Ice Cream Cake

Growing up, our birthday cake was always an ice cream cake.  We got to choose whatever ice cream we wanted and whatever topping we wanted on top.  It is very simple, but needs to be started at lease the night before.

1 package sandwich cookie (like oreos, vanilla sandwich cookies, lemon sandwich cookies)
1 carton of ice cream
1 carton of cool whip
topping (goodie) of choice

1. Crunch up all the cookies.  I don't have  a food processor, so I put it in a big ziplock bag and pound it to crumbs/chunks.  Mix a little water into it so it will stay when pressed into a 9x 13 pan.  You could also use melted butter, but I can't taste the difference so I use water.  let that freeze till hard. 
2. Let the ice cream thaw a little so it can be smoothed.  Cut into chunks and place on top of the frozen cookie crust.  Smooth it all around until it is in a uniform layer.  Freeze over night.
3. When the time comes to eat it, top the ice cream with cool whip.  Then top with your goodie of choice.

I chose cookies and cream from my ice cream and vanilla sandwich cookies for my cookie crust.  I also, opted out of cool whip and used extra cookie crumbs for my topping.  If you choose a sherbert, I suggest either vanilla or lemon cookies.

Chicken Broccoli Braid

The original recipe was found here at allrecipes, but I have adapt it each to time to what I have.  My family found this a few years ago and kinda went crazy making it all the time.  I love the dill flavor!  It is way easy, but looks fancy with the braid.

• 2 cups diced, cooked chicken meat (or less, I try to do less meat, more vegetables)
• 1 cup fresh broccoli, chopped (i've done 2c. mmm)
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped (i usually do green cause its cheaper)
• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise or plain yogurt
• 2 teaspoons dried dill weed
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
• 1 egg white, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees F).
2. In a large bowl, toss together chicken, broccoli, red bell pepper, garlic, Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, dill weed, salt, almonds and onion.
3. Unroll crescent roll dough, and arrange flat on a medium baking sheet. Pinch together perforations to form a single sheet of dough. Using a knife or scissors, cut 1 inch wide strips in towards the center, starting on the long sides. There should be a solid strip about 3 inches wide down the center, with the cut strips forming a fringe down each side. Spread the chicken mixture along the center strip. Fold the side strips over chicken mixture, alternating strips from each side. Pinch or twist to seal.
4. Brush braided dough with the egg white. Bake in the preheated oven 25 to 28 minutes, or until golden brown. 

  Its no big science really.  I like to make sure the ends are completely sealed because I've had juice leak all over out of the braid.  I'm planning on trying this out with homemade crescent roll dough :)