My husband's sister just turned 36. She usually bakes the birthday cakes for that family, but it's kind of ridiculous to bake your own. I offered my assistance since they were talking about going to the grocery store to buy one anyway. Unbelievably, they hesitated! They know darn well I can cook! I just don't get it. I refuse to beg and they cave. But there are conditions...a little chocolate is ok, no coconut, no fruit. So I flip through some of the cookbooks and land on a Milk Chocolate Pound Cake. Very tasty and the best part...the base is a boxed mix!
1-18.25 oz. Classic Yellow Cake Mix
1-3.4 oz Instant Vanilla Pudding
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4- 1.55 oz. milk chocolate candy bars- chopped
2 Tablespoons of powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a bundt pan with Baker's Joy. In a mixing bowl, combine first six ingredients and beat on low speed for one minute. Stop mixer and scrape sides down. Beat on medium speed for two more minutes. Fold in chocolate chunks then evenly spread in bundt pan. Cook for 55-60 minutes. Cool on wire rack in pan for 20 minutes. Remove from pan and cool another 20 minutes on rack. Put on cake plate and sift with powdered sugar. Serve.
**Note: Do not put powdered sugar on cake until ready to serve because it "disappears" into the cake after a couple of hours.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Delay
The chat last night had two good things come out of it- everyone else is just as confused by assignment three as I am (this makes me feel a little better) and assignment two has been delayed for three days. Woo-hoo! I have more time to work on an assignment I haven't even started yet.
Since we had to go back to Lowe's today for more wood to finish the fence (to keep the kiddies from the road) I somehow managed to get the vehicle to turn in to Wal-Mart long enough to get some avocados for guacamole. It was a risk of the passenger's wrath I was willing to take. The recipe for the guac is below. I'll dream about it until it's made tonight- Yum! Oh, well, back to Medicaid billing hell (which I'm not even supposed to be doing- who's surprised?).
Guacamole
2 avocados, peeled and mashed
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
1/4-1/2 tsp. finely chopped onion
1/4-1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
Mix the ingredients together and serve with tortilla or corn chips. To me, add some salsa and sour cream and you have a meal!
Since we had to go back to Lowe's today for more wood to finish the fence (to keep the kiddies from the road) I somehow managed to get the vehicle to turn in to Wal-Mart long enough to get some avocados for guacamole. It was a risk of the passenger's wrath I was willing to take. The recipe for the guac is below. I'll dream about it until it's made tonight- Yum! Oh, well, back to Medicaid billing hell (which I'm not even supposed to be doing- who's surprised?).
Guacamole
2 avocados, peeled and mashed
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
1/4-1/2 tsp. finely chopped onion
1/4-1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
Mix the ingredients together and serve with tortilla or corn chips. To me, add some salsa and sour cream and you have a meal!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Just waiting
So, I sit here, waiting for another chat for school to begin. I have to tell ya'll that I'm really frustrated with this class. Weekly chats with people who just talk all over top of you. Very aggravating!
I applied for a job with the school system today- keep your fingers crossed for me because it's actually in the library of the high school- exactly what I want!
I applied for a job with the school system today- keep your fingers crossed for me because it's actually in the library of the high school- exactly what I want!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Finally!
Things have abated enough around here that I can breathe! The economy has so many people in a tailspin that it's just nuts! I've had so many referrals for Home Health Assistance, Nursing Home Assistance, and Welfare Fraud Referrals that I was beginning to think I would never again see the light! Add to that the two 11-week courses I'm taking to speed up the process of a thing called graduating, and a portfolio review that was sprung on me- yeah, I'm beat!
But I wanted to share with you my latest kitchen discovery. This is what happens when I'm short on time and resources. It was 7:30 in the evening and we were starving. I had taken out some boneless skinless chicken breasts and that's as far as I had gotten. I started rummaging in the spice cabinet. Preheating the oven to 375, I placed the chicken breast in a shallow baking dish (that has a lid) and proceeded to lightly salt it. Then, I poured some fresh honey on top, sprinkled with rosemary and chipotle chili pepper powder. I covered the dish and baked for 30 minutes. Then, I cubed the chicken, placed it on flour tortillas with cheese, salsa, taco sauce, lettuce, and tomato- rolled it up- and enjoyed every bite. Wow what a combination and flavor explosion that so worked. Hubby called it Honky Mexican (it sure made hime sweat)- I called it delicious. Enjoy!
But I wanted to share with you my latest kitchen discovery. This is what happens when I'm short on time and resources. It was 7:30 in the evening and we were starving. I had taken out some boneless skinless chicken breasts and that's as far as I had gotten. I started rummaging in the spice cabinet. Preheating the oven to 375, I placed the chicken breast in a shallow baking dish (that has a lid) and proceeded to lightly salt it. Then, I poured some fresh honey on top, sprinkled with rosemary and chipotle chili pepper powder. I covered the dish and baked for 30 minutes. Then, I cubed the chicken, placed it on flour tortillas with cheese, salsa, taco sauce, lettuce, and tomato- rolled it up- and enjoyed every bite. Wow what a combination and flavor explosion that so worked. Hubby called it Honky Mexican (it sure made hime sweat)- I called it delicious. Enjoy!
