No Bake Chocolate Cream Pie

My girls LUUUV a no bake chocolate pie. They volunteer to make it every Thanksgiving and definitely would make it more often if we had Jell-O pudding on hand! I saw this recipe on Six Sisters Stuff and knew my girls had to try it for this Thanksgiving coming up. I'll post a picture and give a review as soon as they make it!

No Bake Chocolate Cream Pie
3 ounces cream cheese softened
2 Tablespoons sugar
1¾ cups milk divided
8 ounces Cool Whip Whipped Topping 1 container, divided
1 Oreo Cookie Pre Made Pie Crust (9 inches)
3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix 1 package
mini chocolate chips optional

Instructions
In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and 1 Tablespoon milk until smooth (I used an electric mixer, but you could also do it by hand).
Fold in 1 cup Cool-Whip topping and mix well.
Spread mixture evenly into the bottom of the crust.
In another mixing bowl, whisk pudding mix and remaining milk for 2 minutes.
Let pudding stand for 2-3 minutes or until it is soft-set (just barely setting up).
Gently spoon pudding mixture on top of cream cheese mixture and spread carefully.
Place in the fridge until set (1-2 hours or longer if needed).
Just before serving, top with remaining Cool Whip topping and mini chocolate chips (if using).

Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup

My attempt at a Zupa's dupe. I read the ingredients listed on Zupa's menu and cross referenced that with several self proclaimed "copycat" recipes I found through Google and came up with a cross breed (for the lack of a better word!)

It was good. My youngest (extremely picky 10 year old) claimed this is her favorite soup. My oldest, 19 - described it as "good like mashed potatoes" whatever that means. Admittedly, the texture was off a bit - a subtle hint to my husband about just how much I would love a Vitamix :)

Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup

1 small yellow onion diced (I use frozen)
6 c cauliflower florets (again frozen)

3 cups chicken broth
2 c sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 c pepper jack cheese, shredded
8 oz whipped cream cheese
4 tsp garlic powder to taste
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp mustard powder 
Salt & Pepper ALL along the way
2 pints heavy cream

Add a pat of butter or 1 Tbsp oil to a dutch oven. Add diced onions and sautee for a minute or two. Add cauliflower and chicken broth, salt and pepper. Simmer with the lid on for 15 minutes. 

Use an immersion blender, stand blender or Nutribullet to blend everything into the texture you desire. I used my immersion blender but didn't achieve the texture I wanted. I then used my Nutribullet and blended the soup in small batches.

Add cream cheese, pepper jack and cheddar one by one letting each melt into the soup before adding the next. Add all other seasonings - tasting as you go. Season, let simmer for about 5 minutes before tasting and seasoning again if needed. 

The soup will be thicker than you would like it to be. Add heavy cream one pint at a time (allowing the soup to come back up to temperature before adding the second - if wanted). 

Serve with shredded cheese and bacon bits - YUM!