"Winning Recipes for Losers (Like Me) In the Kitchen"

   I think the title says it all.  Back in December I appeared on Fox 5 Morning News to spread the gospel of good cooking for people like me.  You know, those of us, who clean toilets with more joy and success, than we do attempting a recipe.  (And by the way, that was the bargain I struck with my Mom growing up:  clean the bathroom instead of peeling potatoes.  We're 100% Irish, so you can imagine all the potatoes.)

   So, in the height of holiday party season, I shared some of the simple, no-lose recipes, my mother has armed me with that never fail.  And I promise, whether I bring them to parties or lay them out on my buffet at home, people always flip over them and compliment me on my culinary brilliance.  Something my husband of 15 years can hardly stomach, considering in the course of our marriage, I've made him a grand total of 4 meals.  (The last one, without the key ingredient.  I kid you not.  We discovered the taste of cardboard that night, while dining on that gem.)

   Nonetheless, here they are.  An appetizer, a side dish...and a killer dessert.

   The appetizer:  Pomegranate Dip: 

          2 Pomegranates seeded, no rind...8 oz sour cream, 8oz cream cheese (softened, let sit for about an hour).  1/4 tsp lemon juice, sprinkle sugar to taste (a little over a teaspoon).  Mix all ingredients together and serve with Wheat Thins "Harvest Five Grain Crackers" or cracker of choice.

   Poppy Seed Salad:

          I actually learned this one from Chef Scott Tompkins from Scottsdale, Arizona and adopted it as my own.  If you don't like vegetables, this will change your mind.   Simply mix 1 cup mayo, a 1/2 cup white wine vinegar, a quarter cup of sugar or to taste and 2 tablespoons poppy seeds.  This is your dressing.  In a separate bowl, cut up one head of broccoli and one head of cauliflower, with about half a red onion chopped up.    Poor the dressing over the top and toss.  I like to let mine sit for at least an hour before serving.  Then as a leftover, it's awesome over cold pasta.

   Julia's Chocolate Ice Cream Dessert:

     Crush vanilla wafers in a zip lock bag, I usually use half to a whole box.  Then mix it with a 1/2 stick of melted butter.  This will be your bottom crust or layer.  Put it in the bottom of the cake pan and freeze.  Once frozen, pour 1 gallon of melted Vanilla ice cream and spread as the next layer.  Freeze.  The next layer is a semi-melted jar of "Dove" fudge.  Spread over the frozen ice cream and then put it back in the freezer.  Once that layer is frozen, take a tub of "Cool Whip" and spread over the top.  Freeze.

   Once you have all your layers frozen, you can top with walnuts or leftover pieces of the vanilla wafer crust.  It's delish!

   Hope you enjoy these as much as my guests have over the years.  They truly are as easy as it gets.  I hate to cook.  That's why I "make"....you know, the ole assembly required approach.  And all Moms know how to do that!!!