Shaun's Favorite Cake...

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  Hope everybody is doing well.  I've been into projects - just not posting 'bout them - not for sure why.  I'll do better - promise.

But today - I thought I'd share with you the recipe for my hubby's favorite cake.  Now, it is not complicated or difficult to make (if it were - I wouldn't be making it ;-)

It is a simple chocolate cake with homemade icing - a recipe that my sweet grandmother gave me - one she simply calls "Easy Chocolate Cake".

I took step-by-step pictures but somehow they were all stacked on top of each other - so the written/typed version will have to do.

Easy Chocolate Cake

CAKE
Bring to a boil
-1 stick of butter
-1 cup of water
-1/2 cup oil
-3 tablespoons of cocoa

...while waiting mix...

-2 cups SIFTED flour
-2 cups sugar together

...then add
-2 eggs
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-1/2 c. buttermilk
-1 teaspoon soda

... stir and pour first 4 ingredients over the mixture
...mix together well and place in greased pan
...Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes for a regular cake pan - approx. 50 min. for bundt pan

ICING

Bring to a boil...
1 stick butter
6 tablespoons of milk
4 tablespoons of cocoa

then add...
1 pound of powdered sugar (sifted)

...stir well

...Pour over warm cake

Now, I will have to say - that it doesn't really make a "pretty" cake - because the icing runs everywhere but oh my goodness - it sure is

............MMMMMMMMMM YUMMY!................

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ranch Potato Bake...MMMMMM...

O.k. - it's not like we aren't gonna be eating A LOT in the next couple of days...but... I tried this new recipe - easy and simple - and thought maybe some of you would like to try it over the Thanksgiving holiday. I think it kind of tastes like a loaded baked potato - yummy. It would be great served with a meal or maybe while everybody is hanging out watching the ball game.

But before I get started, I wanted to wish you all a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. May you enjoy your families and may we all remember how very blessed we are. I am ever so grateful for the blessings in my life - my family, my friends, my job, my health - and yes, for my wonderful blogging buddies - so have a beautiful Thanksgiving.

Here we go...

Scrub 8-10 red potatoes - slice and boil in saucepan until tender...

In a bowl, mix sour cream, ranch dressing, parsley flakes, shredded cheese and real bacon bits...

When potatoes are done, place them in the mixture a few at a time, toss gently to coat - arrange potatoes in a greased 9X13 inch baking dish. Top with remaining cheese (3/4 c.), crushed cornflakes and melted butter (combined).

Bake covered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, uncover and bake for 15-20 minutes or until browned.

Ingredients -

8-10 medium red potatoes

1 cup sour cream

1 cup ranch salad dressing

2 tablespoons parsley flakes

1 3/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 cup real bacon bits

2 cups slightly crushed cornflakes

1/4 cup butter, melted

Everybody Enjoy!!! and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Cathy

MMMMMM...Scalloped Peppers

Usually towards the end of summer - there is just an abundance of peppers in the garden - and this year is no exception. We stuff them, freeze them, put them on salads and well - make scalloped peppers. This is my mother-n-laws recipe - super simple and oh - so - good. Enjoy!

Any kind of peppers will do - I've used bell, banana, a couple of jalapenos and one I'm not even sure of the name.

Quarter them, clean out the centers and bring to a boil for about 10 minutes...

Drain...

Place in a large casserole dish - cover with cheese - lots o' cheese ( I use Velveeta) - crackers or day old bread - top with butter - and fill with milk until you can see it on top.

Bake approx. an hour and a half at 350 until there is a pretty golden color on top and nice and bubbly.

Scalloped Peppers - they are sooooooo good!

Everybody have a great Tuesday.

Cathy