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

Chilaquiles Breakfast Casserole

This is a real crowd pleaser! I first had Chilaquiles at a fancy wine bar in phoenix for breakfast about a year ago, seemed like a good hangover cure for sure! Here is my version of this yummy dish!

Ingredients:
Cooking spray
4-5 C tortilla chips - stale is fine!
10 large eggs - but only use 4 yolks
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 (4-ounce) can mild chopped green chiles
1 TBSP chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 C shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 C shredded pepper jack cheese
1/2 C prepared green salsa verde
sour cream, optional

Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a rectangular 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Lightly crush the chips and spread half of them into the bottom of the baking dish.

Whisk the 10 eggs (remember only 4 yolks!), milk, chili powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl until well combined. Stir in the chopped chiles, chopped cilantro, and 1/4 cup each of the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses; pour into the pan. Spread the remaining chips over the egg mixture. Bake until the casserole is set, 20 to 25 minutes.

Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of each cheese and continue to bake until the cheeses are melted and the casserole is set in the center, about 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve with the salsa and, sour cream, if using.

NOTE: if you don't have tortilla chips you can substitute corn tortillas. Leave them out overnight to dry out and cut into triangles.

Whole Wheat Blueberry or Apple Pancakes

These fruit pancakes are a breakfast favorite and a real hit with the kids!

Blueberry Whole-Wheat Pancakes with Blueberry Syrup

Ingredients:
2 cups buttermilk
3 large eggs
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3 tablespoons sugar

Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups canned pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 eggs plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pre-made pie dough
Whipped cream, for topping

Homemade Oreo Cookies

For The Chocolate Wafers:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg

For The Filling:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter

Spicy Chicken Corn Cakes

Ingredients:
1 3 1/2- to 4-pound rotisserie chicken
1 tablespoon chopped canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
4 Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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

Buttermilk Pancakes

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Plus extra melted butter for greasing the pan.

Grebbel (Freid Doughnut)

Grebbel is a traditional Volga German morning treat that might be compared to a toast stick or long doughnut and calls for powdered sugar to be sprinkled over this golden brown delight. This makes a great Oktoberfest treat!

Ingredients:
1/2 c. soft butter (no substitute)
1/2 pint sour cream (do not use fat free or low fat)
4 eggs-beaten
4 c. flour
1/4 tsp. soda (baking)
2 tbsp. sugar 1/2 teas.
salt 2 teas. baking powder