Black Forest Chocolate Cake by Holly

Here I am again.

This is my daughter's favorite cake and she always requests this for her birthday cake. I baked this cake for a friend's birthday tonight and thought I'd share this recipe that is not only easy, but looks impressive. I make this alot actually, and now I realize the secret will be out as to how LITTLE I actually do to make this!!

Black Forest Chocolate Cake

1 Devil's food chocolate cake mix, dry

1 can cherry pie filling

3 large eggs or 4 medium eggs

*frosting for one cake (my frosting recipe included below)

*1 can cherry pie filling (for cake topping)

Mix first three ingredients together well. To make it fancy, put batter in greased round springform pan, to make it easier, put into greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 till toothpick comes out clean. Release springform after 5 minutes, and let cool completely. You can use any chocolate frosting that you want, even store bought tub frosting, to make it easier. I just have to have my fudge frosting on top of this.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

5 TBS butter or margarine

5 squares (2 1/2 ounces) of unsweetened baking chocolate

Melt these together over low flame. Cool slightly, then add:

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 to 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream (add slowly till it has a creamy and is spreading consistency)

If you made this in a 9 x 13 pan: you can just frost the cake and then put the can of cherries on top and you are done.

If you made this in the springform: you will need to use 4/5 of the frosting to frost the cake, then the other part of the frosting to pipe around the edges to hold the cherries on top of the cake. I use a large bag with a large tip. Add enough cherries to cover the top.

This is one of those cakes that gets better, more flavorful, and moister as it sits, and will keep for many days. (It probably won't last that long though.)

Easy Deep Dish Crumb-Topped Apple Pie: by Holly

Hey, this is Holly. Butting in from time to time to give you some more of my favorite recipes that were not included in the "Easiest, Quickest & Best..." cookbook. I made this dessert the other day and thought of what a wonderful wintertime comfort dessert it is, so I thought I'd share! Actually this pie recipe I modified from a recipe that my mom used to make when I was a kid. I will give you both of the recipes.

Easy Deep Dish Crumb-Topped Apple Pie

You need to use a deep dish pie pan, or it won't all fit. I use a quiche pan.

1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust
2 cans apple pie filling
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 dry yellow cake mix
1 stick butter or margarine (I use margarine)

Spray your pan with "Pam". Lay the pie crust in and pinch to fit. Put both cans of pie filling into the unbaked pie crust. Sprinkle apple filling with cinnamon. Pour the dry cake mix on top. It doesn't have to be completely even and can have some lumps. Melt margarine and pour over dry cake mix. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes till the top is slightly browned.

Isn't that unbelievably easy? You will not believe how good tht pie is with that topping! Let it cool completely before closing it up, so that the top will not get soggy.

Now this is the original recipe:

Cherry Crumb Dessert

1 can cherry pie filling
1 can crushed pineapple (drained very well)
1 dry cake mix
1 stick margarine

Mix cherry and pineapple and put into 9 x 13 pan. Pour dry cake mix on top, then the melted butter. Bake at 350 till slightly browned on top.

Hope your family likes this as much as mine. When I made it last week, they couldn't wait for it to cool, and ate it piping hot out of the oven!

Alternative to the most recent post!

OOOOOOOOO!!! Listen to this suggestion from a visitor and long lost friend from grade school (sweet Jennifer)...this is in regards to my last posting...click here...but before you do, the alternative suggestion is as follows:

You could replace the hot dogs with tofu!!!!



Yummy! I'm a big fan of Tofu too!!!! Sluuuuurrrrp!!! That's me drooling!!!! Ok, let me wipe my mouth here as I type...

So for you vegetarians...this might be a great alternative to the hot dogs and rice....instead you could do the tofu and rice..and still add and mix the ingredients as suggested ('86' the hot dogs)!

Tell me what you think, if you tried it!

Comfort Food...Korean-American Style

Where do I begin? Ok...I have an excuse...I promise...for real.
'Excuse' is the key word as to why I haven't posted an entry in a while. I do promise however I have cooked.

The following recipe is inspired by my nationality, being that I am part Korean, here is a little twist of Asian with everyday 'American' food! This is a personal favorite of mine. The inspiration behind this dish is my mom. She made this dish quite often when we were younger...I consider this as my comfort food! Mmmmmmmmmmmm!! I'm salivating just thinking about it!

Sadly, this one is not from Holly's cookbook, however, it is a great, inexpensive 'PPF' (Poor People's Food) dish! I have to say...many 'PPF' dishes are the most delicious...at least according to my pallet.

