Perfect Chocolate Cake

I'm going Visiting Teaching this morning...and my visiting teach-ee is having a birthday.  I quickly whipped these up to take to her in celebration of her birthday.  I love this recipe.  It's EASY and SO GOOD and MOIST!  Don't be afraid.  Let go of the box mixes and try this.  I used a homemade vanilla frosting as well. It's a good combination.

Ingredients:

2 c sugar

1 3/4 c flour

3/4 c cocoa powder

1 1/2 t bp

1 1/2 t bs

1 t salt

2 eggs

1 c milk

1/2 c oil

2 t vanilla extract

1 c boiling water

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 2 9inch pans or line cupcake pans with paper.  Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, bp, bs and salt in large bowl.  Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla.  Beat on medium speed of mixer for 2 minutes.  Stir in boiling water.  (batter will be thin)  Pour batter into pans.  Bake 30-35 minutes for cake, 15 or so for cupcakes.

Bon Bon

Chocolate Mint Brownies

This is my all time favorite crowd dessert! I'm sharing the recipe courtesy of Chef Oh-La-La, but since she lost her copy, and has never made it, I'm claiming all rights, privilegs and comments. I double the recipe, and use a cookie sheet. I've only used cocoa in the brownie layer. The picture's kind of washed out, for this I apologize, but it's better than none! Chef 'gas

Brownie Layer:
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. sugar
4 sq. unsweetened chocolate or 3/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. butter
1 c. flour (scant)
3/4 c. walnuts

Beat eggs until fluffy, add sugar and vanilla and beat. If cocoa, mix in with butter. If chocolate, melt with butter and then add in. Add flour (and nuts). Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake 375 for 20 minutes. Cool in pan.

Middle Layer Frosting:
2 c. powdered sugar
4 T. butter
drop peppermint oil
1-2 drops green food coloring

Melt butter and add remaining ingredients. Frost brownies and chill for one hour.

Top Layer:
4 T. butter
6 oz. chocolate chips

Melt the two together and pour over the top. Chill and cut into squares.

White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

Oooooh, La la.

(Heaven!)

Preheat oven to 375.

Cream together:

1 cup butter flavor crisco

1 cup butter (I use unsalted)

1 cup granulated sugar

2 cups brown sugar

Add:

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

Mix following dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture:

2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

5 cups flour (just about 1/8 of a cup short of 5 cups is what I use)

Finally, add the following just until mixed:

one package classic white chips (11 oz)

one bag macadamia nuts (8 oz or 2 cups)

Scoop medium size balls of dough onto UNGREASED baking sheet.

Bake 9 minutes (really! they might not look quite done, but they are)

Allow to cool one minute on pan, and then lift by spatula onto foil lined counter top to cool.

Makes MANY cookies (we eat them so fast, I've never counted).

Once cooled, store in airtight container up to a week, or freeze longer.

DUMP CAKE

Sounds delicious?!? So quick and easy...

Filling options:

1 can cherry pie filling, plus 1 can drained pineapple
-OR-
2 cans apple pie filling
-OR-
2 cans peaches, drained
Etc...

Topping:
1 package yellow or white cake mix
1 cup butter
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Place filling in bottom of greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over fruit. Sprinkle on nuts if desired. Slice butter and scatter on top, or melt and drizzle over top.

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes. Top with ice cream and/or whipped cream.

Enjoy! ~GG~

Lemon Bars

Naborhood Bakery Sunkist Lemon Bars

Crust:
2 cup flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter
Press crust into un-greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Filling:
4 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup lemon juice
Pour filling over crust and bake an additional 20 minutes. Cool completely and drizzle with glaze.
Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 Tbs. lemon juice

I took this from my friends blog. I have yet to make them, but they sound really good and easy...TRULY!

Mexican Chocolate Cake

Mexican Chocolate Cake

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

6 Tbsp cocoa powder

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper(mix ingredients together)

Add:

1/2 cup canola oil

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tsp Mexican vanilla

2 tsp vinegar

2 cups cold water

Mix well.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes makes two basic circular cakes.

Layer adding chocolate sauce

(as follows)

1 cup semi sweet chocolates

1/4 canola oilor

1/4 heavy whipping cream

add strawberries and cream!

