Carbohydrate Friday!

I’ve been tasked with dessert for the annual 4th party this year adn rather than a traditional and geeky patriotic red, white and blue dessert, I think I’ll make this one instead. Considering it had my mouth watering the instant I saw it and it calls for “instant” ingredients making it ridiculously easy, I’m pretty much smitten.

Happy fireworks everybody!

BETTER THAN ROBERT REDFORD DESSERT
photo and recipe via Noble Pig – adapted from Family Circle

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, plus more for top of cake
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar (not granulated, as is mistakenly shown in the picture)
1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
4 cups milk
2 boxes (3.4 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding
2 boxes (3.4 ounces each) instant chocolate pudding
Chocolate, milk or dark to make chocolate shavings

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a medium-size bowl, mix flour, walnuts and butter. Pat into prepared dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool completely.
3. In a bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar until smooth. Fold in half of the whipped topping. Spread over cooled crust.
4. Prepare vanilla pudding using 2 cups of the milk. Spread over cream cheese layer. Prepare chocolate pudding with remaining 2 cups milk. Spread over the vanilla pudding layer. Spread remaining whipped topping over pudding. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate shavings. Cut into squares.

Change.

Today is an important day and it’s been a long time coming. So what better way to celebrate the inauguration than with one of the hundreds of items commemorating the event?

Sold exclusively at Uncommon Goods, the Official Ballot Wall Art is a limited edition piece from the November 4, 2008 presidential election. This oversized voting ballot was printed specifically for the old-fashioned, pull-lever voting machines used in New York City. These hulking gray machines have been in commission since 1962 and after 46 years of service, are slated to go into retirement this year.

Handsomely framed in black ash wood and protected by plexiglass, each ballot is a piece of history and a reminder that anything is possible in America. Each framed print includes a certificate of authenticity and ten dollars from each sale will be donated to the Fund for Public Schools.

Number 44

Just in case your invitation to the Inaugural Ball got lost in the mail (I’m convinced mine did), don’t fret, you can still do some celebrating on your own. If you live in New York City, head on over to Can & Did: Graphics, Art, and Photography from the Obama Campaign. The exhibition opens January 20 and runs through February 28th at Danziger Projects, located at 521 West 26th Street. The designers and artists in the show include Michael Bierut, Shepard Fairey, Jonathan Hoefler, Robert Indiana, Annie Leibowitz, Mr. Brainwash, Paula Scher, Lance Wyman and plenty more.