Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake

Rich, moist and very chocolaty. 

I like that the ingredients are always in

my pantry, so I can make it anytime.

It's a from scratch cake that's

just as easy to make as using a mix.

A bundt cake is always so impressive looking.

No complicated measurements or ingredients.
First: If you don't have buttermilk,
put 1T vinegar in a cup and add enough
milk to measure 1 C. Set aside.

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Add the wet ingredients and mix well. 

This recipe only uses 2 eggs. I like that too.

Mix in the 1 C of hot water and vanilla last.

The batter will be very thin. Pour into a prepared

(baking sprayed) bundt pan.

Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes until it tests done. 

Do not over bake. 

Let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes.

Turn out onto cake plate and let cool completely.

At this point you can just dust it with 

powdered sugar and call it a day or 

go all out and coat it with

Glossy Chocolate Icing.

For the icing use: 

 regular sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa.

Boil for 1-2  minutes and stir in vanilla.

Stir to cool until it starts to thicken just 

enough so that it will cling to the cake.

Quickly pour it over the cake before it gets too thick.

Cut and serve to impatiently waiting family.

I like to scoop up any icing that may have 

puddled in the middle and spread it over my slice.

mmmmmm!

It will be just as moist the next day.

So easy and you don't need to have a mix in
the house when you're craving chocolate cake.
I definitely like that!

Dark Chocolate Bundt Cake

2 C sugar

2 C flour

1/2 C cocoa

2 t baking soda

dash salt

Combine in a large bowl; then add:

1 C vegetable oil

1 C buttermilk *

2 XL eggs

Mix well with beaters, then add:

1 C hot water

1 t vanilla

Pour into a sprayed bundt pan. Bake at 350 for

about 40-45 minutes until done*. 

Let cool 15  minutes, then invert

onto a cake plate. Let cool completely before icing.

Glossy Chocolate Icing

1 C regular (granulated) sugar

1/4 C cocoa

1/4 C milk

1/2 C (1 stick) butter/margarine

1 t vanilla

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a saucepan 

and bring to a boil for 1-2 minutes. 

Add vanilla. Stir until cool enough to thicken

slightly and stick on the cake. Pour it on quickly

as it will start to get too thick. 

* 1T vinegar plus milk to equal 1 C

* Cake is done when the sides pull away 

from the pan and the top springs back 

when lightly touched.

Enjoy!

Links: Savvy Southern Style,
The Charm Of Home, Common Ground,
My Romantic Home, Designs By Gollum,
Between Naps On The Porch,
No Minimalist Here, French Country Cottage

Oh Baby! Bundt Cake

Today it's a Carrot Bundt Cake with 

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.

It has a secret ingredient that makes it so easy

....baby food!

 You can also use other flavors of baby food.

tip: take out the half stick of butter and half brick

of cream cheese now so that they will be softened 

when it's time to make the frosting.

 Mix the sugar and oil, then beat in the eggs.

 Mix in the baby food, 

 cinnamon, soda, and a pinch of salt.

 After the batter is well-mixed, add the flour

 and chopped pecans.

 Pour into a (greased/floured) sprayed pan.

Bake at 350 for about 50 minutes. Test after 45'

Sides will pull away slightly and the top will spring

 back when lightly pressed with a finger. Long 

toothpick will come out with a few moist crumbs

(not wet batter). You should be able to smell it!

That always tells me when it's done.

 While the cake cools, rinse out the bowl and

 beaters to make the lemon cream cheese frosting.

Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, 

then invert onto a cake stand.

Whip until creamy.

 Line a short glass with a baggie, folding over 

the top and fill with frosting.

Zip it shut and snip off a little of the corner.

 You can also just dust the top of the cake with 

powdered sugar, but I like the drizzle of frosting. 

It's not too much.

 Squeeze the bag and pipe it on.

 Pretty enough to eat!

 Make a pot of coffee or tea and

cut yourself a piece of cake.

 I'll probable cut some pieces to freeze, 

after all there are only two of us.

 Or give a slice to whoever stops by.

That was the yard guy today. 

It's very easy, good, and moist. 

Lots of flavor options with just

2 jars of baby food. 

*Don't forget to save your jars!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh Baby! Bundt Cake

2 C sugar

1 C oil

3 XL eggs

2 small jars baby food 

(carrot ~ 4oz each)

2 t cinnamon

1 t baking soda

pinch salt

2 C flour

1 C pecans, chopped

Mix oil and sugar. Beat in egg.

Add baby food, cinnamon, soda, and salt.

When well mixed, add flour and nuts.

Bake in a well greased and floured tube or

bundt pan. Bake for 50 minutes, until 

sides pull away and toothpick has moist crumbs.

let cool in pan for 15  minutes then invert onto

cake plate. Let cool before frosting or just 

dust with powdered sugar.

note* you can make any flavor cake by using

different combinations of baby food. 

1 plum + 1 apricot w/ additional 

1/4t nutmeg or cloves

~~~~~~~~~~

2 apricot or 2 peach

~~~~~~~~~~

2 apple or 1 apple + 1 pear

you get the idea!

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese (1/2 brick)

2 oz butter (1/2 stick)

1 t vanilla

1 T lemon juice

2 C powdered sugar

Have butter and cream cheese at room temp.

Beat with beaters. Add vanilla and lemon juice.

Beat in powdered sugar.

Scoop onto baggie and snip off tiny corner, 

then pipe onto cooled cake.

Enjoy!

Links: Savvy Southern Style,
Stone Gable, No Minimalist Here,
Between Naps On The Porch,
My Romantic Home, Common Ground,
The Charm Of Home
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Homemade Rice-a-Roni

If you want something  a little more interesting 

than plain rice you can jazz it up 

with just a few simple ingredients.

This is good side to serve with grilled food like: 

chicken, salmon or flank steak.

You have everything you need in your pantry.

Snap spaghetti into small pieces until it fills 1/2C.

Measure out all the seasonings before starting. 

This makes it easier to add quickly.

You can adjust the seasonings to suite your taste.

Saute the broken spaghetti and rice in butter.

Stirring until golden.

It's already starting to smell good!

Stir in the seasonings.

Add the broth. You can use canned or bullion

 and water. I've made it with beef broth too.

Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low 

and simmer covered for about 20  minutes. 

Most of the liquid will have been absorbed.

Fluff and serve.

Leftovers are good too.

Homemade Rice-a-Roni
1 C white (regular long grain) rice
1/2 C pasta, (spaghetti) broken into small pieces
2 T butter
3 C chicken broth
2 T parsley flakes
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t pepper
1/4 -1/2 t seasoned salt (depending of saltiness of broth)

Melt the butter in a large skillet and saute the rice and pasta until golden, stirring often. Stir in all the seasonings, then add the broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered until the liquid had been absorbed and the rice and pasta are tender, about 15-20 minutes. Fluff with a fork a few times. If it is still too wet,  let it sit on low with the lid off a few minutes.

Enjoy!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch

Shepherd's Pie (aka Hamburger Pie)

Are you in the mood for comfort food?
This hamburger pie is an old favorite casserole. 

Saucy ground beef topped with mashed potatoes
and sprinkled with shredded cheddar cheese.
What's not to love?

You can even make the beef filling ahead of time.

 Just bring it to room temperature before 

putting it into the oven. 

 

Simple ingredients. It's an old recipe from my
collection. It's from the 'BHG 100 Favorites'
 cookbook form the 70's.
It's retro!

 Brown the hamburger and onions.

 Add the seasonings, beans and tomato soup.

 Put into a greased pie dish. Sometimes I cover it

 at this point and refrigerate to bake later.

 Mash the potatoes while hot with the 1/2 C milk. 

 Whip in the egg.

 Season to taste with salt and pepper.

 Mound onto the hamburger.

Sprinkle with the 1/2 C shredded cheddar.

 Bake for 25-30 minuted.

 Enjoy a 'homey' dinner.

It's always good to have leftovers for lunch too.

Save this recipe for a day that has you

craving an old favorite.

Shepherd's Pie
(Hamburger Pie)

1 lb ground beef

1/2 C chopped onion

1t salt

1/2t pepper

1 can 16-oz green beans, drained

1 can tomato soup

Cook the meat with the onion until the meat  

is browned and the onion is tender. Season to 

taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the soup 

and green beans. Pour into a greased 

1-1/2 qt. casserole or deep pie dish. 

Add topping. 

topping:

5 potatoes, cooked

1/2 C milk

1 egg, mixed with fork

1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese

Mash the cooked potatoes while still hot with

 milk. Season with salt and pepper.

Soon in mounds around around casserole. 

Sprinkle the potatoes with cheese. 

Bake @350 for 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Designs By Gollum