Thursday, March 27, 2008

Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice....

With April 1st approaching, I've been searching the web for some meal ideas as we have made it a tradition to do a special April Fools Day dinner where the main course is the dessert and the dessert is the main course. Let me start by saying that no matter how funny it is, the meal has to be edible and somewhat aesthetically pleasing, meaning it can't gross me out too much otherwise I lose my appetite. There are ideas out there like kitty litter cake or dog food meals and I have to tell you, that just doesn't appeal to me. I'm sorry I can't bring myself to eat it, even if it is yummy. Well I will show you what we did last year.

This was our "dessert" last year (ok, and every year before that), the Meatloaf and Mashed Potato Cake! I use this meatloaf recipe and whip up some mashed potatoes seasoned with the favorites (butter, sour cream, garlic, salt) and basically assemble it as if I would a cake. The meatloaf is separated into two pans for a double layer cake and the frosting is separated and dyed with food coloring for some fun decorating options. Last year I tried to make it look more Easterish by hiding pink/purple eggs in grass, which was fresh cut chives from our backyard. At this meal, Aedan's cousin was badly fooled into thinking she was going to have some cake for dinner and she was sorely disappointed that it didn't taste right.


Last year we had Neal's sister and her family over for the festivities and they brought the "main course", a Brownie T-bone Steak, with fat (mint glaze) and all! It was pretty impressive although many of us just couldn't bring ourselves to eat the fat straight up. But it was very yummy altogether. Well done!


So I was looking ahead for this year's meal and I figured I might as well share my research with you. I have included pictures as it is fun to see and sometimes hard to believe. Just click on the link below each picture to find instructions/recipes for assembling these fabulous April Fools meal ideas:


Chicken Nuggets and Vegetables (candy) and Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy (ice cream) I've also made the juice "beverage" which is just jello in a cup with a straw set in it but I didn't have a picture. I disguise it even more by putting a lemon or lime slice on the rim of the glass. Neal fell for this one a couple years ago.


Hamburger Cookies!


Candy and Rice Krispie Sushi!

This and the next one don't have recipes for as I think you have to have some special machine to make them but they are good for ideas. This above is asparagus ice cream with two eggs which seem to be just whipped cream and a half canned peach.
This spaghetti ice cream comes with a strawberry topping. I did something similar to this years ago where I had a slice of pound cake covered with piped frosting to resemble the noodles and topped with strawberry topping, malt balls for meatballs, and white chocolate shavings for the cheese. It was too rich.

8 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh. Too clever. Matt is totally toast... Our first kiss was on April's Fools Day, and then next day, Matt tried taking it back. I've been looking for a good way to get him back ever since!

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  2. You always have to coolest ideas! You are my hero! When I grow up, I want to be Jackie kit-Chan! :)

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  3. I wish I could call it my own ideas but alas, my creative abilities are being able to find other peoples creative ideas... that said, I noticed all my new ideas were sweets and I need to think of a dinner disguised as a dessert idea... hhmmm...

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  4. WOW!! That is a cool idea. Maybe I should try it sometime. I can't believe how real those meals looks when they are really the opposite. More power to you. Maybe I should start being more festive with my holidays. I generally look at the day as just another day.
    Keep up the good work

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  5. I love this tradition of yours. I also love the design of your website. But then again what else could I expect from you but something really cool.

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  6. Hah, sooo fun. I think I'm trying something new this year. BTW, I tagged you on my blog. Could you drop me an email? spackysgirl AT hotmail DOT com

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  7. I love the ideas! I have only played 1 april fools joke on David (I took the shower head off and put kool-aid inside and screwed it back on), but he apparently always tests the water and didn't get sprayed..argh. This year is the year!!!

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  8. This is clearly Why Neal lucked out to marry Jackie. All I ever made him for April fool's day was a big mess in his apartment, including Crisco on the doorknobs. Neal knew if he waited around he'd get the REAL THING. You're my hero, Jackie! If we weren't going to be driving across the country on April fool's this year, I'd try the Mashed Potato cake. (and probably fail miserably--you always make it look so easy!). Sherdon hates meatloaf anyway, so I guess it wouldn't matter.

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