Inside-Out Chocolate Bundt Cake

A very rich cake but the Chocolate Chips add a great taste to it!



Ingredients:
1 small package instant chocolate pudding
1 package Devil's food cake
1 package (12 oz. size) chocolate chips (You can add 1/2 of the package)
1 3/4 cup milk
2 eggs

Directions:
Combine all ingredients but chocolate chips. Mix by hand for 2 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips for 30 seconds.



Bake in a WELL greased and floured bundt pan for 50-55 minutes.
Cool for 30 minutes.
Remove from pan.



You can glaze or dust with powdered sugar.

*I made Fudge Glaze*



Melt 1/2 cup butter in a medium saucepan.
Remove from heat and whisk in 1 cup powdered sugar and 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder until combined.
1/4 to 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla.
Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup hot water.
*Add a few more drops of hot water if glaze thickens too much.*

Quick & Cheesy Sausage Rotini

3 cups rotini pasta, uncooked
1 lb. Italian sausage links, cut into bite-size pieces ( I used Turkey Sausage)
1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup KRAFT Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing ( I used Roasted Red Pepper Italian with Parmesan)
3/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

COOK pasta as directed on package.

MEANWHILE, cook sausage in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 10 min. or until done, stirring occasionally. Drain sausage; return to skillet.

Add tomatoes, onions and dressing; cook 5 min. or until onions are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.

DRAIN pasta. Toss with sausage mixture and 1/2 cup cheese; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Parenting Top Ten

I saw this in Parenting Mag. And wanted to post it, I think it's cute.

Worries you'll laugh about later.

1. That he really will tell his shrink you left him to cry it out in his crib.
2. That they don't make Pull-Ups and sneakers with Velcro for grown-ups.
3. That not nursing him for the standard year (or ever) means he will wind up obese,stupid and maladjusted.
4. That the fact that he's such a nice,quiet boy means neighbors will one day tell reporters, "I'm shocked!He was always such a nice,quiet boy."
5. That a preference for dolls over trucks bodes well for the future of musical theater.
6. That he'll be crushed when he discovers he can't really be a firefighting astronaut veterinarian who treats alien animals in outer space.
7. That if you throw out one of the 7,652 pieces of artwork dropping glitter onto the rug he will feel deeply hurt.
8. That he'll be dependent on you well into his 30's because you didn't red to him in the womb.
9.That his sense of humor will never advance beyond fart jokes.
10.That he might stop loving you as much as does now.

CHIPS AHOY! Cheesecake Sandwiches

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 cup thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
20 CHIPS AHOY! Cookies
1 tub (7 oz.) BAKER'S Milk Chocolate Dipping Chocolate, melted

BEAT cream cheese and sugar with mixer until well blended.

Stir in COOL WHIP.
COVER bottom (flat) side of each of 10 cookies with about 2 Tbsp. cream cheese mixture; top each with second cookie to form sandwich. Dip half of each sandwich in chocolate; gently shake off excess chocolate. Place in single layer in airtight container.
FREEZE 3 hours or until firm.

Chicken-Parmesan Snackers

Got this recipe in an email day. It's one that I want to try out.



2 oz. KRAFT Natural 2% Milk Blend of Reduced Fat Sharp White Cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan Cheeses
1 cooked small boneless skinless chicken breast half (1/4 lb.), cut into 16 thin slices
1/4 cup spaghetti sauce
16 TRISCUIT Cracked Pepper & Olive Oil Crackers
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves

HEAT oven to 350ºF. Cut cheese into 8 slices; cut slices in half.
TOSS chicken with sauce.
PLACE crackers in single layer on baking sheet; top with chicken, cheese and oregano. Bake 5 to 6 min. or until cheese is melted.

Tips:
Save time by using 1/4 lb. meat cut from a store-bought rotisserie chicken breast.
Use Your Microwave
Top crackers as directed. Place 8 crackers on microwaveable plate. Microwave on HIGH 10 to 15 sec. or until cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining topped crackers.
Substitute
Prepare using TRISCUIT Rosemary & Olive Oil Crackers or RITZ Crackers.

Cinnamon Rolls with Leftover Pie Crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

If the dough is not in flat single piece already, take a rolling pin and roll it to at least 1/8 of an inch thickness. If it is in strips, mush it together and then roll it out flat.

Take soft margarine and spread with a knife over one side of the dough.(If using stick margarine, let it sit out or soften it at a low temperature in the oven until just softened--you only need a small amount though--so don't soften the whole stick).

Make a suitable cinnamon mixture for your personal tastes. You might need an 1/8 to a 1/4 of a cup worth of this mixture. Sprinkle the mixture on the buttered side of the dough.

Roll the dough tightly like you would making a regular cinnamon roll or making a jelly roll. (if you remember what a Swiss cake roll looks like on the inside, that's what the dough should resemble). Cut with a knife into individual mini rolls.

Grease the pan with margarine well, then put the little rolls on it so they are not touching. Bake in oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove and cool.

