Butterscotch Love...

Hey guys!  It is Monday! Just thought I would announce the obvious.  The weekend was busy. It was hectic.  I spent time with my mom which is always risky, but she did nothing to embarrass me.  Here is how we clothes shop for my mom.  She has a hard time getting around with a bad knee so...  I sit her in a chair in the middle of the store and I start bringing her clothes that I tease her and tell her I would "authorize" and she "yeah or nays" them and off we go.  For some reason people always know when the 3 of us are in a store together.  The store was packed  and her chair was right by the registers. I waited until there were like 5 people in line on both registers, I go to the BACK of the store and yell up to my mom, "Hey MOM, do you want the matching THONG for that purple push up bra?"  She was mortified, I was laughing so hard I almost had an accident and my sister just shook her head.  I told her when she wears her new denim capri's to make sure and pull the back of her thong high enough to be seen.  I mean how will she ever learn the proper life of a pirate hooker if nobody schools her?  She may wear sneakers with 3 inch thick soles with everything, but she works that ish people.....she WORKS it!  Anyway, we went for mani's, we had lunch, we laughed our butts off.  (ok she MIGHT have cried but I was to busy laughing to notice).  Anyone want to volunteer their mothers to shop with me?  I am the queen of personal shopping.  Good times....

That was my weekend.  My OLDEST sister who was the appointed driver,  has been promising to make me this dessert forever.  It is my absolute favorite dessert and it only tastes good when SHE makes it.  I say this over and over, so many things, only taste good when certain people make them.  So she has been stringing me along for awhile on this.  Always an excuse.  Well, obviously she didn't make for me this weekend either.  I swear, she promised if I didn't purposely run her heals over with a shopping cart or let mom chase her down in a Target jazzy, she would make it for me, but alas, I had to take matters into my own hands.

You have probably eaten this dessert at every church function or potluck you have ever been too.  I can't help that, and it is NOTHING to complain about.  This is the perfect amount of sweet.  The perfect amount of creamy and the perfect little crunch from the walnuts.  I love it for summer especially because it is so light.  I can't even stand it.  I just need a piece.  I have heard it called a bazillion things.  Many people have a little part they tweak here or there.  So I am just using the recipe my sister knows by heart, and I call it "Butterscotch Love"  I hope you enjoy this light, refreshing, and oh so simple dessert!

Butterscotch Love
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup cold or frozen butter (cubed)
1- 8oz package cream cheese (softened)
1 cup powdered sugar (aka confectioners sugar, icing sugar)
1 tsp vanilla
8 ounces cool whip (use fresh if you like)
2 small boxes instant butterscotch pudding
2 1/2 cups milk
8 MORE ounces of cool whip (whipped cream)
1/2 cup walnuts for garnish (keep them whole or whack them into submission to be sprinkled on top)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 pan and set aside.  I do the crust in my food processor.  You can use a pastry cutter if you like. 

Pastry Cutter Method- Chop walnuts and set aside.  Cut butter into cubes, add into a bowl with the flour and cut the butter in, until it is an even crumble, fine crumbs.  Add in walnuts and combine.
Food Processor- Add all ingredients, flour, cubed butter, and walnuts into the food processor and pulse until it is in small crumbs.

Add to greased 9x13 pan and press into the bottom.  Make sure it is fairly even.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove and cool completely.

When the crust is cooled, start on the 2nd layer.  In a bowl add in cream cheese, vanilla, powdered sugar and cool whip.  Using a hand mixer, mix until completely combined.  It should be smooth and creamy!  Dot it all over the crust and carefully spread it evenly on top. 

Time for the 3rd layer!  In a bowl (I use the same bowl I used for the cream cheese mixture) add in both boxes of pudding and milk.  Again use a hand mixer or whisk and mix until combined completely!  Pour over the top of the cream cheese layer and refrigerate for 15 minutes. 

Last but not least add the rest of the whipped cream to the top.  Spread evenly, sprinkle on the last 1/2 cup of walnuts and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. 

I don't have a lot to say at this point.  I mean, obviously this is amazing, it is probably tied for my all time favorite dessert and quite frankly, there is an entire pan, calling my name.  I must answer.......I am going into the light!

Your "can't get my lips on it fast enough" chefwannabe