Pani Popo: Cheater's Choice

My husband isn't big on sweets, but he does love his Samoan Pani Popo. Pani Popo is a dessert dish in his native Samoa and as we were hosting a Samoan dinner last night I prepared this for dessert.

As I'm far from a slave to my kitchen I made Pani Popo in my Cheater's Choice style.  Normally you would prepare a batch of white bread dough and roll into 12 rolls.  Being the cheater that I am, I purchased frozen Rhode's Rolls.

Pani Popo

12 rolls (frozen or homemade)

1 can coconut milk

1 cup sugar

Lay 12 rolls to rise in greased 9x13 pan.

Just before baking, combine coconut milk and sugar.

Pour mixture over raw dough.

Bake 15-20 minutes at 350, until top of rolls are golden brown.

Serve up and enjoy this Samoan treat.

Strawberry Trifle: Cheater's Choice

I love Summer for so many reasons! One of my favorite things of Summer is all of the light, fruity desserts. Nothing beats a fresh fruit trifle on a warm summer evening.

This is another Cheater's Choice. It's really simple to throw together and is a great take-along to a group BBQ or family dinner.

Strawberry Trifle: Cheater's Choice
1 yellow cake mix box
1 tub strawberries
3/4 c sugar
1 8oz container whipped topping

Bake cake according to directions.  Let cool.  Cut into 1 inch cubes.
Slice strawberries.  Stir in sugar.  Chill in refridgerator for 2 hours.

In glass bowl layers cake cubs, strawberries, whipped topping.  Repeat.

Chill 2 hours before serving.

Boston Cream Pies: Cheater's Choice

I was looking through my cupcake book the other day and decided that I wanted to try out making cupcake style Boston Cream Pie. I soon figured out that I didn't have enough time to make everything from scratch so I figured out my own cheater's way of doing it. So simple and satisfying.

Bostom Cream Pies: Cheater's Choice
1 box vanilla cake mix
1 box vanilla instant pudding
6 oz chocolate chip pieces

Prepare cake mix into 24 cupcakes
Prepare vanilla instant pudding
After cupcakes are cooled, cut in half with serrated knife
Spoon 1 Tbsp pudding onto each bottom half
Top with top half of cupcake
Melt chocolate chips and spoon onto top of cupcakes
Chill

See...simple!