Orange Dream Layered Squares

Ugh, I've got a major pinover this morning! Or pinterestover? Ok, how about we just call it a Pinterest hangover and be done with it! You know how that goes... it's almost bedtime, you're a little bored, you don't want to start a new episode of something or put a movie in because you know you need to snooze soon.

So what do you do? Get on the computer. Maybe surf Facebook or Imgur. The Cheezeburger Network? You can haz! Next thing you know it's a good couple hours past your bedtime and you've got a zillion Pinterest tabs open of things you want to check out before you commit to pinning!

Don't deny it - this happens to you, too! And now here we sit the next morning, ready to nod off because we got to bed too late. Oooh Pinterest, what have you done to us?!

If there's one thing you should know about me, you should know that nothing ever goes right for me. Every time I attempt practically anything new, there are all sorts of hiccups. I've flooded glass-top stoves with Hamburger Helper boil over, dented metal pan lids by running cold water over hot pans, creating a vacuum. I've tried to improvise when I didn't have any mixing bowls by using the biggest Pyrex dish I had, resulting in whipped cream and cream cheese all over the counter backsplash and my own chest. I've tried to split up room temperature crescent rolls, pour Yorkshire pudding mix into a too full muffin tin of boiling oil, and even managed to somehow ruin pre-made sugar cookie mix.

So, as you can imagine, I get pretty excited and proud of myself when something goes according to plans! I've made the following dessert a couple times and it's been a hit! It's easy peasy (perfect for ME!), quick, and scrumptious! Who doesn't like orange creamsicles?!

Orange Dream Layered Squares (original pin)

• 6 graham crackers (I prefer honey), finely crushed
• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 3oz pkg orange flavor Jell-O
• 1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened and divided
• 1 8oz tub thawed whipped cream, divided
• 1/2 cup cold milk
• 1 3.4oz pkg vanilla instant pudding
• 1 tsp orange zest (I did not include)

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter; press onto bottom of 8-inch square pan. Refrigerate while preparing rest of recipe.
2. Microwave orange juice in a microwavable measuring cup on HIGH 1 min. Add to orange Jell-O mix in small bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved.
3. Gradually add juice/Jell-O mix to half the cream cheese in medium bowl, beating with mixer after each addition until blended.
4. Whisk in 1 cup whipped cream; spread over crust. Freeze while preparing next layer.
5. Beat remaining cream cheese and milk in separate medium bowl until blended. Add dry pudding mix; beat 2 min. Stir in remaining whipped cream and zest; spread over gelatin layer. Refrigerate 3 hours.

Theirs

Mine

Not as gorgeous, of course, but when does it ever work out that way? I thought it was quite presentable for not being done by a professional and not perfected for photos! What's even better is that there were only four of us at dinner that night and I only went home with three pieces left!

The best thing about nailing a new recipe on the first try? My boyfriend exclaiming, "Call the Food Network and get this girl a show!!" ♥