I Am All For Cloning

Are you in favor of cloning?

Last Friday my husband and I actually got out of the house for a date night. It had been so long since our last date that I think we were a bit out of practice. It took us so long to decide on where to eat that most every restaurant was closed, and we were forced, instead, to settle for whatever was still open (We said a little prayer that we would find something besides just a Denny's or Shari's). The lights were still on at the Olive Garden. I don't think we have eaten at an Olive Garden in the last 5 years, simply because we live in Seattle and there are so many fantastic places to eat that we consider it a culinary sin to eat at chain restaurants. The appetizer was good (calamari and stuffed mushrooms), and I've always loved their salad, but the bread sticks weren't as heavenly as I remembered them. They tasted like Rhodes frozen rolls and not Italian in any way. The main course was very sad for both my husband and I, reminding me of the scene in European Vacation where the french waiters just dumpo out T.V. dinners and stick little flags in them, so we had no problem with saving room for dessert. Now, as a rule, I don't usually order a dessert, just because they are so expensive and I'm rarely impressed... and I think I make pretty good dessert at home anyway. But then there was the picture:

(Photo snitched from the Olive Garden website)

It looked good, it looked new, it looked unlike the regular restaurant sweets, and I had to try it. It was good! It was good enough that I was already contemplating going back to the O.G. again just for a slice. UNLESS, that is, I could find a way to make it at home. This is the part where I express my undying gratitude to clone recipe web sites. I found a clone copy at the Recipe Zaar (click here for recipe) and we made it for dessert/Family Home Evening treat. I highly suggest you try this one. It is especially good if a bit frozen so I like to stick it in the freezer about 10 minutes before serving.

One slice of cake at Olive garden = $6.25

Twelve slices of cake at home = $6.25 (most expensive item was the whipping cream)

Yup, I am a full supporter of cloning... just keep the sheep out of it.