If you would like icing for these, wait for them to cool then mix together a quarter of a cup of powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons milk and about an 1/8 of a teaspoon vanilla. Drizzle over rolls and then serve.The amount made depends on the amount of pie crust dough left over in the first place.

Bacon Cheeseburger Roll-Up

1 lb. lean ground beef
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, chopped ( I used bacon bits)
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 lb. (8 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 pkg. (13.8 oz.) refrigerated pizza crust

HEAT oven to 400°F. Brown ground beef with bacon and onions in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Return meat mixture to skillet.

Add VELVEETA; cook until melted, stirring frequently. Cool 10 min.

UNROLL dough onto baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Press into 15x8-inch rectangle; top with meat mixture. Roll up, starting at one of the long sides. Rearrange if necessary so roll is seam-side down.

BAKE 20 to 25 min. or until golden brown.

Top with HOT pizza sauce.

Feb 27,2008

That is the birthday of our son, Derek. After close to 5 years of trying for a baby and way to many Dr. appointments and Infertility Treatments that all failed. We gave up on having a child of our own. We started picking up the pieces of a broken heart and starting moving on with our lives. And then one month we got the shock of our lives. I was . We did it!!

I was scaried and happy at the same time. Found out we were having a BOY.

Had a very healthy and happy 9 months, so thankful for that. Even with the long labor, He was worth every minute of it all.

He just turned one, How fast that went by us. He is walking now and them tiny feet sure move fast.

Hot Pizza Dip

Ingredients:
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup pizza sauce
2 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper
2 tablespoons diced pepperoni
Directions:
In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, oregano, parsley and basil. Spread mixture in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate, or a shallow microwave-safe dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese on top of the cream cheese mixture. Spread the pizza sauce over all. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, then top with green pepper, pepperoni and olive slices. Cover and microwave for 5 minutes. Serve hot.

Applebee's Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:
1 (10 ounce) box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
1 cup shredded parmesan-Romano cheese blend
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
10 ounces prepared Alfredo sauce
1 teaspoon minced garlic
4 ounces softened cream cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine ingredients thoroughly in a bowl and spread mixture into a small baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes or until cheeses are bubbling and melted

CMP DESSERT

1/4 lb. butter, melted
1 c. flour
1/2 c. dry roasted peanuts, ground

Mix flour and nuts. Stir in butter. Spread in ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan.
Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool, then refrigerate.

Next layer, beat 8 ounce cream cheese with 1 cup confectioners' sugar and 1/3 cup peanut butter until fluffy, add 1 cup Cool Whip.
Spread over first layer and refrigerate.

Next layer, use 1 (3 ounce) box each instant vanilla and chocolate pudding and 3 cups milk. Mix puddings together and beat with milk as directed on package. Pour over second layer. Refrigerate until set.

Top with Cool Whip and more chopped peanuts, if desired. To make a pretty serving top with maraschino cherry for each portion. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Freezes well.

Garlic Steak and Onions

You will see some recipes from Kraft Food. I love their site and their recipes are easy to make which is always a plus with me.

1 boneless beef sirloin steak (1 lb.)
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, cut into thin slices
2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 cup KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
3 cups broccoli florets, steamed

HEAT large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. Add steak; sprinkle with pepper. Cook steak 5 to 6 min. on each side or until medium doneness (160ºF). Remove from skillet, reserving drippings in skillet. Place steak on cutting board; cover loosely with foil.
ADD onions and garlic to skillet. Stir in dressing; cover with lid. Cook 5 min.; stir. Cook, uncovered, an additional 4 to 5 min. or until onions are tender, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cut steak across the grain into thin slices; place on serving platter.
TOP steak with the onion mixture; sprinkle with cheese. Serve with the broccoli.

Taco Bake

1 pkg. (14 oz.) KRAFT Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix
3/4 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
1 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa


HEAT oven to 400°F. Prepare Dinner as directed on package. While Macaroni is cooking, cook meat with taco seasoning as directed on package.
STIR sour cream into prepared Dinner; spoon 1/2 into 8-inch square baking dish. Top with layers of meat mixture, 1 cup cheese and remaining Dinner mixture; cover with foil.
BAKE 15 min.; top with salsa and remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until cheese is melted.

Mini Meatball Soup

I am a fan of Rachel Ray's 30 minute meals show. Saw her cooking this one rainy Saturday and I just had to make it. It's a nice comfy food. I love to make this soup on a chilly day.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan in a slow stream
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves, fresh or dried
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground beef,turkey or pork and veal combined
1 egg, beaten
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano, a couple of handfuls
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs, a couple of handfuls
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg
6 cups chicken stock or broth
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups dried pasta, rings, broken fettuccini or ditalini
1 pound triple washed fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

Directions:
In a deep pot over medium heat add oil, chopped carrots, celery and onions and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Cover pot and cook veggies 5 or 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the veggies cook, combine meat, egg, garlic, grated cheese, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, nutmeg.
Uncover your soup pot and add broth and water to the pot. Increase heat to high and bring soup to a boil. When soup boils, reduce heat a bit and start to roll meat mixture into small balls, dropping them straight into the pot. You are making meat dumplings that will cook in the broth. When you are done rolling the meat, add pasta to the soup and stir. Cover and simmer soup 10 minutes. When pasta is tender, stir in chopped spinach in batches. When spinach has wilted into the soup, the soup is done and ready to serve. Adjust your seasonings. Serve soup with crusty bread or grilled cheese sandwiches.

