Death by Chocolate

One of my resolutions this year is to blog more...so I'm going to really try (I say this all time, I know) to get a new recipe or blog entry 2x a week or more often! 

I actually have about 100 recipes in my "draft" section, just waiting to be posted.   So post....I will!!!! Blogging more, getting back on my workout routine and cooking more at home (we've gotten ourselves into an ordering out/going out routine)...as well as more organizing and decorating the house all in 2013! Those are my goals/resolutions!!  And I plan to stick with them ALL (as much as I can)!  Now that I've publicly announced them....I better put my food where my mouth is! 

Here is a recipe that my Mom always made for special occasions when we were kids....I especially remember it on New Year's Eve!  Her recipe was a little different because she used Heath Bars......and with all the nut allergies nowadays I stick with Kit Kats.  She also used to put Kahlua in her cake mix to give it a little extra kick, I do not.  You definitely can add the Kahlua and swap the Heath for the Kit Kats! But no matter how you do it.....you will be sure to have a crowd pleasing dessert!!!  It's a very simple recipe, that really takes no time at all.....As long as you have the ingredients in your kitchen. You can make it for a large crowd, for a holiday, for a BBQ, or just for 2 people to share on Valentine's Day (and the week following with leftovers).  I made this yesterday for New Year's Eve and even though a lot of it went...I was so excited to have leftovers!!!!   It's even better after it sits in the fridge for a few days!   YUM!!!!  

Death By Chocolate 

1 box of Chocolate Cake Mix (I use Chocolate Fudge) 
1 box of Chocolate Mousse Mix 
1 large container of Cool Whip -- remove from freezer and into fridge for 30 minutes-1hour before you make dessert. 
1 package of 6 -- Kit Kat Bars 

 Follow directions on the cake mix box..and make your cake. 
Cool and then wrap the entire cake in foil and put in the freezer for a few hours. 
Make mousse by following the box..let cool in fridge for a few hours. 
In a food processor or by hand smash candy bars into pieces. 

When ready to make the dessert, get a large clear bowl. 
Crumble 1/2 of the cake into bottom of bowl. 
Next layer 1/2 of the mousse on top.
Next layer 1/2 of the Cool Whip. 
Sprinkle 1/2 of the candy pieces. 
Next layer the rest of cake crumbled.
Layer rest of mousse. 
Layer rest of Cool Whip. 
Finish off with candy pieces!

 Blog Post -- 1, Eating Healthy -- 0 


 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

~Gianna~

Red Velvet Cake for a VERY Happy Birthday!

My Dad just turned 60 (shhhhh.....he's still in denial), but doesn't look a day over 50!  My Mom invited us to dinner and asked if I could bring the cake.  She (yes my Mom requested the kind of cake for my Dad) asked that I make a red velvet cake!  Being this is my absolute favorite kind of cake, I quickly started looking for a good recipe.  I had one for cupcakes that I had made for Olivia's birthday one year, and I had a slightly different recipe for red velvet cake balls I usually make around Christmas time....but I knew I had to find something even more delicious for my Dad.  If anyone deserves it, it's him! 
It didn't take me long to go over to one of my favorite baking blogs Bakeralla.  She has some of the cutest, yummiest ideas...and she didn't fail me this time either!  Within seconds I found my recipe...and after tasting it...I knew she would've been proud!   Of course..as you will see throughout this blog my picture taking skills of food aren't that great....but I am going to keep trying to get better! 

So without further ado....I present my first food entry to this blog and boy was it a good one!  This red velvet cake was so delicious and ooooo sooooo velvety!  Once you slather it in cream cheese frosting ......it's a red and white slice of yumminess!   Everyone loved it, including my Dad!  Happy, Happy...DAD (Mom picked a good cake!!)  xoxox

Red Velvet Cake

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 oz. red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour two 8 inch cake pans.

Lightly stir eggs in a medium bowl with a wire whisk. Add remaining liquid ingredients and stir together with whisk until blended. Set aside.

Place all the dry ingredients in your mixing bowl and stir together really good with another wire whisk.

Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix on medium-high for about a minute or until completely combined.

Pour into cake pans and then drop the pans on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

After about ten minutes, remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack. I also cover in plastic wrap while the cakes cool.

Then make the frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 cups confectioners’ sugar

Sift sugar and set aside.

Beat cream cheese and butter on high until creamy. Add vanilla.

Then, add the sugar in batches. Scrape down the sides in between each addition.

And frost.

ENJOY!!!!



~Gianna~