Archive for the ‘Recipes’ Category
The BEST Chocolate Cake and Frosting Recipes EVER
Monday, March 14th, 2011
I’m truly not exaggerating about the title of this post. In my humble opinion these are the best cake recipes I’ve ever had. They are moist, chocolicious and receive rave reviews any time I make them.
The first recipe is one I got from my mother in law. When my husband and I started dating I kept hearing about his mother’s famous Fudge Cake. Mike absolutely adores it. I finally got to have some and it was truly one of the best cakes I had ever tasted. I was hesitant about asking for the recipe because I know how some people are about their family “secret” recipes and don’t like to share them. When I asked my mother in law she said ” Oh yes! It’s right on the back of this Hershey’s Cocoa Box”.
What???
This wonderful recipe wasn’t a long time, handed down recipe in Mike’s family? It was right on the back of a Hershey’s baking cocoa box?
My mother in law has forever called it “Fudge Cake” but Hershey calls it “Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake” and I believe the frosting that goes with this cake is also their recipe. I want to give the proper credit where credit is due.
Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake
2 Cups sugar
1 and 3/4 cups all purpose flour (I’ve used White Whole Wheat and it tastes just fine)
3/4 Cup Baking cocoa
1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 and 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil ( I use canola and it came out fine)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9 x13 baking pan. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat on med. speed for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Frost with chocolate frosting listed below.
This frosting is the absolute BEST! It has a “secret” ingredient that I think makes all the difference.
Coffee!!
And before all of you who don’t like coffee decide you’ll hate this, it truly doesn’t taste like coffee at all. The coffee just gives it a richer, chocolate-ier flavor. Trust me! You will love it.
I double the recipe for my cakes. ( As does my mother in law) It just makes the cake all the tastier. Plus, there’s enough that you can take a couple of spoon licks. Or ten.
Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Cake Frosting
6 Tbsp. coffee
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 cup cocoa
3 cups confectioner’s sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
Mix coffee and melted butter, then add cocoa, confectioner’s sugar and vanilla. Beat with mixer until smooth. Makes 2 cups.
The other recipe I love to make is one we have in our Ross Family Cook Book ( My mom’s side of the family submitted a bunch of recipes for a family reunion that were compiled and put into a book by my cousin, Lydia) The cake recipe is one my mom made for us growing up and the frosting is from my aunt Donna.
Wacky Cake
3 cups flour (again I use White Whole Wheat or Whole Wheat and both seem to taste fine)
2 cups sugar
6 Tbsp. cocoa
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. vinegar (not white)
12 Tbsp. (YES! TWELVE!!) vegetable oil. (I use canola and it works out just fine)
2 cups water
Mix first 5 ingredients directly into a 9X13 pan. Make 3 different depressions in mixture and put vanilla, vinegar and oil in each depression. Pour water over all. Mix well with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Do not over bake.
You can frost this cake with whatever frosting you like but I use my aunt Donna’s recipe listed below.
One Minute Cake Frosting ( Can also use as Ice Cream Hot Fudge and Chocolate Gravy)
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup margarine ( I use butter)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
* I can’t remember if I double this. I might!* As you can see I like my cakes as rich and fattening as possible!
Combine first 4 ingredients in a small saucepan. Boil one minute. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
This is a liquid type frosting. I poke holes all over the wacky cake and pour the frosting over it. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes to an hour so all that chocolate-y goodness can seep into the cake.
Serve and enjoy.
In my opinion, this cake tastes even better the next day when it’s fully saturated with the frosting and the top has hardened a bit.
YUM!!
This post is linked and will be linked to Mouth Watering Monday. Tasty Tuesday, Things I Love Thursday, and Foodie Friday.
Check those blogs out for some great recipes!
{WFMW} Homemade Sinus Rinse
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
In 2003 or 2004 I had sinus surgery. My sinuses were inflamed and I was having trouble breathing freely at night and taking over the counter allergy medication like crazy. Once I had my sinus surgery it cleared away all the inflamed tissue. I could breathe again! But, I also came away with a fabulous homemade sinus rinse recipe that I had to use while my nose was healing. I’ve used it ever since. It has kept my nose moisturized, allergies at bay and colds at bay. I don’t have to use allergy medication as long as I’m consistently using this solution. When I do get a cold it helps the cold go away a lot faster. I swear by this stuff! It’s inexpensive and easy to make. Works for me!!
