Chocolate Cola Cake

I found this on May Flaum's blog. This idea of Cocoa Cola being used in a cake intrigued  me so much I just had to try it. Every person I have served it to loves it. One of the best chocolate cake I have come across.

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup butter
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 cup cocoa cola (from the bottle is the best)
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoons vanilla
The Glaze
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup cocoa cola
4 cups of powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Grease a 9x13 inch pan with Crisco. 
3. Mix together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, set aside in a bowl.
4. In a sauce pan over medium high heat, stir up the butter, baking cocoa, cocoa cola, and buttermilk until it boils. 
5. Take off heat and mix in the flour mixture. 
6. Then add the eggs and vanilla.
7. Pour in the cake pan and for 30 minutes.
8. Once the cake is nearly done, make the glaze by mixing in a sauce pan the butter, baking cocoa, and cocoa cola. Bring this to a boil.
9. Remove from heat and mix in the powdered sugar.
10. Add in a cup of chopped pecans in desired. 
11. Once the cake is done and out of the oven, pour this warm glaze right over the cake. Wait.
12. Let it cool for a few minutes.Enjoy warm or cold. So yummy. 

This cake is so rich and chocolaty. I just loved it. It was a quick and easy bake to. Nothing complex.

Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Yes you can do this yourself. Yes it is pennies on the dollar compared to the kind you buy. So easy too. I adapted it from this site I found on Pinterest. And what a find it was. I might add how much healthier this version is too. Love it.

1 paper brown lunch bag (a package of 50 is only about $1.00 at any grocery store.)
1/4 cup popcorn( I bought a 8 pound jar at Costco for only $10.00. At that price it would make around 60-70 bags of homemade microwave popcorn. Talk about inexpensive.)

1. Place popcorn in brown paper lunch bag.
2. Fold lunch bag over twice. Do not staple as it might spark in the microwave.
3. Stick the bag in the microwave. 
4. Let it pop  2-3 minutes. 
5. Stop the microwave when the popping slows to 1-2 pops per second.You don't want to burn your tasty snack.
6. Place in a big bowl. (We made 3 bags. And at this price why not?)
7. Add melt butter and sprinkle salt on it for extra flavor. 

"I Want to Marry You" Cookies

I made these cookies for my visiting teaching sisters. They are so good. I found them here.

1 cup butter
1 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup chocolate chips

1. In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat until melted. Remove from the heat.
2. Add the dark brown sugar and the whit sugar and stir until the sugars and well incorporated and smooth. Chill the mixture for 10 minutes.
3. Remove from the fridge, and stir in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla. 
4. Add the flour. oats, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and mix together.
5. Stir in the white and chocolate chips.
6. Roll by hand into medium sized balls or use a cookie scoop. And place on a light colored cookie sheet. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 325. Remove the cookies from the fridge and bake for 12-14 minutes. Makes 48 cookies.

White Texas Sheet Cake

I found this cake on pinterest. What a find it is. It was so easy to make and not near as long to bake as a regual 9x13 inch cake. I love the vanilla butter flavor. I adapted it from friedalovesbread. So good.
Cake

1 cup butter
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream

Frosting
1 cup butter
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 cups powdered sugar
dash of salt
1 cup chopped pecans

1. Put butter and water in a large bowl.
2. Heat in the microwave for 2 minutes.
3. Stir until the butter in melted.
4. Add sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt.
5. Stir with a wire whisk until smooth.
6. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well.
7. Stir in sour cream until it is all blended.
8. Pour into a 11x17 inch baking sheet that has been greased and flour.
9. Bake at 375 for 20-25 ,minutes.
10. Remove from the oven and make frosting.
11. Cook butter and milk in microwave for 3-4 minutes. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and dash of salt.
12. Beat until smooth.
13. Add nuts and gently  spread on  warm cake. 

Pencil Mark remover..... Works great

 On one of the many days I was browsing Pinterest I found a way to take pencil marks off of the wall. Yes you guessed it. You use regular tooth paste. Worked like a charm. I just got an old tooth brush wet, applied tooth paste and scrubbed away at the pencil marks. Like magic in just a few scrubs the marks were gone. I tried to take a good picture. Hopefully you can see the difference it made. Wow. Who knew that cleaning could be so inexpensive? Any one who has kids will appreciate this post. I used Arm and Hammer Tooth paste but the site just said any tooth paste will work. Try it and see. Worked for me. I can't find it now so you'll just have to take my word that it really works.

