Red Velvet Cake

It has taken me sooo long to get this posted.  I apologize. I had the flu virus for over 3 weeks and then basketball tourneys....so here it is....FINALLY!! This cake is great and easy.  The kids ate the whole cake after school, I saved 1 piece for Tony!

~Recipe~

2 1/2 cups flour
2 cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 Tablespoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk (OR 1 c. milk + 1 T. vinegar)*I use buttermilk all the time!*
1 oz. red food coloring *I use a whole bottle*

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a Bundt pan. Place one cupcake liner in a cupcake tin...this is the CUTE topping! This adds so much to the look of the yummy cake.  In a medium bowl, mix eggs with a wire whisk. Add oil, vinegar, vanilla, buttermilk and food coloring. Whisk together and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients and mix on medium high until combined. Fill cupcake liner half full with batter, then pour the rest of the batter into your Bundt pan. Bake the cupcake for 20-25 minutes, bake the cake for 50-55 minutes.

Frosting~
1 8 oz. package cream cheese *softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter *softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
approx. 1/4 cup milk *use whole milk*
Let cream cheese and butter sit in mixing bowl until softened. Mix together. Add sugar, vanilla and milk. Pour over cooled cake. Crumble cupcake and sprinkle over top of cake. * I do not cover the cake...I drizzle, it is very sweet.  Enjoy~

Super easy potato soup

This is really ridiculous easy and so yummy! Its ben unusually cool here in Dallas so I tried to come up with something that was not my go-to comfort food.  We love potato soup but this is now the new fave!

~Recipe~
1 30 oz bag of shredded hash browns
3 14 cans of chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c onion chopped
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1 8 ounce pkg of cream cheese*The real deal...none of the fat free stuff here**

Combing all ingredients in a slow cooker EXCEPT for the cream cheese.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  About 1 hour before serving add the cream cheese and heat until it is rich and creamy and yummy! I served mine with bacon and cheese...Enjoy~

Peanut Butter 'n Jelly Bars

Ok! These are a perfect, easy, go-to snack! I can't believe I have never made these.  Try them...soon!

~Recipe~
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter, melted
1 c brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/4 c flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 c creamy peanut butter
1/3 c of your favorite jelly *I used raspberry*
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
spray an 8x8 pan with cooking spray

Melt the butter in a microwave bowl, took mine about 45 seconds. Then add the 1/4 c  peanut butter and heat until melted, about 30 seconds.  Stir until butter and peanut butter are smooth and combined well. Add the brown sugar and stir well. Add the egg and vanilla and stir again.  Add the flour and salt and stir only to combine, don't go to town on the stirring here or they will be tough. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth it so it is even in the pan. To the top of the batter add 1/3 c peanut butter in dollops all around the pan. Do the same thing with the 1/3 c jelly and then use a knife to marble the topping, not a lot though.  You want it pretty not gross looking. Bake for 27 minutes, about. Dn't over bake, so watch it about the last 3 minutes. Cool and eat! Seriously yummy snack! Enjoy~

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal in the Crock pot!

It is sooo sold here in Dallas....I made this Apple Oatmeal in the crock pot last night and it was a warm and yummy breakfast! I don't have a photo as it was eaten too fast by the kids when I dished it up....I will post a pic when I make it again!

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
2 sliced apples
1/3 c brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Put all in the bottom of the crock pit.
2 c oatmeal
4 cup water
DO NOT STIR
Put on low all night....I added 2 cinnamon sticks to the top as well. This morning I added a it more brown sugar and stirred it up then served it with cream.....SUPER EASY!!

Enjoy~

Enchilada Sauce

We are lovers of Mexican food! I love to cook it and try new recipes  This sauce is our favorite.  I change the peppers around and see what comes together the best. You can tweak it however you like with different peppers.  Easy to make it spicier and less spicy.  Play around with  it!

~Recipe~

6 dried ancho chiles

1 6 ounce can tomato paste

1/4 cup corn oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp cumin

3 cups beef broth

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Arrange the chiles on a baking sheet and toast 3-4 minutes...watch so they don't burn.

Remove the stems and the pulp and all seeds.  Place the chiles in a bowl of hot water.  Let them sit for about 1 hour.  Combine the chiles, paste, oil, garlic and spices and only 1 cup of the broth in a food processor or blender until smooth.  Transfer to a large sauce pan and add the remaining 2 cups of broth and heat until warm through and use in your favorite recipes! Enjoy~

Peanut butter chocolate bars

This is a fantastic treat that is super easy to throw together!  The kids devoured them at the lunch table Brenn said and requested for more later this week!!

~Recipe~
1 box yellow cake mix (yeah...I know...lame, but it is what the recipe called for)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 eggs
1 12 ounce chocolate chips, semi sweet
1 14 ounce can of sweet condensed milk
2 Tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 325
Combine the cake mix melted butter, peanut butter and eggs in a large bowl.  Press into a greased 9x13 baking pan.  Reserve 1 1/2 cups of this mixture to put on top.  In a small pot melt the chips, milk and butter.  Remove it from the heat once it is smooth and stir in the vanilla.  Spread the chocolate over teh batter.  Crumble the additional batter over the chocolate, evenly.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Cool and cut....wait...cool all the way...I know, I know, very tempting to dive in right away but I promise they need to cool! Enjoy!

Honey Beer Bread

This is an easy and yummy recipe.  I have made it 3 times this week.  The kids love it in the morning with honey on it so we are getting a lot of mileage out of this recipe! I suggest you try it...SOON!!!

~Recipe~
3 c flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp honey
1 bottle ~12 ounces~ beer
8Tbsp butter melted ( You can divide this in 1/2 but we liked it with the full 8 Tbsp the BEST)

Oven to 350 degrees
Grease a loaf pan

IN a medium bowl whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Use a wooden spoon and add in the honey and deer and mix til just together.  I heated the honey in the microwave for a few seconds to make it easier to stir. Put 1/2 melted butter in the bottom of the pan *Yes, even though you greased it* Put the batter on top and then spread the rest of the melted butter on top. Bake for 55 minutes or there about.....you know the trick, goden on top and a knife comes out clean. EAT!!! Enjoy~