband made a box mix cake. I was not there at the time but received reports on it later. My daughters had only ever seen a cake made from scratch. They stood around in disbelief, watching their dad. One said "That's not how mom does it!" Later the other daughter reported to me "Mom! Dad made a cake and didn't put any flour in it!"
    Amy F.

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  24. Hi, teachers are such a hard working group in general. It's sad that many people in our society patronize them. I always feel the same way when I see junky little gimracks described as th e "perfect teacher gift". What an arrogant thought.

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  25. Oh, Bella, you are so right!

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  26. OK, why is no one mentioning this adorable and pretty navy blue top or dress with the hummingbird on it?? Bella, I really admire your skills....I hope to do just a fraction of what you do with my little girls as they grow. Blessings to you! Mary Brooke in Atlanta

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  27. Anonymous, I would agree with you but Phyllis teaches at this school and knows what these ladies like. She reports that they ignored her from-scratch cheesecake in favor of the Chocolate Bowl--to her chagrin but not to her surprise.

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  28. Yay Bella!
    It is indeed charity to do for others what will please them, not ourselves. (though we need not understand their tastes, ahem) Love that thousand-word shot. God bless you dear ladies!

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  29. That face makes me laugh out loud! It looks something like my expression when I was served a Snickers Salad (as a salad, not a dessert) at a family Thanksgiving dinner.

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  30. Was it on purpose then that this post was tagged as "cooking" and not "baking??" Love your blog! -Emily

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  31. I'm anxious to get the Phyllis report of what got eaten! I sent several more "classic" cakes to this luncheon, but feel I do deserve some design credit for the chocolate bowl.:) Carol

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  32. Carol, I gladly give you all the credit!

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  33. That's like those Hamburger Helper commercials that praise mom for making a home cooked meal. I agree with Bella's face. People don't even know what real is anymore.

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