Prize Winner

Every year, my husband's department has this symposium day, where they go all out with a theme, play some games, eat yummy catered food, have a guest speaker, and indulge on various desserts and choose whose is the best. This year, Jon had to get creative when picking the recipe because it wasn't a guarantee that our oven would be fixed in time. . . and sure enough, it wasn't.

A few years ago, Jon's aunt brought this yummy éclair dessert to a family gathering that was made with graham crackers and pudding. . . we had no idea that graham crackers were the choice ingredient until we saw the recipe. . . we thought it was cake! I have since made it for a MOPS dessert once and for something else, but it had been awhile since I had made it.

So, we decided on this recipe. Unfortunately, I had lost the recipe that his aunt sent me, but found it easy enough online (allrecipes.com is awesome!).

Jon took the finished dessert to work and came home with a completely empty pan and a gift card to Starbucks. Apparently, the dessert tied for first place! Yeah for the simplicity of this dessert and the fact that I was not expecting to win anything.

Needless to say, if you are looking for a quick and easy dessert that will NOT heat up your house during these hot summer months. . . this is the dessert for you!

Chocolate Éclair Dessert

(Jon's aunt/allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

• 2 individual packages graham crackers
• 2 (3 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3 cups milk
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (16 ounce) package prepared chocolate frosting

Directions:

Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan with graham crackers. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Stir well. Stir in whipped topping to pudding mixture. Spread half of mixture over graham cracker layer. Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding. Top all with a final layer of graham crackers and frost with chocolate frosting. Refrigerate until serving.