Friday, May 22, 2009
For the long haul
Or could be better said as "I'll be off next week."
Since it's a holiday weekend and I already had monday off, I'm taking the rest of the week to help clean out the parents house. Along the way, I fully intend to visit a couple of cookouts, make some homemade strawberry ice cream, and slow roast a chicken on the grill with some Jamaican Jerk Seasoning and a beer. Great flavor, trust me on that.
Yesterday, one of our co-workers provided the stuff for a cook-out for lunch. Steak, baked potato, salad, and two different desserts. One was the low fat, low calorie gunk that some of them go nuts over. The other was a chocolate eclair dessert. None was left. This sounded like an appropriate dessert to leave you with. When I come back- I'll be overloaded with school, crying because Carolina bombed the best of seven, and wishing for another holiday. Maybe I'll just make this dessert to cheer me up! :)
Chocolate Eclair Dessert
1 Box of honeymaid graham crackers
1 lrg pkg of vanilla instant pudding
1 8 oz container of Cool Whip
1 container milk chocolate icing
Single layer of graham crackers in the bottom of a 9x11 dish. Prepare pudding according to package directions. Mix with Cool Whip and spread on top of crackers in dish. Place another single layer of graham crackers. Cover with chocolate icing. Refrigerate 2 hours. Yum!
Since it's a holiday weekend and I already had monday off, I'm taking the rest of the week to help clean out the parents house. Along the way, I fully intend to visit a couple of cookouts, make some homemade strawberry ice cream, and slow roast a chicken on the grill with some Jamaican Jerk Seasoning and a beer. Great flavor, trust me on that.
Yesterday, one of our co-workers provided the stuff for a cook-out for lunch. Steak, baked potato, salad, and two different desserts. One was the low fat, low calorie gunk that some of them go nuts over. The other was a chocolate eclair dessert. None was left. This sounded like an appropriate dessert to leave you with. When I come back- I'll be overloaded with school, crying because Carolina bombed the best of seven, and wishing for another holiday. Maybe I'll just make this dessert to cheer me up! :)
Chocolate Eclair Dessert
1 Box of honeymaid graham crackers
1 lrg pkg of vanilla instant pudding
1 8 oz container of Cool Whip
1 container milk chocolate icing
Single layer of graham crackers in the bottom of a 9x11 dish. Prepare pudding according to package directions. Mix with Cool Whip and spread on top of crackers in dish. Place another single layer of graham crackers. Cover with chocolate icing. Refrigerate 2 hours. Yum!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Bored meeting
Regional Library Board Meetings are the bomb. I'll let you in on a little secret why: I get fed for free. Last night, the regional board met in my county, so Terese was our caterer. God knows that woman can cook. We started off with a great mixed greens salad (with Raspberry Vinagarette). Moved onto to a chicken breast with a honey mustard glaze, rice pilaf, and mixed veggies. Dessert was a turtle brownie with chocolate sauce. Followed by a cup of coffee (of course). I keep telling her that she needs to open a resturaunt, but she refuses to listen. Yes, she does great work at the local library, but I feel her food talents are being wasted behind the desk.
The only problem with eating all that wonderful food (well, not all, but as much as I could hold) is the fact that the actual meeting is held after we eat. Good thing it was over the budget and last years audit, or my head would've been laying on the blue damask tablecloth...
The only problem with eating all that wonderful food (well, not all, but as much as I could hold) is the fact that the actual meeting is held after we eat. Good thing it was over the budget and last years audit, or my head would've been laying on the blue damask tablecloth...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Found a keeper!
Saturday night, the hubs and I took our 15 year old nephew out to dinner and the movies. Anticipating not having to cook supper, I ate peanuts and grapes for lunch. By four o'clock (which is when we hit the beach) I was starving.
You'd think I'd learn eventually, but alas, the iron club has not struck my head yet. Since I was driving and we had pretty much decided where we were going, the Mariner pulled into the parking lot of Mulligan's.
Man was that an awesome choice!
I ordered the Taco Burger, which came with fries. The burger was seasoned with Taco flavor and had a mix of shredded cheeses and salsa. It also came with the lettuce, tomato, and red onions. I ate most of it, but it was huge! So I passed the remaining third to hubs. I barely touched the fries, but what I did eat of them was very salty! I washed this all down with a pint of Yeungling and a glass of water.
Our waitress was awesome and checked on us frequently. She got a very good tip. The staff were excellent. I highly recommend Mulligan's and give them a five out of five!
By the way, we saw Star Trek.
You'd think I'd learn eventually, but alas, the iron club has not struck my head yet. Since I was driving and we had pretty much decided where we were going, the Mariner pulled into the parking lot of Mulligan's.
Man was that an awesome choice!
I ordered the Taco Burger, which came with fries. The burger was seasoned with Taco flavor and had a mix of shredded cheeses and salsa. It also came with the lettuce, tomato, and red onions. I ate most of it, but it was huge! So I passed the remaining third to hubs. I barely touched the fries, but what I did eat of them was very salty! I washed this all down with a pint of Yeungling and a glass of water.
Our waitress was awesome and checked on us frequently. She got a very good tip. The staff were excellent. I highly recommend Mulligan's and give them a five out of five!
By the way, we saw Star Trek.
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