Monday, January 25, 2010

Coconut Poke Cake

I am SO mad at myself, I gave it to my neighbor with out getting a picture first!!!! Grrrrr. Anyway, I did have some of this most amazing dessert so i can verify that this cake is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!! If you like Almond Joy candy bars, you will love this cake!

Ingredients:
white cake mix and ingredients to bake
4 cups mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
coconut CREAM(not milk, found in alcohol section)
sweet and condensed milk
2 pkgs of coconut pudding mix
1 tub cool whip
chocolate frosting of choice
1 bag shredded coconut

Directions:
Prepare cake mix as instructed but also add 1 pkg of coconut pudding mix to the batter, 2 cups choc. chips, and 1 cup shredded coconut. I baked mine in 2, 8'' cake pans but i's your choice. If baking a sheet cake, you will not need the cool whip or second pudding package. Meanwhile, prepare pudding and let set. Add half the container of whipped cream to the pudding and the rest of the chocolate chips and place in freezer.
Immediately after you remove the cake from the oven, poke all over with the handle of a wooden spoon to create small holes. Mix together the coconut cream and sweet and condensed milk and pour over the cake evenly. Let the cake cool for about 15 mintues like that then I put the cakes on small cake circles covered in wax paper so they didn't stick and then in the fridge to speed the cooling along.
Stir the cool whip mixture so it doesn't turn into a brick, but allow it to still get frozen. When cakes are cool and cool whip is frozen use the cool whip as the center filling. Frost the cake with chocolate frosting and then press the rest of the coconut into the top of the cake.
Don't forget to take a picture because the cake won't last long!!!!

Portuguese Soup

Ingredients:
4 tbsp olive oil
6 cloves garlic; minced
1 med onion; chopped
1 can refried beans
3 cans kidney beans
2-3 cups collard greens; chopped
1 cup green cabbage; chopped
1 cup red cabbage; chopped
3 carrots peeled and sliced
1 cup cauliflower florets or
1 cup potato chunks
salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp dill
sausage is optional

Directions:

In a large stock pot, saute garlic and onion in all the oil until onions are tender. Add the refried beans and fry for 2 minutes(make sure there is still enough oil). Add about 3 qts water or until 4 inches from the top of your stock pot. Add all of the vegetables, beans, (sausage)and spices to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for a few hours.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Spinach Brownies


This is one of the best things that I have eaten in a long time! I promise you will NOT be disappointed! My kids gobbled them up!!!!
INGREDIENTS:
1 10oz bag fresh spinach; chopped
1 medium onion; diced
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp olive oil OR butter
4 mushrooms; diced into small chunks
3/4 cup w.w. flour
1/4 cup white flour
2 tbsp ground flax seed
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
3 eggs
1 cup milk
4 tbsp melted butter
8oz cheese; shredded (I used both white sharp cheddar and a mexican blend)
1/2 cup sausage or bacon crumbles/chunks (optional)
Parmesan cheese to top

DIRECTIONS:
Saute onion, garlic, spinach in either oil or butter, in a large skillet until spinach is wilting. Add mushrooms and saute another 2 minutes.
Meanwhile mix together flours, flax, baking powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
In a medium bowl mix together eggs, milk, cheese, melted butter, and meat crumbles i(f desired). Add flour mixture to egg mixture. Then add spinach mixture and mix well. Place in a
buttered 9x13 pan and sprinkle parmesan over top. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes.