Charlie Mastiff

1:55 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012

I just received this question from Charlie Mastiff..

Hi Hollie,
Enjoying your blog. Do you have a recipe for a delicious chocolate trifle?? Thanks!

I really do Charlie, this is a great hit at parties.

1 cup of heath bar crunches ( it the bakery aisle)
1/2 cup of chocolate chips
1 large tub of cool whip
6 pack of snack pack chocolate pudding
1 chocolate cake mix
1/4 cup Kahlua (optional)

Make cake according to box recipe. If using Kahlua, before letting cool, cut small slits in top of cake and pour Kahlua over cake, otherwise let cool for 1/2 hour then cut into cubes about 2 inches around.

In trifle bowl, begin layering as follows:
chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, cool whip, half of the chocolate chips and half of the heath bar crunchies. Continue layer until you get to the top of the trifle bowl. You can use your imagination on the last layer and add nuts or Hershey kisses. Keep refrigerated until serving! Awesome! Let me know how it goes. Thanks.

That sounds freakin' delicious! Thanks for the idea for my sisters birthday this weekend!

I am making it too! Can't wait. Going to Market Basket right now! Do you have any recipes for an alcoholic punch? I need to make a punch type of drink for a party Saturday night, and all I have is the punch bowl. Thanks.

I have a great recipe Karen. A friend of mine's daughter used to make this all the time. It is great.

"I Did What Punch"

1 2 liter of Sierra Mist
1 bottle of Vodka-- any regular kind ( not a flavored one)
1 bottle of cheap champagne
1 2 liter of Hawaiian Punch
1 gallon of rainbow sherbet
ice

In punch bowl, put the whole gallon of rainbow sherbet, pour 4 cups of Sierra Mist, 4 cups of Hawaiian Punch, 2 cups of champagne, and as much vodka as you like. Add ice and stir. Keep cold.

Hi Hollie, love the blog, love the recipes. Can you help me? I need advice on how to approach a mother at the bus stop that dresses inappropriately. For example, wearing short skirts and bending down Britany Spears style, if you know what I mean. She's always flirting with all of the husbands even if the wives are present or not. Any help here would be great. Thanks

Oh boy. I am going to assume that she has a great body to go with the clothes and flirting. I would use that. I would suggest that you talk to her after the kids get on the bus, so as to not embarrass her or her kids. Then I might say something like, Hey "Jane", I was hoping to talk to you for a second. Mary and I think you have a fantastic figure. You must work really hard for it. We are sooo jealous. I noticed the other day when you went to kiss little Timmy good bye, your skirt rose up and some of us got a hello from "down south". We just wanted to let you know so that your aware in case you didn't know and were at the doctors or super market and bent down to get something. That would be embarrassing..hahaha.. and kind of laugh it off with her. I would hope she would get the hint at that. As for the flirting, this approach might help to quell that as well. But if it bothers you and your husband is one of the men, then I would talk to him about it. Hope this helps.

Hi Hollie,

Any ideas on how to get the grout in my bathroom clean? I tried to bleach it, it didn't work. I tried all the cleaning products in Home Depot, they didn't work. I really don't want to re-grout the whole bathroom. What do you think? My husband says the cause is fruitless..thanks

Hi Alice.

I am going to assume your grout is white since you tried to bleach it. I too have white grout in my bathroom and have tried to get it back to its original glory. I found one thing that has really worked for me besides ritualistic cleaning. It is called "Grout Bully". It is one of those As Seen On TV products. This stuff is amazing. After a good mop and dry on the bathroom floor, it took me about 45 minutes to complete with Grout Bully. It was super easy to use and the floor looks brand new. I bought it at CVS. You can get it on line too. Good Luck!

Hollie, great response to sick of it mom. I wouldn't have known what to say....Some parents are clueless..the poor kids

Hollie, I am a new transplant to this town and single. I come from Atlanta. I am a 41 year young man with a great job and am pretty self sufficient. I am looking to meet new people in Tewksbury. Actually, I am looking to meet a nice woman. Any ideas where I can go locally? I have been here for a month now and still don't know much. Thanks.

Hi and welcome to Tewksbury.

I am not sure what kind of things interest you. If sports are your thing, then the Skybox Restaurant at 553 Main Street is usually pretty packed during the Patriots games..(hopefully you have transitioned from the Falcons by now) They have a big bar with lots of TV's. If you are more laid back, the Tewksbury Public Library has a few adult things happening this month such as Fright Night at the Library, or Dinner and a movie night. You can check their upcoming calendar on line. St. Williams church as always has Bingo on Friday nights, or if you are into fitness and like to work out, then Planet Fitness or Gold's Gym are both options for you. A friend of mine suggests the produce section of Market Basket on Saturday nights... You sound really nice, I hope something pops for you. Keep me posted.

Hi Hollie, look forward to reading your blog everyday. Did you ever think of writing a cookbook? Keep your recipes coming.

Hi Mrs. D.

Thanks for reading my blog. I would love to write a cookbook someday. Thanks for the vote of confidence. Here's a good recipe for today. Thanks.

Apple Lava

1 fist size apple. Red Delicious or Courtland work great.
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp of butter melted
2 tbsp of sugar
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup of your favorite granola mix
handful of raisins (optional)

Peel and core apple.
in small bowl mix sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg
add to melted butter

in microwave safe bowl, place the apple, and pour the mixture into the middle where the core was. Microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Sprinkle your granola and raisins on top. Delicious. You can even add a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

I agree with Mrs D. I am printing out all of your recipes. I can host a party with all of them. Can't wait to try the apple. Let your "fans" know if you ever do a cookbook! Keep the recipes coming!

P.S. Love those Red Shoes also!

Who are you voting for President?

Well "not mitt", I guess we know who you are not voting for.... I knew someone was going to ask me this question. I don't have a good answer yet. I'm leaning one way more than the other, but I never make up my mind until I am in the booth. Thanks for asking.

Mitt Romney. Hands down.

Hi Hollie,

I am 17. I have a question. Is it possible to be bullied by your own family? My brother is always picking on me, making fun of me and laughing at me. We are in the same school and when other people do it, he just laughs along. He never defends me. What can I do? My parents think it is all in "good" fun... He is the football star and I am a math geek..so obviously they like him better.

Hello, I have to be honest with you, I was afraid to answer this. I want to give you advice but I also want to give you facts. Bullying can come in many different shapes and sizes. It most certainly come from famliy. I don't know what conversations you had with your parents, but it is deffinately time for a heart to heart. If this is not working, then there are other options. Schools have great guidance counselors that have been trained in bully prevention. I would ask for a meeting with yours & express your feelings to them. Ask them if they can have a meeting with you, your parents & brother together. There are some great websites available too. stopbullying.gov is a good website, & survivingbullies.org is a really informative website. It has alot of resources & has interactive websites that you can go to & chat with other kids in similar situations. If you are in Tewksbury schools, they have this brocheure available :
www.tewksbury.k12.ma.us/files/filesystem/Bullying-Prevention-Intervention-Plan-Brochure.pdf
Being able to recognize that you are being bullied is a good step foward. Now you have to do something about it. Have you spoken to your brother about this? He may think it is fun with his friends, but you are his family, his brother, his blood, you will always be there for him no matter what, through thick & thin, you are bound by a tie greater than any friend of his will ever know. Maybe your brother needs to be reminded of that. Shame on him.

Hollie, well said.

I love this new blog. I have to say it makes for great reading. I have a question for you. What do you think is an appropriate gift for my neighbor who is recovering from knee surgery? He is going to be housebound for a few weeks. His wife says he needs nothing, but I still want to get something..any advice?

Good morning. Thanks for reading the blog. I think its nice that you want to get a gift for your friend. House bound can get pretty boring. You could always volunteer to bring over some dinner and stay for a while to chat with him. I'm sure the opportunity to have conversation with someone new would be welcome. Otherwise, a new book on say a topic he might be interested in, like maybe golf, or football, or a new mystery would be nice too.

Hi hollie,

New mom here, any ideas on how to clean my sons toys? His rattles and small stuffed animals that he drops on the ground all the time? Everyone tells me to wash them with bleach, but then they smell of it for so long afterwards. Then I feel guilty letting him put them in his mouth. He is 8 months old. thanks.

Congratulations on being a new mom. I have 2 kids and know a great trick to cleaning the toys. Get a pillowcase and put the toys in it. Close the pillowcase using a scrunchie or hair elastic. Toss in the washing machine ( I usually do this with my towel load) Launder as usual on hot water setting. Do not put in dryer, let air dry.

Hi Hollie, I just want to thank you for your help. I am looking foward to an event I found from the library. I am also checking out the gym this weekend. Not sure if I am ready to be a Pats fan yet..Atlanta has always been my team, but I might check out the Skybox incognito. Thanks again and I like the blog, you should have a newspaper column.

Hi Hollie,

Any recipies for steak tip marinade?

Good Evening John,
This is great, try this. Its really good, but remember to mariante in fridge for at least 48 hrs.

2-3 lbs steak tips ( I bang them a little with a mallet to tenderize them first)
1 tsp salt
1 regular size bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's original BBQ sauce
1 jar of the red ah-so sauce
1/2 cup Coke
mix all ingredients together. Put steak tips in a large zip lock bag. Pour marinade over tips and "massage" it all over the tips. Leave in fridge until one hour before use. Happy grilling!

p.s. if you rub a little vegetable oil on the grill racks before putting the tips on, it will help prevent the tips and marinade from sticking.

John, you could have just shared your recipe with us instead of asking a Q and then answering it..your name comes up....random...

but, the recipe looks good

Hi Hollie

any recipes for baked lasagna.. thanks.

Here is a simple recipe. I call it Nico's Lasagna..Hope you enjoy it.

1 box of "no boil" lasagne
1 2lb tub of ricotta cheese
2 lbs hamburger meat
2 eggs
2 tblsp of grated cheese
1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper
1 large bag of mozzarella cheese
1 jar of favorite sauce

preheat oven to 350. brown hamburger meat and drain excess grease. In large bowl mix ricotta cheese, eggs, grated cheese, salt and pepper. In 9 x 13 pan, layer as follows:
macaroni, hamburger meat, sauce, ricotta mix, mozarella cheese. Do this twice or until you reach the top of the pan. The last layer should be the mozzarella cheese. Cover with tin foil and bake for 45 minutes. Take tin foil off and cook for 10 more minutes to brown cheese. Let sit for 5 full minutes before cutting. Serve with warm garlic bread! Awesome!