Easy Pancakes

I thought since a have a Bisquick copy cat recipe that to me and my friends tastes better then Bisquick I would also put on here how to make pancakes out of the same mix. Especially since I have waffle and biscuit recipes using this mix. Why not also put on here Pancakes? So here you have an easy recipe for Pancakes. Well as long as you have a batch of my all purpose baking mix on hand that is.

2 cups baking mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs

1. Heat griddle or skillet over medium high heat. Surface is ready when a few drops of water sprinkle on it dance and disappear. 
2. Stir all ingredients together until well blended.
3. Pour 1/4 cup on to hot griddle.
4. Cook until edges are dry about 1-2 minutes on each side.
5. Serve warm with your choice of syrup. Maple or Caramel are great choices. Fresh fruit is also good. 

Valentine Confetti

I found this recipe on Pinterest thanks to Kellie. Angie wanted me to make it for her 5th grade Valentine Party. It is good.

1 bag M&Ms( Valentine colors
2 bags microwave popcorn.
12 ounces of white chocolate candy melts

1. Pop popcorn in Microwave. Set aside.
2. Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler on the stove.
3. Pour over popcorn until it is well coated. 
4. Spread on a cookies sheet with wax paper on it. 
5. When it is cooled add the M&Ms.
6. Place in individual bags and tie with a pink of red ribbon. 

Use baking soda and vinegar to fix funky towels

Over time and with many washes, Your bath towels will build up detergent and fabric softener residue, leaving them both unable to absorb as much water and smelling kinda funky when they do. Rather then give Target another lump sum, run them through the wash once with hot water and 1 cup of vinegar, then again with  hot water and a 1/2 cup of baking soda or washing soda. That strips the residue from them, leaves them fairly fresh again, and makes your post-shower experience a dryer one, at that. I found this here. I also found that the towels dried faster in the dryer. So it is also a energy saver as far as that goes. Also never wash the towel with the vinegar and soda in the same wash. Very important that they be washed in separate cycles.

Cupid's Cherry Cheesecake

This cheese cakes were so easy to make. They went nicely with our valentines dinner. I adapted them from here.


15 vanilla wafers
2-8 ounce packages of cream cheese
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
21 ounce can cherry pie filling

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Place one wafer in each of 15 paper lined muffin cups. Set aside.
3. Beat cream cheese and sugar in a bowl on medium speed until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time Mixing just until blended.
5. Spoon evenly into prepared muffins cups. 
6. Bake for 30 minutes. Turn off oven open oven door slightly. Let stand in oven 30 minutes.
7. Remove from oven cool completely. 
8. Top with pie filling. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Ranch Potatoes

Another great find on pinterest. This is such a easy recipe to throw together. Thanks to April

2 pounds of potatoes (either red or Russets)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
1 packet ranch seasoning mix (or us my recipe found here)

1. Cut potatoes into 1 1/2 -2 inch cubes and place into crock pot.
2. In another bowl mix the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream and ranch seasoning mix. 
3. Mix in with the potatoes in the crockpot.
4. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until potatoes are tender.

Ultimate Chicken Fingers

I found this recipe while browsing the bettycrocker site. They look just as good if not better then anything you'd order from a restaurant, except much less expensive of course. Enjoy. Ranch potatoes go great as a side dish.

2/3 cup baking mix
1/2 grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt or garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
3 boneless skinless chicken breast halves cut crosswise into half inch strips
1 egg slightly beaten
3 tablespoon butter melted

1. Preheat oven to 450.
2. Line cookies sheet with tin foil. Spray with Pam.
3. Mix baking mix, cheese, salt, and paprika in a 1 gallon Ziploc bag.
4. Dip half the chicken strips into egg: place in bag of baking mix. 
5. Seal bag and shake to coat.
6. Place chicken on cookies sheet. 
7. Repeat with remaining chicken.
8. Drizzle melted butter over chicken.
9. Bake 12-14 minutes, turning after 6 minutes with pancake turner until no longer pink in center.
10. Serve with barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, or honey mustard.

