DIRT CAKE

DIRT CAKE

(Serves 10 to 12)
Ingredients:
1 medium-size flower pot (about 8 inches in diameter works well,or use two small pots about 6 inches in diameter)
1 garden trowel
3 large gummy or plastic worms (optional [optional? no way!])
Plastic flowers
1 16-ounce bag Oreo cookies
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 4-serving-size boxes instant chocolate-fudge flavor pudding
[a penciled-in note on the recipe claims vanilla is better]
3 cups milk
1 12-ounce tub whipped topping, thawed
Instructions:
Crush cookies until they resemble potting soil, set aside. Cream butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Set aside. Combine pudding mix and milk until well blended, then fold in the whipped topping. Gently fold cream cheese and pudding mixtures together.
To put the cake together, layer 1/3 of the cookie crumbs followed by 1/2 the pudding mixture, 1/3/ of the crumbs, the rest of the pudding mixture and topping with the remaining cookie crumbs. Refrigerate 10 to 12 hours. About 1/2 hour before serving, remove from refrigerator and decorate with flowers. Serve by digging out portions with the trowel.