Flourless Chocolate cake

This one is super gooey. I am one of those people in which the terms, too rich or too sweet, do not exist. In fact one of my favorite movies has a scene that goes like this. 

The women of Steele Magnolias are at the beauty parlor, when one asks for the cup a cup recipe, Dolly Partons character says " oh that's easy, a cup of flour, a cup of sugar and a can of fruit cocktail with the juice, bake for one hour." To which Olympia Dukakis's character says, "Sounds rich!" I love Dolly's reply...."It is, so I serve mine over ice cream." 

Oh Yes!

 Get ready for a side of ice cream.

 12 oz bag chocolate chips

1 1/3 c sugar

1/2 c water

1 c butter

5 eggs

 Butter or spray a 9 in round pan and line with parchment paper, now spray the paper. Set aside.

In a large sauce pan bring to a boil over med heat, 1/2 c water and 1 1/3 c sugar, stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in a 12 oz bag of chocolate chips, (milk, semi-sweet or dark). Now stir in 1 c softened, not melted butter. Stir until all is melted and combined.

Now lightly beat 5 eggs in a small bowl and place about 1/2 c choc mixture into eggs and whisk. Once incorporated pour contents into the pot of chocolate. This tempers your eggs so they will not cook.

Once eggs are mixed in, pour into pan and place pan onto a rack in an oven roaster or 9x 13. Pour hot water until it comes half way up the cake pan. This water bath or Bain Marie, ensures even cooking. Place in center of oven and bake at 350 for 30- 40 min. or until center tests almost done. Let cool on a wire rack.

chili

I have to admit, I don't know if I ever make chili exactly the same way twice but here is a basic recipe that I probably adhere to the most.

This fills a large crock pot.

2 # ground beef or turkey, browned and drained

8 cans of beans, I use red kidney, chili, and white beans. Fell free to mix and match.

   (drain and rinse kidney, white, or navy beans. if I use chili beans I will put the liquid in with them, up to 3 cans, then I will drain any after that)

1 29oz can tomato sauce

2-3 cloves crushed garlic or 2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 large onion, diced

1/4 c honey

2 tsp. cumin

1-2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/8 c chili powder

salt and pepper

Put into crock pot and let simmer about 8 hours, a couple hours in, do a little taste test, add more of what you like, if it is too thick add 1/2 c water or more tomato sauce. 

You will notice I do not add canned tomatoes to mine, you however can if you like. I don't because I simply don't like them in my chili.

Toppings:

chopped onion, shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, crackers, corn chips 

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

1 1/2 c sugar, divided

1 Tbs. cinnamon

2 c flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c buttermilk

1 egg

1/4 c oil

Combine 1/2 c sugar and the cinnamon in small bowl,set aside. In large bowl mix flour, salt, soda and 1 c sugar. Mix together egg, oil and milk, add to flour mixture. Place half of recipe in sprayed loaf pan (spray bottom only) Place 3/4 of cinnamon/sugar mixture, then place remaining batter. Sprinkle the last of cinn/sugar on top. Bake at 350 for 45-50 min or until center tests done.

cream cheese squares

I have to admit, if I had come across this recipe on my own, it probably wouldn't have caught my eye. But I had heard friends raving about it so I thought I better try it. OH MY! I love them, super easy, super yummy!

2 (8oz) cans refrigerated crescent rolls                  

2 (8 oz) cream cheese

1 c sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 stick melted butter

1/4 c sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350, grease 9x13 pan. Press one can crescent rolls into bottom of pan -sealing seams. In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, 1 c sugar and vanilla until creamy. Spread over rolls, unroll the other can of crescents and lay over cream cheese filling, do not press. Pour melted butter over top and sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar over. Bake for 25-30 min.  The original recipe says best served cold, I have to say I like them hot or room temp best but they aint bad cold either.