Turkey Meatloaf

I found this recipe at Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes.

Turned out super moist and very yummy! My son loved it.

1/2 Small onion, minced
1 tsp Olive Oil
1.3 lb 99% Lean Ground Turkey
1/2 cup Seasoned Breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Ketchup
1 Egg
1 tsp Marjoram
Salt

Preheat the oven to 350°. Saute olive oil and onion on low until translucent.In a medium bowl mix turkey, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, salt and marjoram. Place mixture into a 9x12 loaf pan or shape into a loaf in an un-greased baking pan.Bake uncovered for one hour at 350°. After baking let it sit for 5 minutes before slicing.

Chili Burger Casserole

Ingredients:

Approximately 1 lb 90/10 ground beef

1 cup elbow macaroni

1 can tomato soup1 can chili with beans

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions:

Prepare macaroni according to package directions; set aside.

In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high until beef reaches 160˚F on a meat thermometer; drain excess fat.

Stir in tomato soup and chili and simmer over medium-low for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in macaroni and cheese and cook over low heat until heated through.

Chocolate Passion Bowl

3 cups cold milk 2 pkg. (4-serving size each) JELL-O Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP French Vanilla Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1 baked 9-inch square brownie layer, cooled, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 5-1/2 cups)

1 pt. (2 cups) raspberries

POUR milk into large bowl.

Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Gently stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping.

PLACE half of the brownie cubes in 2-qt. serving bowl; top with layers of half each of the pudding mixture, remaining whipped topping and raspberries. Repeat all layers.

REFRIGERATE at least 1 hour before serving.

Store leftover dessert in refrigerator.

Sierra Chicken With Cool Cucumber Salsa

Ingredients:
Cool cucumber salsa (recipe below)
Sweet and tangy balsamic glaze (recipe below)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approx. 6-8 oz. each)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Cool Cucumber Salsa Ingredients:
2 English cucumbers, halved lengthwise and sliced into pieces
1 tablespoon Jalapeno peppers, finely diced
1/2 cup red onions, diced
3 tablespoons sunflower seeds
1 cup craisins
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup simple syrup
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl, and place in refrigerator until chicken is grilled.

Sweet and Tangy Balsamic Glaze
Ingredients:1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup sugar

Preparation:Combine ingredients in non-reactive sauce pan.
Bring to a boil and reduce by half.
Pour glaze into bowl and place in refrigerator to cool.
Completing Sierra Chicken With Cool Cucumber Salsa
Preheat gas or charcoal grill to medium-high heat. Brush chicken breasts with extra virgin olive oil on both sides.
Evenly sprinkle kosher salt and cracked black pepper over both sides of the chicken breasts and place on pre-heated grill.
Cook chicken approximately 4-5 minutes per side, rotating once per side to create diamond marks.
Cook until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Brush both sides of the cooked chicken with the sweet and tangy Balsamic glaze. Remove from the grill and place on four serving plates.
Top chicken with cool cucumber salsa and serve immediately.

Diet Soda Cupcakes/Cake

1 box cake mix -

any flavor1 can diet soda - any flavorVariations

I've seen:chocolate cake w/ diet cokeyellow cake w/ diet lemon-limeuse your imagination for the combinations! Oh the possibilities!

Mix the dry cake mix with 10-12 oz of diet soda. (Do not use the egg or oil listedon the box). Spray a 9 x 12 cake pan (or cupcake tin) with non-stick spray and bake according to package instructions.

Some have said an entire can of pop makes the cake TOO moist ... 10 oz. seemsto be the least I've seen suggested.

Experiment yourself to find the best amount for your taste.

Top with Any flavor of Cool Whip Topping that you like.

Diet Soda Cake combos:

Spice cake mix w/ diet orange -

Banana cake mix w/ diet root beer -

Lemon cake mix w/ diet 7-up -

Chocolate cake w/ Diet coke -

Lemon cake w/ Diet ginger ale -

Orange cake w/diet Mountain Dew -

Cherry chip cake w/ A& W diet Cream -

Lemon cake w/ Diet Lemon lime -

Angel w/ Diet Orange -

White w/ Diet Orange -

Yellow cake w/ Diet orange -

White cake w/ Diet Peach -

Spice cake w/ diet lemon-lime -

White w/ diet ginger ale -

Chocolate cake w/ Diet cherry coke -

Devils food w/ diet vanilla coke -

Chocolate cake w/ root beer -

Marble cake w/ diet cream soda -