Shawna's Caramel Frosting

CARAMEL FROSTING:
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 milk
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. Melt butter in a saucepan, stir in the brown sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add the milk, stirring all the while. Return to heat and bring to a boil again.

2. Remove from heat and allow to cool until lukewarm (approximately 20 to 25 minutes). Stir in the confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth and cool enough to spread. You might need to add a few drops of milk if frosting gets too stiff.

I smothered this caramel goodness over an apple spice cake I made (pregnancy craving #619). It is divine.
I would frost sugar cookies, vanilla cake or even chocolate cake with it. I would add it to sandwiches and serve it over pasta...it's that good.

Lynette's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 3/4 c. shortening
1 c. white sugar
1 c. brown sugar
4 eggs, well beaten
4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
12 oz. chocolate chips

Cream shortening and sugars together, then add beaten eggs. Sift together dry ingredients. Add to creamed mixture and mix well. Add vanilla and chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. Makes 4-6 dozen.

Carol Jean's Hot Fudge Sauce

4 T. Cocoa
2 cups sugar
1 can evaporated milk
4 T. flour
4 T. Butter
Mix above ingredients and boil for 2 1/2 minutes. Then add 2 tsp. vanilla and serve warm.

Stephanie's Cake

Butter Cake

1 Pkg. Duncan Hines White cake mix (or yellow, if you have it on hand, white is better if you are coloring the marble part)

1 C. milk at room temp.

1/2 C. real butter, melted (I usually put milk & butter in microwave & heat them together. It is OK if milk gets hot.

3 extra large eggs, room temp (if right from frig, put in bowl of hot water to warm slightly--it makes your cake rise more)

2 tsp. real vanilla

1 C. (or more) real chocolate chips or 8 OZ semi sweet chocolate, melted. I use Ambrosia or Ghiardelli.

Add cake mix to milk & butter and add eggs & vanilla. Don't put eggs in first with hot milk or they will scramble! Put eggs on top of cake mix in bowl. Mix until very thick & creamy & well blended, around 3 minutes on med. mixer speed. Remove about 1 1/2 C. batter to separate bowl. Add melted chocolate to larger portion & stir until blended.

You can bake in layers--I used 2 9" pans for Natalie's cake or 3 8" pans or a 13 X 9. I line with waxed paper and do not grease sides of pan. Divide chocolate batter between pans then drop plain batter over in spoonfuls. Swirl lightly & bake at 325 of using dark or glass pans, 350 if shiny pans, until slightly pulls away from pan & set in center.

After you take the cakes out of the oven, let cool a few minutes then poke with a fork all over top of cake about 1" apart. Using a pastry brush, brush Chocolate syrup (like the kind used in coffee drinks--I use Toriano Chocolate Milano from Smart & Final) all over cake. You don't want to soak it, just add moisture to the layers. Let cool in pans, then turn out & cool completely. If you brush too much syrup the layers will crumble so better to be frugal & add more than have cake mush.

Even layers if necessary & frost generously with Chocolate sour cream frosting below. Best served at room temp. although some people like cold cake, I am not a fan.

Chocolate sour cream frosting

This recipe makes a lot of frosting so you can use a thick layer. If you don't want it so thick, leftover freezes beautifully. Just thaw in frig & remix before using. Tastes just like it did fresh. (If you get a craving for chocolate & need a quick fix--a spoonful of frozen frosting is divine--tastes better if no one sees you eating it!)

2 C. good quality semi sweet chocolate (see above for my preferences)

1/2 C. real butter

1 C. sour cream

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp salt (do not omit--adds the perfect dimension to chocolate)

5 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted after measuring if needed

Melt chocolate & butter together. Let cool slightly, then add sour cream, vanilla & salt. Blend until combined then add 1/2 of powdered sugar. When well mixed, add balance of sugar. If it is too thick, add a tablespoonful of sour cream. You want a creamy but fairly stiff consistency so you can swirl on sides & top. The more you beat it, the lighter it becomes. I like mine dark so stop when it is all combines smoothly.

Marinade for Chicken

1 c. sprite
1 c. soy sauce
1/2 c. oil
1 tsp. garlic

Marinate for at least three hours. This is really yummy and super easy! You can BBQ chicken or bake it.

Spinach and Chicken Pasta Casserole

A healthy meal that my family loves. I use whole grain penne pasta to make it healthier.

10 oz. tubular pasta (I use Penne)
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach, thaw or fresh spinach torn up
2 T. vegetable oil
2/3 c. chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb. chicken breast cooked and cubed
2 cans of diced tomatoes with juice
3 T tomato paste
1 1/4 tsp basil
3/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/2 c. parmesan cheese, divided

Cook pasta according to directions, drain, and set aside. Place spinach on paper towels if you're using frozen and squeeze out moisture. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; add oil and place over med high heat until hot. Add onion and garlic; sautee until tender. Add chicken, tomatoes and next five ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, five minutes, stirring occasionally. Combine pasta, spinach, chicken mixture and 1/4 c. cheese in a bowl. (I always use more cheese). Spoon into a 9x13 inch baking dish coated with spray and sprinkle with more cheese. Bake 350 for 20 minutes.

Layered Fruit Salad

Fruit:

2 cups cubed fresh pineapple

1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

2 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced

3 medium bananas, sliced

2 oranges, peeled and sectioned

1 cup seedless grapes

1 pint blueberries

Sauce: 2/3 cup fresh orange juice

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. grated orange peel

1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

In a sauce pan, bring to boil all ingredients for sauce except vanilla; simmer 5 minutes. Add vanilla and cool. Meanwhile, in a large clear glass salad bowl, arrange fruit in layers in order listed. Pour sauce over fruit. Cover and refrigerate several hours. 10-12 servings.