Why we have no lettuces...

These are known as Cabbage White Caterpillars.  We often enjoy their watching their pretty white mothers fluttering by.  I no longer appreciate them the same way.  What was a budding full pot of lettuces has disappeared completely thanks to these lovely butterflies.  Yes, I'm a bit grumbly about it.  

I sent "A" (our #1 entomologist and overall bug lover) over to the pot when I discovered the largest specimen this morning - thinking he was the only culprit.  Of course, "A" was careful to do a much more thorough inspection than I.  I'm delighted to hear that the chickens enjoyed this snack.

The first recipe post

Okay - I'm posting this for those of you who helped contribute in the idea-making process and for those of you who won't be enjoying it with us today and wish you were.

To use up the loads of leftover chocolate cake from the last two birthdays, I created this dessert.  It is flexible - we could certainly create many variations on this theme - and I likely will.  The key elements will be the cake, the pudding, and the topping.  Unfortunately, it only used up the remnants from one of the two birthday cakes.  Darn, I guess I'll have to make another one of these soon.

(Chocolate Banana) Leftover Cake Decadence

 chocolate cake pieces, chopped

2 packages instant banana pudding mix

3-4 bananas, sliced

3 ½ - 4 cups milk

 drizzle chocolate syrup

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

⅔ cup powdered sugar

 pinch salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups whipping cream

Lay pieces of chocolate cake in a single layer along the bottom of a 10x14 pan.

Lay sliced bananas evenly over chocolate cake pieces.

Prepare instant banana pudding with milk, as directed on package.
Pour pudding evenly over cake and bananas in pan.
Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Refrigerate while making the topping.

Beat together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and beat until combined. While beating on low speed, add cream in a slow steady stream; when almost fully combined, increase speed to medium-high and beat until mixture holds soft peaks when beater is lifted.

Spread over top of pudding layer in pan.

Refrigerate until served.

Since I made this for a potluck today, I don't have photos yet of what it looks like when we cut into it. I'll do my best to get a decent shot of it before it disappears.