TRULY

APPLE CRISP

APPLE CRISP

INGREDIENTS

3 1/2 pounds apples - peeled, cored and sliced
(i do about 5 BIG apples. and slice them thick)

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 packets instant maple and brown sugar oatmeal
(sometimes I'll use apple and cinnamon oatmeal or one or two of each. YUM)

1 pinch salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (i don't do this part)

1/4 cup maple syrup

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350Place apples in a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar.

Stir in flour, instant oatmeal and salt. Fold in walnuts.

Sprinkle oatmeal mixture evenly over apples.

Drizzle with maple syrup.

Bake in preheated oven 50 to 70 minutes, until apples are tender and topping is golden.
I top with ice cream (of course) and then hot caramel topping.
(i actually think this is too long, makes the apples too soft. So I do 40-45min)

MUCH LOVE, Truly

Fall Favorite!

Pumpkin Bars

4 large eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

1 can (16 oz.) pumpkin

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Heat oven to 350. Spray 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch baking sheet. Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until light brown.

Cool completely, then frost with:

Cream Cheese Frosting

6 oz. softened cream cheese

2/3 cup butter

2 tsp. vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar

Mix cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth.

Sometimes I also like to top them with walnuts. Yummy!

Love, GG

Death by Caramel Bars

I cannot take credit for these delicious delights but couldn't resist passing them onto you either. I think everyone needs to have a little bit of these in their life. I'd make them daily if I could. You'll find the great recipe here along with fabulous step by step directions....http://stiesthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/05/death-by-caramel-bars.html. Go buy your ingredients NOW, these must not be put off. Go I tell you...NOW! Enjoy. BON BON

Sunshine Cake

Sunshine Cake

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1 white cake mix

1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges with juice

4 eggs

1/2 cup oil

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all together and bake in 9 X 13 cake pan (or 2 round pans for a layered cake) for 25 minutes or until cake is done. Cool cake completely before icing it.

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Icing:

1 large box instant vanilla pudding

1 small/medium can crushed pineapple, chilled

8 oz cool whip

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Mix pudding and pineapple together. Fold in cool whip and ice on cooled cake (if making a layered cake, using icing in between layers)Yummmmmm!!

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BON BON

Cool and Easy Strawberry Pie

Cool 'N Easy Strawberry Pie
Ingredients
2/3 cup boiling water
1 pkg. (4-serving size) Jell-O Brand Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
ice cubes
1/2 cup cold water
1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip Whipped Topping, thawed
1 cup chopped fresh strawberries
1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.)
1 cup sliced strawberriesDirections
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STIR boiling water into dry gelatin mix in large bowl at least 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice to cold water to measure 1 cup. Add to gelatin; stir until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice. ADD whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended. Stir in chopped strawberries. Refrigerate 20 to 30 min. or until mixture is very thick and will mound. Spoon into crust. REFRIGERATE 6 hours or overnight until firm. Top with sliced strawberries. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

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BON BON

Apple Dumplings

2 Granny Smith apples

2 cans crescent rolls

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoons vanilla

cinnamon

1 small can Mountain Dew
Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.
I took this from my friend Emily. She says they're YUMMY. I have the supplies and plan to make them this weekend. I thought they looked SCRUMPTIOUS!

Truly.

To DIE for Vanilla Cake

To Die For Vanilla Cake

1 box white cake mix1 (3 oz.)

box instant vanilla pudding

2 c. sour cream

5 eggs

1 c. melted butter

1 t. vanilla

2 c. white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350° F.In a large bowl, beat first 6 ingredients until well blended. Mixture will be thick. Stir in white chocolate chips. Pour into greased bundt pan. Bake at 350° F. for 55 - 60 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with a glaze.

BON BON

Buttermilk Chocolate Cake

a.k.a. Texas Sheet Cake or Mormon Brownies

(It's another pot-luck crowd pleaser!)

(I got this recipe from my dear friend Joni about 8 years ago. Thanks for sharing!)

In mixing bowl sift together:

2 cups flour

3 1/2 Tbsp. baking cocoa

2 cups sugar

In saucepan melt together:

1 stick butter

1 cup hot water

1/2 cup oil

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix well. Add:

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix well. Pour into a greased and floured 10x15 1/2 baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Frost while still warm with following recipe:

Frosting: (make while cake is baking)

In saucepan over medium heat, mix and boil for one minute:

1 stick butter

6 Tbsp. buttermilk

3 1/2 Tbsp. cocoa

Cool to room temp. and add:

1 lb. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Beat until smooth and pour over cake.