Grocery List:
Cucumbers
Green Onions
Garlic Salt or Minced Garlic
Ground Red Hot Pepper
Salt and Pepper
Hot dogs (beef franks)
Sesame Oil
Chili Sauce (pictured below)
White Rice

Are You Ready? Set, Prep and Go!

First Dish:
* Cook white rice and set aside.

Second Dish (Cucumber Kim-Chee):



* 2 Cucumbers (slice to make circles, then take a section of the sliced circles and cut again into small rectangle pieces)
* Green Onions (slice in small pieces)
* a small drop of sesame oil
* salt and pepper
* hot chili sauce (as pictured below) (Just enough to make cucumbers spicy...



Disclaimer: very spicy sauce, so please be careful)
*Mix all together (cover with saran wrap and place in refrigerator for about an hour so seasonings can come together)

Third Dish:

* 1/2 tsp. (teaspoon) of sesame oil
* 1-2 packages of beef frank hot dogs (cut in small pieces)



* Ground Red Hot Pepper dry seasoning
(You can find it in the spice aisle at the grocery store)
* Garlic salt or minced garlic
* Salt and pepper
* (Optional) Green onions
Mix hot dogs with the above seasonings, somewhat brown and you are ready to serve!!!!
I know it sounds weird...but it is delicious!

Best to serve with Ice Cold Water!

Ma-shee-so-yo
Pronunciation:
Ma - shee - so (long 'o' sound) -yo (long 'o' sound)
Translation:
Very good food

Here she is....

Here she is!! One of my dear friends and inspiration behind this fun cooking blog! Her name is none other than...Holly!

If I may...I would love to introduce you to this amazing woman who loves the Lord with all her heart. She is also a loving wife, mother and friend who is such a blessing to so many people.

I have to tell you, this amazing woman who wears many different 'hats', wears the 'chef' hat quite well! She also wears a pretty cool 'crown' as she is known as none other than the 'Dessert Queen'! I'm not kidding...I so don't joke around about my mouth watering sweets! Eweeeee! She can make any ol' pie, cake, quiche, trifle, and cause great explosion of the pallet. Her presentations are mouth watering...your mouth will explode with excitement before your drouling mouth is even allowed a bite. I do not lie when I say every one of her dessert creations could beautifully grace the cover page of any food magazine! If you know her, you must agree!

Well my friends, thank you for stopping by today and allowing me to introduce you to my sweet, precious friend. I am blessed by her gifts from God that she displays so powerfully. This is my way of saying, "Thank you" to her and hopefully in the process of my gratitude, you also will be able to fill your kitchen with the joyful aromas and recipes that will be savored by all who partake!

'Puppy Chow'

My daughter begged me, "Mommy, you haven't made 'puppy chow' since we lived in Michigan." "Will you please make some today?" As those beautiful, soft yet piercing eyes looked up at me, I couldn't help but say with great glee, "Sure!"

I tell you this little girl, who is swept away by the thoughts of Paris, assisted me with great joy as she helped me clean, organize the pantry and even put groceries away. After all was said and done, her little giggling voice carried through the kitchen as she said, "OK Mom, what is my reward?" I looked at her with a big smile and said with joy, "Tristin, you are going to get your 'puppy chow'!" She replied as she clapped her hands like a cheerleader, "Yaaaaay!"

This leads me to one of the easiest snack recipes ever...are you ready?

This is what you'll need for the recipe:
1 regular size package of chocolate chips
1 cup of peanut butter
1 (regular size) box of Rice Chex
1-1/2 to 2 cups of powdered sugar

Melting chocolate chips over the stove in a pot then as it melts, mix in peanut butter
When completely melted and stirred together...turn stove off and take off burner.
Pour a little bit of Rice Chex in at a time, mixing not too hard as you don't want to crush the Rice Chex.
After pouring the Rice Chex and stirring...let it cool down just a bit then pour into a 'trash bag' (a clean one :)
Then pour 1-1/2 to 2 cups of powdered sugar into the Puppy Chow Mix. Close bag by twisting it and shake really well, maneuvering with your hands on the bottom of the bag the Rice Chex mix so the powdered sugar covers all the mixture. When you look in the bag, make sure it's covered in white...if so then place in a large serving bowl and then place in refrigerator for about 2 hours...ready to serve!

Some like it warm...but it's best to eat it after it has been chilled. Of course, it is 'to each their own'.

Disclaimer: If you have peanut allergies..this is not the recipe for you...I'm sorry!