Tantalizing Thursday-RITZ Triple-layer Chocolate Pie

Welcome to Tantalizing Thursday on Chief 187™Chatter. With the holidays far behind us and the influx of television commercials telling us we’re in need of losing weight I find this time of year to be a bit of a turn off. Yes, holiday eating spirals out of control, but counting points, eating special meals that are smaller than a deck of cards, and refraining from eating anything remotely tasty is depressing and, quite frankly, ridiculous! Like all things, moderation is key! If you like a certain food, indulge in some. Eating less and exercising is how one loses weight, not be denying yourself food, eating cereal twice a day every day, or ingesting diet shakes. Real food, prepared with healthy ingredients and flavored with great condiments is how to nourish your body and your palate. With a commitment to eating well and healthy and daily exercise, occasional treats are allowed.

While strolling through my local grocery store with the children the other day I stumbled

across a sale on Limited Edition Fudge Covered Ritz. Certainly not a diet food, these confections were on sale 2 boxes for $4, a deep discount. Curious, I picked up two boxes. Discovering a recipe on the back of the box, I scrambled to pick up two more. If they have any more boxes when I return to the store on Friday I’m picking them up; these not only taste divine, are rich enough to satisfy a sweet tooth without over-indulgence, and speak to a love of

salty and crispy, the recipe looks sublime! I am including the recipe below. Although I haven’t tried this recipe yet, I plan to and soon. With the ingredients involved I cannot believe my family and I won’t love it instantly! I hope you and yours do, too! Even if you cannot find this product in your stores anymore, either make your own version or file this recipe away until next holiday season when it will be back in the stores!

RITZ Triple-layer Chocolate Pie
Recipe by Nabisco/RITZ on the box



Ingredients:

23 RITZ fudge covered crackers, divided
2 pkg (3.9oz each) JELL-O chocolate instant pudding
2 c cold milk
8 oz COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed , divided
6 Strawberries



Directions:

1. Break 8 crackers into coarse crumbs, place in 9 inch pie plate. Stand 12 crackers around the edge.
2
Beat pudding and milk with whisk 2 min. ( pudding will be thick) Carefully spread 1 1/2 cups pudding over crust, Stir 1 1/2 cups COOL WHIP with remaining pudding, spoon over pie. Refrigerate for 3 hours and top with remaining coolwhip, berries and remaining crackers ( cut the crackers in half.)

I searched for an interminable time to find the actual picture of the pie shown on the box to no avail. The picture above is in the same vein, but the recipe would utilize the crackers and fresh strawberries. Don't be discouraged without a picture. The recipe will be brilliant even with substitutions!

This pie says it serves twelve. I’d guess it will serve 8 much more satisfactorily. Have a dinner party or, if asked to dinner at a friend’s house, serve this gorgeous, scrumptious masterpiece. Put it out on the football play-off buffet or the Daytona 500 Party! If you share your sweets you can still enjoy them but you don’t have to eat them all by yourself!

Please join me tomorrow for the Friday Music Blog on Chief 187™Chatter.