Caramel Syrup

"Waffle syrup that will change your life, or at least your breakfast." Words spoken by Kara the author of this recipe. I would have to agree. It was so delish on our waffles this morning. It was just as delish on our ice cream this evening as well. Pancakes waffles and ice cream will never be the same served with this syrup on it. They will be so much better. But don't take my word for it. Make it and see for your self. SO Good.

1 1/2 cups half and half or buttermilk
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. In a large saucepan, bring sugars, milk, and butter to a boil over medium heat. 
2. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and baking soda.
3. It will bubble up a lot. 
4. As it cools it the bubbles will go away.
5. Serve over pancakes, waffles, french toast, or ice cream. Yum.

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken

I found this on pinterest and adapted if from lakelurecottagekitchen. It sounded like the perfect meal to try out on the day I fed the missionaries. This meal was a complete success. Both the missionaries and my family loved it.

12 boneless chicken tender loins.(about a 3 pound bag)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 apple cider vinegar
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
4 1/2 teaspoons water

1. Place chicken in a 4 quart slow cooker.
2. In a bow, combine the sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger garlic and pepper.
3. Pour over chicken.
4. Cover and cook on low 4-5 hours or until chicken is tender.
5. Remove chicken to a serving platter.
6. Keep warm.
7. Place liquid in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
8. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth.
9. Gradually stir into liquid and stir until sauce is thickened.
10. Serve with chicken and rice.

Easy Waffles

I was brousing the  Bisquick site trying to find other recipes to make with my mix aka Bisquick copy cat and came across this find. Ken wanted waffles this morning and sure enough there was a recipe for it. This is the perfect recipe for a rushed school morning. Loved it. 

2 cups baking mix

1 1/3 cup milk

1 egg

2 tablespoons oil

1. Heat waffle iron. Grease with Pam spray or shortening.
2. Stir ingredients until blended. 
3. Pour into center of waffle iron. Close lid.
4. Bake about 5 minutes or until streaming stops
5. Remove waffles and enjoy.

Mexican Dorito Casserole

I found this recipe at Jamhands  It sounded worth making. Although my husband says it is a sin to do anything with Doritos except eat them as is. For being such a critic he sure ate it fast and had seconds. The kids even loved it. I'd have to say myself, it is a keeper.

2 cups cooked shredded chicken( or one can)
1-2 cups shredded cheese depending on how cheesy you like it
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 sour cream
1 -16 ounce jar stewed tomatoes diced
1/2 packet taco seasoning
1-11 ounce bag of Doritos either cool ranch or nacho cheese.

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients expect Doritos.
3. In a greased 2 quart baking dish, put a layer of crushed Doritos. 
4. Then layer with chicken mixture.
5. Repeat layers ending with a layer of chicken mixture.
6. Top with more shredded cheese cover and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Onion Soup Mix

I found this recipe on pinterest. I mixed it up and put it in a pint jar. It is a copycat of Lipton's onion soup mix. Ken found it to taste better and more flavorful then Lipton's. I would have to agree. We used it in our Tater Tot  Casserole recipe.

3/4 cup instant minced onion
1/3 cup beef bouillon powder
4 teaspoons onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed celery seed
1/4 teaspoons sugar

1. Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container.
2. About 1.25 ounces is equal to one  packet of Lipton soup mix.
3. To make onion dip: Mix 1.25 ounces with one pint of sour cream.
4. Or use in any recipe calling for Lipton soup mix.

Or if your in a hurry you can also so this one serving recipe for onion soup mix found at 5dollardinners
4 teaspoons beef bouillon powder
3 tablespoons dried onion flakes
2 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1. Use in any recipe that calls for one package onion soup mix. 

Farmer's Country Breakfast

I found this recipe on taste of home. It is good with toast or in a tortilla shell. I adapted it from here.

Ingredients
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon drry parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 ounces sausage
2 cooled baked potatoes cubed
4 ounces (1 cup) shredded cheese

1. Whisk the eggs, milk salt and parsley in a bowl.
2. Set aside.
3. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat or until no longer pink.
4. Remove from pan.
5. In the same skillet. cook the cubed potatoes.for about 5 minutes.
6. Return sausage to pan.
7. Add egg mixture.
8. Cook until almost set.
9. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Let melt about 2-3 more minutes.Serve and enjoy.