I think two of my favourite things have to be macaroni and cheese and hot dogs . . . (don't judge me!).  Put the two together and I am in heaven.  And by that I don't mean slicing some hot dogs into a casserole of mac an cheese . . .  I mean topping a hot dog with mac and cheese!  Yes, I am a big kid at heart!!

I have a husband who is not particularly fond of Pizza . . .  or pasta as you know.  He says he hate Italian food . . .  but he really just means he hates Pizza and pasta . . .  I keep reminding him that Italians eat a lot more than that!  Bake a pizza in a cake tin, and call it a tart and he is quite happy to eat it however.  A woman has to do what a woman has to do.  ☺

 

There were so many lovely goodies in the hamper that I couldn't just leave it at one recipe.  I decided that I wanted to make another heartier dish that would make a fabulous supper for the kids on Halloween night!  Although good luck to you if you can get your kids to settle down and eat supper on that day.  I never could, but I think that maybe had I created a dish such as this for them back then, they would have had a hard time resisting it!

 

With Halloween only 11 days away I've been working on creating some lovely Halloween treats and dinners in my kitchen.   I just love the holidays and I especially love Halloween.  I miss having the children around these days of course as there are only the two of us, but that doesn't mean that we can't enjoy ourselves and chow down on some tasty Halloween goodies anyways!

I saw a recipe very similar to this on the Pillsbury site the other day.   I was intrigued.   Who doesn't love pie?   Who doesn't love chocolate chip cookies?   Who would ADORE the two together?  Not me, that's who!   Chocolate Chip Cookie Stuffed Pies?  They sounded splendiferous!!

I confess . . .  I put my hand up.  I like hot dogs, and not what passes for hotdogs over here in the UK . . . I mean the frankfurter type of hot dog . . .  smoked and from the chiller cabinet, not a tin.  Nothing grosser than a tinned hot dog.  Trust me on this.

The two young Missionary Sisters who are serving in the Chester Ward at the moment came over today to do some service in our garden.   We just love our Missionaries, we really do.  

I did them some grilled cheese sandwiches for their lunch which I served them along with some potato chips and some of my cherished sweet pickles from home that I hoard.   

They were really happy with that, but when I cracked open my Chocolate and Peanut Butter Squares, they were just thrilled!



I don't know anyone that wouldn't be thrilled to be faced with a plate of these.   Picture it . . .  you have a brown sugar, oatmeal buttery nutty fudgy cake type of base . . .   partially baked . . .



Slathered with a rich sweet peanut buttery custard filling . . . and then topped with more of that brown sugar, oatmeal buttery nutty fudgy cake base, crumbled this time and mixed with oodles of milk chocolate bits and then baked again until the whole mass melds together  . . .



Into something so scrumdiddlyumptious that it will be quite, quite impossible to eat just one.  Seriously.  Impossible.



I took a bite out of one just so I could show you how very tempting they are . . .  ahem . . .  tough job but somebody's got to do it!


 

Remove the partially baked base from the oven.   Pour the peanut butter mixture over the base, spreading it out evenly.   Sprinkle the chocolate bit crumb mixture evenly over top and press down lightly.  Return the pan to the oven and bake a further 20 minutes, until golden brown.  Allow to cool completely in the tin. Lift out and cut into squares to serve.   Store in an airtight container.  Delicious!



She kissed a frog, but it didn't turn into a prince . . .  so cute.  That Sister Wagner is such a cutie pie.

 

I don't know who was braver, Sister Jones or the baby frog!



I kinda think it was the baby frog, surrounded by all of us giants.  Isn't nature amazing?    

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Occasionally you see something which is totally outrageous and yet strangely appealing at the same time.  That's the way it was for me when I saw these toasted Spaghetti and Cheese sandwiches popping up all over the net.  

 Well today is my birthday.  Boo Hoo  Fifty nine years old.  However did that happen.  No matter, happen it did and I am celebrating!  Ten friends are coming over for lunch today and we are going to do it in style.  I am looking forward to seeing and spending time with them.



This is the cake that I always  make for my Birthday.  It just wouldn't be my birthday without it.  I make it every year, no fail, and this year it is no different.

I think fish fingers have to be most kiddies favourite meal.   Kids just love bits of food that they can pick up with their hands and dip.  My children were no different.  Fish fingers, chicken nuggets, chicken wings . . .  kids just love to eat with their hands!



The long and short of it is . . . fish fingers are very budget and family friendly.   Today I wanted to show you how you can create something delicious with them you probably would have never thought of.  Polynesian Fish Fingers.  



Maybe calling them Polynesian is a bit of a stretch, but it does encompass some tropical flavours . . . such as soy and pineapple . . .  and rice.  I can see you rolling your eyes, but hear me out.  This is not so strange a mix as one might think.   Mild flavoured fish actually goes very well with fruity flavours . . .  and sweet and sour is also a great flavour to add.



Add to that the convenience of using already cooked basamati rice and frozen peas, mixed together in a pineapple sweet and sour sauce, and sweet pineapple chunks and you have a winning combination all round.  It's really quick to make as well, which makes it the perfect meal for a week night supper when everybody has plans and not a lot of time to throw a meal together or sit and eat it.  A salad on the side goes very well.



This is a great store cupboard meal that you can have on the table in not much more than half an hour.   I always have packets of cooked basamati rice in my cupboard, pineapple chunks in the larder and frozen fish fingers in the freezer, not to mention frozen peas.  I think you will find that this meal is not only very tasty and pretty to look at, but very economical, quick to make and deliciously different to boot!  I hope you will give it the old college try!



*Polynesian Fish Fingers*

NOTE:  I reserved some of the thawed frozen peas to garnish the casserole for photography purposes.  Normally they will be kind of blah looking, but it still tastes gorgeous even with blah looking peas.  I like to use Frozen Petit Pois.  They are the only kind I like.  Yes, I am spoiled and a bit picky sometimes, although you wouldn't think it if I'm eating fish fingers would you?  I guess I'm one big enigma!