Scrumptious Junk Food Recipes

I’m a pretty healthy eater. However, even the strictest diets need a little junk food now and then. Next time you want to “cheat” and gobble up something full of preservatives, follow one of these recipes and make a junk food masterpiece! Check these out, and more, on food.com *hyperlink*

Candy Bar Pie

Serves: 8 (yields one pie)

What you’ll need:

• 1 graham cracker pie crust
• 1 (12-16 ounce) container Cool Whip
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 6 candy bars (choose something that can be crushed easily – Butterfinger, Heath, etc.)

Directions:

1. Crush five of the candy bars.
2. Combine Cool Whip, cream cheese and candy bars.
3. Mix well.
4. Place mixture in graham cracker crust.
5. Crush the remaining candy bar and use for topping.
6. Chill until firm (approximately 20-30 minutes).

Note: With this recipe, try not to use Light Cool Whip or fat free cream cheese unless you can chill the pie overnight, it has a tendency to make the pie run (even after it has chilled overnight). However, you can use regular whipped cream and reduced fat cream cheese.

Onion Ring Casserole

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients:

• 20 ounces frozen onion rings (the minced onion version)
• 13 3/4 ounces condensed cheddar cheese soup (this isn’t really soup, but you can find it in the soup aisle – I have only seen Missoula stores carry the Campbell’s brand).
• 7 ounces diced mild green chilies
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic (or two fresh minced cloves)
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 3 tablespoons dry white wine (you can also use 3 tablespoons of beer or milk)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups mild, medium or sharp cheddar cheese – whichever you prefer

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease large casserole baking dish.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cheddar “soup”, chilies, garlic, beaten eggs, wine/beer/milk, sour cream, salt and pepper, and stir well to incorporate.
4. Place about 1/2 cup of the mixture on the bottom of the sprayed casserole dish.
5. Place one layer of onion rings on the bottom of the dish. Then a second layer on top of the first, overlapping where the rings touch each other (sort of like how the Olympic rings overlap).
6. Pour half of the remaining cheese mixture over the ring layers.
7. Add another two layers of onion rings, continuing with the overlapping.
8. Pour the remaining cheese mixture over the top, using a rubber spatula to try to cover as much of the rings as you can.
9. Top with shredded cheddar cheese.
10. Cover with casserole lid and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden.

Note: You can add more ingredients if you are planning on making this more of a main dish. For example, browned ground beef, hash browns, or o’brien potatoes. This is also delicious with veggies, such as green beans or corn.

Pop Tart Trifle

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients:

• 6 Kellogg strawberry Pop Tarts
• 2 (17 1/2 ounce) cans prepared vanilla pudding
• 1 (10 ounce) carton frozen strawberries, defrosted
• Fresh strawberries, to garnish
• Whipped cream, to garnish

Directions:

1. In a trifle dish or clear round glass bowl, crumble two Pop Tarts.
2. Spread one can of vanilla pudding evenly over crumbled Pop Tarts.
3. Top with two more Pop Tarts.
4. Cover with 1/2 of the defrosted strawberries.
5. Top strawberry layer with the second can of pudding, then the remaining strawberries, and crumble last two pop tarts over that.
6. Garnish with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.
7. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Note: These can also be made in parfait glasses using a lesser amount of ingredients.

Mountain Dew Apple Dumplings

Serves: 16

Ingredients:

• 2 (8 ounce) cans crescent rolls
• 3-4 tart apples (I prefer Granny Smith apples)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 (12 ounce) can Mountain Dew soda

Directions:

1. Spray a 13x9 baking dish or pan.
2. Peel and slice apples into 16 pieces.
3. Roll each apple slice in one section of each crescent roll.
4. Place rolled slices in the pan in two rows. Put extras along the sides of the pan.
5. Melt butter, and add cinnamon and sugar. Then pour the mixture over the apples.
6. Pour can of Mountain Dew over everything.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
8. Serve with warm vanilla ice cream.

Like I said, check out the website for even more junk food recipes. These are the recipes that I, myself, have tried and they are delicious. The best part about these simple recipes is that they are so much fun, that the whole family will want to help. Have fun and enjoy!