~GG~

PRETZEL SALAD

this might be a Utah thing, it might be an acquired taste. perhaps it's just a childhood memory.
Whatever it is, I like it. SO, give it a try....I know it sounds scary but it's good, I promise!

1 cup crushed pretzels

3 T. sugar

1/2 c. butter soft-melty

pat into 9X13 glass pan

bake 350 for 10 minutes

_____________________

8oz. cream cheese

1 c. sugar

mix until soft

fold in 8oz. cool whip

______________________

Drain large can of crushed pineapple (save juice)

put on top of cream cheese layer

_______________________

6oz. raspberry jello (big box)

2 c. HOT water

pineapple juice plus enough water to = 1 1/4 c.

pour into jello

put in bowl in fridge to set a little

__________________________

pour on top of crushed pineapple and refrigerate

TRULY!

lunch-lady-land

here is the recipe for the school-lunch

PEANUT BUTTER FINGERS

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup peanut butter

2 eggs

Mix together

2 cups flour

2 cups rolled oats

1tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Blend with creamed mixture

Spread on large cookie sheet

Bake 375 for 15 minutes cool slightly

Spread a thin layer of peanut butter over cookie

Frosting

1 square of butter melted

4 T. baking cocoa

3 1/2 T. of powdered sugar

6 T. milk

dash of salt

Blend together spread on cookie

(or buy chocolate frosting)

T. Scrumptious

Brownies with Peanut Butter Chips

Is there ANYTHING better than chocolate and peanutbutter?

Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups (2-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, melted
1-3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips, divided
PEANUT BUTTER CHIP GLAZE(recipe follows)


Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
2. Stir together butter and sugar in large bowl. Add eggs and vanilla; beat with spoon or whisk until well blended. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture, stirring until well blended. Reserve 1/2 cup peanut butter chips for glaze; stir remaining chips into batter. Spread batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. prepare PEANUT BUTTER CHIP GLAZE; drizzle over brownies. Let stand until glaze is set. Cut into squares. About 32 brownies.


PEANUT BUTTER CHIP GLAZE:

1. Combine 1/2 cup REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips (reserved from brownies), 2 tablespoons butter or margarine and 2 tablespoons milk in small microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 45 seconds; stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Gradually add 1/4 cup powdered sugar, beating with whisk until smooth. About 1/2 cup glaze.

Bon Bon

BECKY'S BANANA BROWNIES

i stole (with permission) this recipe from my friend Becky. She use to make these for us when we were neighbors and they are DELICIOUS!!!

1 container cool whip strawberries (for garnish)

1 package (15 oz.) brownie mix

chocolate shavings (for garnish)

3 medium bananas

orange zest curls (for garnish)

1 ¼ cups cold milk

1 small package instant vanilla pudding

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Bake according to package directions

(to make these individual desserts, I baked portions of batter in ~1c. ramekins).

Cool completely. Slice bananas 1/8-1/4 inch thick and place in a single layer on top of brownie. In a medium bowl, whisk 1 ¼ c up milk with pudding mix until mixture just begins to thicken. Gently fold in 2 ½ cups of the cool whip. Garnish with grated chocolate, fanned strawberries and orange zest curls.Enjoy!

TRULY

dEsSert piZzA

sugar cookie dough, store bought or homemade
8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
fruit slices (whatever you like. i use kiwi, pineapple and berries)
greased cookie sheet or pizza pan

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

press the dough out into a large thin circle.

Bake it for about 8 minutes.

mix together the sugar, vanilla, and softened cream cheese until it is smooth.

spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust.

Now, put the fruit on top in any design that you want.

This is a delicious little summer dessert!!!

TRULY

Chocolate, Strawberry Panini

Dessert Sandwiches anyone???

(Okay...so I'm into sandwiches lately...)

1/4 cup Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)
12 slices store bought pound cake (approx. 1/2 in. thick)
6-8 fresh strawberries thinly sliced*
Butter flavored cooking spray

1.) Heat panini grill or Foreman grill
2.) Spread Nutella over one side of the pound cake slices. Arrange the strawberries over 6 of the slices. Cover the remaining cake slices chocolate side down.
3.) Place the sandwiches on the cooking surface and grill for about 2 minutes or until golden brown grill marks appear on both sides. Cut in half to serve.
*bananas would also be screaming with the strawberries or without!

Bon Bon