The BEST Chocolate Cake, Ever.

Okay, so I'm not a huge cake fan.  But this cake really can't be beat.  (Don't pay too much attention to the picture - something went a little wrong with the frosting.  I think it was slightly over cooked - not that it hindered the taste at all - it just made the cake look a little like I dropped it on the floor or something.  Also I didn't let the cake cool at all before I put the frosting on since it had cooked too long already - and I should have let it cool about 10 minutes or so.  I did it that way the next time, and it turned out a ton better, but of course I forgot to take a new picture.)

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER.

(from recipe found at http://www.abountifulkitchen.com/)

1 c butter/margarine melted

4 Tbls cocoa, unsweetened

1 c water

2 c flour

2 c sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c buttermilk 

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

Grease and flour a 9x13 pan. (This can also be done in a Texas Sheet cake pan - but the frosting sure seems to make a huge mess - and I prefer the 9x13)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa and whisk until smooth. Add water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and sift the flour into the saucepan with the butter mixture. Add the sugar, soda and salt. Add the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Pour batter into prepared 9x13 pan. Bake for about 30-35 minutes.

While cake is baking, prepare frosting.  (Actually I would start the frosting just before you pull the cake from the oven.  That way it has a little time to cool before you poor the frosting over.  Just don't let it cool down too much.)

Frosting:

1/2 c butter/margarine, melted

4 Tbls cocoa

6 Tbls buttermilk

4 c powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 c chopped pecans, optional

After making cake batter, rinse saucepan. Melt butter, cocoa and buttermilk in pan. Bring to boil. Add sugar and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Pour over warm cake. Sprinkle with chopped nuts, if you want

Creamy Parmesan Spaghetti Sauce

This is my updated/changed/revamped version of the Spaghetti Sauce that I remember my Dad making (I'm sure Mom did too, but for some reason I only remember Dad making it.)  Anyway, I made a few changes and my boys (all three of them) beg for this sauce.  And as you can see in the picture - we put it over more then just Spaghetti.

1 lb Ground Beef

1 can (15 oz) Beef Broth

3 cups Tomato Sauce

1 pack Spaghetti Sauce Mix (I like Western Family)

1 cup Cream

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

Pepper

Onion Salt

Garlic Salt

Brown the Ground Beef.  Once it's nice and brown, pour in the Beef Broth and deglaze the pan.  Add the Tomato Sauce and Sauce Mix, and stir until the Mix is dissolved.  Add the Cream and the Parmesan Cheese and bring to a simmer.  Add Seasoning to taste.  Pour over desired Pasta and enjoy.

Shredded Beef Nachos!

We did this for Superbowl Sunday, figuring that Nachos seemed like a perfect choice for dinner on such a day.  But I had also just bought a bunch of beef, and I got the 'Chip Pack' extra from Bountiful Baskets the day before.  They turned out even better then I thought they would, and I thought they would turn out amazing.  The beef I was afraid would be dry and tastless - but it was so juicy and full of flavor.  Yummy!!!

Shredded Beef  (adapted from a recipe I found on allrecipes.com)

2 to 3 lb Beef Roast

1/4 c. Water
1 Can Beef Broth
3 Tbls. Red Wine Vinegar
1 1/2 Tbls. Chili Powder
1 Tbls. Ground Cumin

Put the roast and the water into a saucepan over medium-high heat, cover.  Cook until water is gone and then brown beef on all sides.  Add the rest of the ingredients, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for another 2 hours.  Take out of pan and shred, and then add about 1/2 to 3/4 of the juices, that were left in the pan. Then make sure to taste it, because it's wonderful.

Nachos

Chips

Shredded Beef

Cheese (We used a combination of Medium Cheddar and Colby Jack)
Olives (if you like them, we only put them on half)
Refried Beans
Salsa

Two of us in our family don't like refried beans, or salsa, and the other two don't like olives, so we do a half and half nacho.  Layer the Refried beans on the bottom, then chips (in the picture I'm using the freshly fried Chips that I got from Bountiful Baskets, they came in yellow, green, and black, and were really good.)  Then Olives, Beef, Salsa, (or whatever you like) and finish with the cheese.  Bake in the oven until Cheese melts.  

Heather Anni