Sinful Chocolate Cake

This is my FAVORITE cake! It is so rich and decadent it is sinful!

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
3/4 teaspoon fine salt
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1/2 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup Greek-style yogurt (you can substitute sour cream)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Powdered sugar for dusting

Chocolate Intensity

This dessert is very dense in texture and rich in flavor. The name definitely says it all. It was deep, rich, and most definitely intense. And that’s before glazing it! Actually, to say this cake is intense is an understatement. I would described this cake as death-by-chocolate - but a sweet way to go. With half a pound of chocolate and 3 sticks of butter, it tasted like a chocolate truffle cheesecake without the sour tang from the cream cheese. There was no doubt that the coffee did its job of adding depth and complexity to the chocolate.Tip: Instead of glazing the cake whole and slicing wedges, try cutting out rounds to make a bunch of small cakes (before the glaze).

Ingredients:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
12 ounces (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brewed coffee

Black Bottom Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Filling

Cream Cheese Filling
16-oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 large egg whites, room temperature
2 tbsp sour cream, room temperature
1/3 cup miniature chocolate chips (not full size*)

Cake
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups sugar

Icebox Cake

Ingredients:
3 cups heavy cream
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 (9-ounce) packages Nabisco chocolate wafer cookies
Unsweetened cocoa (or chocolate shavings)

Preparation:
In a large bowl, beat cream, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form.

Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 20-ounce can pineapple, crushed, chunks or tidbits
1/3 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
24 maraschino cherries

18-19 ounce yellow cake mix (prepare batter as directed on box OR use these ingredients)
- 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled or vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- water*

Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients:
1 package lemon cake mix
1/3 cup butter or margarine - softened
3 eggs
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese - softened
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Coconut Cream Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
5 large eggs, separated
2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

Thanksgiving 2011

Only a few days until Thanksgiving! This is my favorite time of the year! I love the aroma of delicious foods cooking in the kitchen and the bustle of the family getting ready to celebrate and give thanks!

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

With only a couple days left I am going to start the cooking tonight! I usually cook for the family and we have about 15-20 people for dinner. It gives me such great pleasure to see everyone enjoying the all the delicious dishes we prepared! So without further adieu, here is the Thanksgiving Menu for this year: