Chocolate Cake

This isn't a dinner, but it's a really great cake!!! It's really easy to make, you just dump all the ingredients in the bowl, mix it up, and throw it in the oven. I got this recipe from some cookbook I got from the library. I added some of my own 'directions' as well.

Easy Chocolate Party Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup unsweetened cocoa
1 ½ cups whole milk
¾ cup butter (1 ½ stick), softened
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
Fudgy Cream-Cheese Frosting
(recipe follows)

MAKE THE BATTER: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter two 8-inch cake pans. Dust with flour and tap out any excess. Set aside. Combine the flour, sugars, cocoa, milk, butter, eggs, vanilla, baking powder baking soda, and salt in a large bowl using a mixer set on low speed, until blended. Increase the mixer speed to medium and continue to beat until the batter is smooth – about 3 more minutes.

BAKE THE CAKE: Divide the batter equally between the prepared pans and spread evenly (or else you will die!!!). Bake until the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly touched (it really does work! It’s pretty cool too!) Cool in the cake pans on wire racks for 10 minutes (it may take longer than that because it is for me! Or maybe I’m doing it wrong?!? Possibilities). Use a knife to loosen the cake layers from the sides of the pans and invert the cake layers onto the wire racks to cool completely.

Fudgy Cream-Cheese Frosting

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
¼ cup butter (½ stick), softened
3 tablespoons whole milk
3 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/8 teaspoon salt
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

MAKE THE ICING: Beat the cream cheese, butter, and milk in a medium bowl using a mixer set on medium speed until smooth. Add the confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, and salt and continue to beat until blended. Reduce the mixer speed to low, add the vanilla, and beat just until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.


This was a really excellent cake. I ate most of it in two days!

Crock Pot Sweet 'n' Sour Chicken

It seems like so often my chicken ends up dry and flavorless in whatever dish I cook it in. Here's a good ol' crock pot recipe that guarantees moist chicken. I've made it twice now and even though it's not AMAZING, I will probably make it again.

Crock Pot Sweet 'n' Sour Chicken

2 tbsp ketchup
1 cup water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water
pineapples and bell peppers (if desired)

Combine the first five ingredients in the crock pot and mix well. Add chicken and cook on high for 3-4 hours (I cooked it for closer to 3 hours and it came out perfect). Combine cornstarch and water in small bowl. Stir into slow cooker. If you want pineapples and peppers, add them now as well. Cook on high for 15-20 minutes, stirring often, until thickened. Serve over rice or noodles.

night out

We went to a Thai restaurant for dinner. The food is very sweet. Lots of fruit, coconut etc. in their main dishes. I had Pad Thai. The noodles were like linguine but a little chewier.

Split Pea Soup

We've had split pea soup three times this winter, mostly because it's easy and a good way to use up ham. I found the recipe in the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and cooked it in the crock pot each time. If anyone's interested I'll post the recipe.

Sunday meals

Tortilla Casserole

1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 cans (8 oz. each) tomato sauce
1 cup water
¼ tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. chili powder
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 pkg. corn tortillas (12)—can use flour
1 small can sliced or chopped olives

Brown meat with onion, then drain. Add tomato sauce, garlic, and chili powder. Simmer 20 minutes on low heat, covered. Alternate in a 2 quart casserole dish: tortillas, meat mixture, cheese, and olives (about 2 times). Bake at 350° for 20 minutes, covered. Serves 4-6.

For lunch we had an all-in-one frozen chicken stir fry from Aldi. It included chicken, veggies, and sauce. It really wasn't too bad and there wasn't a lot of junk in it and it cooked up in 15 minutes.