Homemade Nasal and Sinus Rinse
1 Gallon Distilled Water
8 Tsp Baking Soda
8 Tsp Sea Salt or Kosher Salt
Mix soda and salt into gallon of distilled water. Shake well.
How to use: Rinse sinuses once or twice a day.
Measure out a cup of the solution and heat in microwave until luke warm. (This may not be necessary depending on the temperature of your home). Using an infant nasal aspirator, GENTLY squirt half a cup of the solution into each nostril letting the water flow out. Blow nose as needed.
Note:If you feel stinging in your eyes you’re squirting to hard and too far up!
It may seem weird to do this, at first. (Especially using one of those nasal aspirators!! They’re not just for babies??) The point is to not feel like you’re drowning. The solution is not supposed to go all the way up your nose. Once you’ve used the solution for a few weeks you’ll really start to notice a difference. Especially during the cold and flu season.
This post is linked to Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family.
10 Foods I Want To Cook In Bulk
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
I’ve really wanted to try the Once A Month Cooking (also known as Freezer Cooking) for a while. Since I’m totally new at this I’m starting slowly and cooking only a few things at a time. (And hopefully I can make it only once a month!)
Here are ten foods I’d like to start cooking in bulk:
1. Whole Wheat Pancakes.
I think these are healthier choices than cereal and toast every morning. We also love them for dinner too. (With grilled kielbasa. Yum!!) I usually make them with flax as well. Mike will only eat plain ones but the girls and I like banana and blueberry so we’re getting some fruit in there too. You can look up whole wheat recipes on Cooks.com or Allrecipes.com. I want to make a huge batch of them and then freeze them in smaller portions. When we want a pancake I can just take it out of the freezer and defrost it!
2. Whole Wheat/Grain Waffles.
I got a waffle maker for Christmas a couple of years ago and have used it once. Waffles are a fun alternative to pancakes and I like them for all the same reasons I like pancakes!
3. Homemade Granola Bars.
I haven’t found a recipe I just love yet but I’m going to keep trying. The ones posted at Kitchen Stewardship sound great so these will be the ones I try next. The last batch I made (with chocolate chips) tasted like dessert so I wasn’t convinced it was that healthy. I can make a big batch of these and freeze some of them. Again, I’ve been using Cooks.com or Allrecipes.com for these. If you have a delicious, healthy granola bar recipe please share it with me! As a side note, I’ve also heard plain, homemade granola is really good too. I want to make some of that as well.
I made these a few weeks ago and they were a hit!
5. Homemade Muffins.
Again, I try to make these with whole wheat flour, flaxseed and blueberries. We like corn and bran muffins too. There are some good recipes online too. I’m still in search of the one I like best.
6. Taco Meat.
I want to start precooking and freezing taco meat in bulk since we love tacos around here. If I keep several cans of refried beans and tortillas on hand that’s a simple and easy meal on weeknights and especially for weekends when we’re most tempted to eat out.
7. Homemade Calzone.
I make a super easy calzone. I make the dough in my bread maker and then roll it out. I then cook up ground beef and mix it with cheddar and mozzarella cheese. I lay the mixture on one side of the dough and then fold over the other side of the dough and pinch the edges. Then I bake it at 350 degrees until it looks done. I know this version doesn’t sound very healthy so I’d like to modify it a bit (Adding tomatoes, onions and mushrooms maybe?). Although, I’ll probably be the only one to eat that one. I want to make a couple of these and freeze them. Can I freeze them unbaked? Does anyone know?
8. Oatmeal Cookies.
I really want to find a healthy(er) oatmeal cookie recipe to make. (Sans raisins since we don’t like them in baked goods). I think that would also make a great snack and dessert. Mike loves them.
9. Fajita Chicken.
Another meal we love. I want to make it in bulk and freeze smaller portions so it’s ready to go on a weekend when mealtime rolls around and I don’t feel like cooking. (Thanks to Kathy at House Of Hills for this idea.) I love it with peppers, mushrooms, onions and avocado. Mike and the girls will only eat them with chicken and cheese. We’re going to have to work on that…..
10. What foods do YOU make in bulk? What is your go-to, must have freezer recipe? Please share!!!
For more Top Ten Tuesday head over to Oh Amanda!
