Chocolate Strawberry Tall Cake

This cake is fantastic! My step-mom sent it to me, having had it at my brother-in-law's mom's house. The recipe is from recipezaar.com. It is super easy if you use a cake mix, but I found a perfectly chocolate chocolate cake recipe that I usually use instead.

Ingredients:

1 package chocolate cake mix

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

3/4 c milk

1 (3 1/2 oz) package vanilla instant pudding mix

1 (8 oz) carton frozen whipped topping, such a Cool Whip, thawed (I use a 12 oz carton though)

2 c strawberries, sliced or chopped

confectioner's sugar

1. Prepare the cake according to package directions, using three greased and floured 9 in round pans (I use only two, otherwise it has a tendancy to slide around, especially if traveling)

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

3. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely

4. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy

5. Combine milk and pudding mix, then add to cream cheese and mix well.

6. Fold in whipped topping and strawberries.

7. Reserve a large dollop of filling for garnish

8. Place one layer of the cake on a serving plate.

9. Spread with half of the filling. Do not cover sides of cake, just the toop as this is made to look like a torte, not a frosted cake.

10. Repeat layers

11. Top with remaining cake, then dust with confectioner's sugar

12. Mound the reserved filling in the center and put a fanned whole strawberry on top

13. Store in the refrigerator.

*Don't make this too far ahead of time with the strawberries. The berries will bleed into the filling and become mushy. It will taste great, but look strange.*

*You can also use raspberries*

Since I only use two layers, I eliminate #11 and 12. You can see from the picture how it turns out for me!

Grilled Corn with Chipotle-Lime Butter

This recipe is from EatingWell.com

Ingredients:
4 ears of corn, husked
2 T butter, softened
1/4 t freshly grated lime zest
1 t lime juice
1/2 t minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce plus 1/4 t adobo sauce or 1/4 t ground chipotle pepper
1/2 t kosher salt

Directions:

Preheat grill to high. Wrap each ear of corn in foil and cook, turning frequently for 10 minutes. Remove from grill and let stand in the foil while you prepare the butter. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl. Unwrap the corn and serve with the butter.


This was a hit at one of my dinners! Super easy too!

Texas Sheet Cake

Recipe: (This is exactly how I have it written down, so please forgive me if it is not in proper recipe format)

Mix:
2 c flour
2 c sugar
1/4 t salt

Melt:
2 sticks margerine
1 c boiling water
3 T cocoa

Mix over low heat until well mixed. Add to dry mixture.

Add:
2 eggs
1 t baking soda dissolved in 1/2 c buttermilk
1 t vanilla
1 t cinnamon (I like the cinnamon, so I add a tad more)

Mix well and pour into a sheet pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.


Frosting:
1 stick margerine
3 T cocoa
2 T buttermilk

Heat and whisk until combined, then remove from heat.

Add:
1 box powdered sugar (I normally use a little less. I like it to taste a little more buttermilk-y than powdered sugar-y)
1 c nuts (optional, and I NEVER add these!)

Wait for it to cool a little bit, but pour on the cake while the cake is still warm and the frosting is still a little runny.

I hope that you all enjoy this cake as much as my family does! Good luck!

TWD-Chocolate Oatmeal Almost Candy Bars

Ok, party people. I am back! After having a very hectic holiday season, I am finally able to continue with Tuesdays with Dorie! Yay!

The Chocolate Oatmeal Almost Candy Bars are fantastic! I made these late last night, so I must confess that I had one for breakfast this morning. They are rich and a little chewy and a little crunchy and just plain amazing! I didn't put the raisins into the chocolate layer, just added more peanuts instead. The bars didn't look very pretty, but Dorie says you are supposed to be having fun, right? So I just dropped the oatmeal mixture on the top and called it good!

I will post pictures later today, as my daughter has been using my camera again (!) and now I need to charge the battery. That kid has her own camera! Why does she keep using mine?