Chocolate "Thang"

There are some people that are just cheerleaders. My husband"s Granny Vi was one of those. She was a happy lady with tons of charm and grace.

She went home to be with the Lord Wednesday morning at the age of 95.

There were two things that this fun, gracious lady always said.

"That is the cutest baby I have ever seen." 
This is what she said at the birth of my oldest.

I thought he was the cutest baby too, so it didn't occur to me that it wasn't true. 

When my husband's cousin had his first baby I heard her say.

"That is the cutest baby I have ever seen." 

All the babies were the cutest thing. He was the cutest but so were all the other great grandbabies.
 And isn't that how it should be?

The other thing she said over and over concerned food.

Vi was a healthy eater at our little family get togethers.

She was not at all shy around food. 

When she was finished she always said "Hmmm hmmm hmmm. That was so good!" "I couldn't eat another bite." " I'm so full!!" (Of course she could and she did when she went back for seconds.)
Our favorite family lunches were always brisket, potato salad and Ranch Style beans.
But, I will always remember her signature dessert.

Her assigned dessert to bring to our family Sunday lunches was 
Chocolate "Thang".

I have heard this layered dish referred to 
Chocolate Ecstasy

Layered Dessert.

Four Layered Pudding

Heavenly Layered Pudding Dessert

By now you have used your amazing power of deduction to realize 
this dessert is layered.

I have eaten it many times at family gatherings but also at church socials.

(Although in recent years, I've noticed very little potluck food is actually homemade anymore.) Too bad!

Vi either didn't know the name or she just didn't care to 
call it Four Layered Dessert.

She called it "Chocolate Thang". 
When we said it we all had varying degrees of emphasis on "Thang" 
Here is what you will need.
1 1/2 cups flour

1 1//2 sticks butter

1/2 cup pecans or to taste
1Tablespoon confectioner"s sugar
Press into a greased 9x 13 pan and bake at 350 for 25 minutes

Allow this to cool completely.

Stir together 1 package cream cheese

1 confectioner's sugar

Spread over cooled layer.
(If you want this cheesier, increase cream cheese and sugar by a half of a cup.

Beat together 3 cups milk and 2 small packages of instant chocolate pudding.

Spread over cream cheese layer.

Dress the top with an 8 oz. container of Cool Whip. Sprinkle with chocolate curls.

I was a little sad that I could not make the cute curls like Vi did. So, I just chopped up some Hersey's Chocolate bar.

Refrigerate overnight.

We will have this for a Sunday lunch in celebration of Vi's life and home going. 
I will miss her quick wit and southern charm.
I loved that she was always perfectly dressed with her little pant suits, 
blinged out with her diamonds from her dear husband.
We are going to miss her!
Sprinkled with thoughts of Vi,

Katie