Chicago Chocolate Cinnamon Cake

Out of my favorites out of my "Ivory favorites" recipe book.  A real treat.  I just love cinnamon and chocolate together!


2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
1/4 cup cocoa
1 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs




Glaze:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup cocoa
6 Tablespoons milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans, optional


Mix flour and sugar in large bowl.  Bring butter, cocoa, and water to boil in saucepan.  Pour over flour mixture and mix well.  Add buttermilk, soda, cinnamon, vanilla, eggs and salt and mix well.  Pour into greased and floured 9x13 pan.  Bake 30-35 mins. @350*, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.


Bring the first 4 ingrs. for glaze to boil.  Remove from heat and add powdered sugar gradually.  Pour over warm cake.  Add nuts if desired.

Brownie Pudding

My husband says this should really be called "crack cocaine"!  To die for!
  I love to serve it hot with vanilla icecream.
A slight variation taken from an Ina Garten cookbook.  She asked for a framboise liqueur which was optional and scraped vanilla seeds which I used vanilla extract in it's place.

2 sticks butter, melted and cooled
4 large eggs, at room temp.
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. flour
1/4 c. cocoa powder
1-2 tsp. vanilla


Preheat the oven to 325*.  Butter a 2 quart (9x12x2 inch)  baking dish.  
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle, beat eggs and sugar for 5-10 mins.  Until very thick and light yellow.  Meanwhile, sift the cocoa powder and flour together and set aside.
When the eggs and sugar mixture is done, lower speed and add vanilla and cocoa/powder mixture.  Mix only till combined.  With the mixer still on low, slowly pour in the cooled butter and mix again just until combined.
Pour brownie mixture into the prepared dish and place it in a larger baking pan.   Add enough of the hottest tap water to the pan to come halfway up the side of the dish and bake for exactly 1 hour.  The center will appear very under-baked; this dessert is between a brownie and a pudding.
Serve with vanilla icecream.

Apple Pie en Papillotte

"pie in a bag"

Crust:
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. oil
2 TB. cold milk


Filling:
4 c. peeled, thinly sliced apples
1/2 c. sugar
2 TB. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. nutmeg


Topping:
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cold butter


Mix crust ingr. in a food processor.  Press into a 9-inch pie plate; set aside
Combine filling and dump into pie shell.
Mix topping in food processor, and sprinkle on top of pie.
Place pie in a large paper bag.  Seal with staples.  Bake for 90 mins. @350*.
Serve warm with vanilla icecream.

Pumpkin Cookies

These are to die for! I make them even during the off season. MMmm.....

Super moist. They are even good without the chocolate chips. (Thats how Liv likes them)

3 cups canned pumpkin

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons nutmeg

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 cups sugar

1 teaspoon salt

5 cups flour

1 1/2 cup chocolate chips (milk or semi) we like semi.

In a large mixing bowl, combine all first 10 ingredients (down to flour). Add flour and mix.

Stir in chocolate chips. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15 mins.

1 hour Cinnamon Rolls

These are the best ever! I got this from my friend Amy Thatcher who promised me they would only take an hour. She was right. I did modify her salt from 1 tsp. to 3 tsp.

3 1/2 cup warm water
6 TB. yeast
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup oil
Mix briefly in Bosch, let sit for 15 mins.

Then add:

3 tsp. salt
3 eggs
10 1/2 cup flour or less, just enough so it's not sticky
just keep adding the flour one cup at a time until it pulls from the sides of the bowl.

Divide dough in half. Roll into 20x12 inch rectangles. Spread with softened butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Add nuts or raisins if desired.
Using a pizza cutter, cut down middle lengthwise then cut in strips the other way. Roll up the strips and place on cookie sheets (Ungreased) 2 inches apart.
Bake 425 degrees for 10 mins.
Top with icing while still warm. Makes 2 pans.

Icing:
1 stick butter, softened
1 bag powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
milk to consistency
Mix well.

Cowboy Cookies

President Bush's favorite cookie

3 sticks butter
1 1/2 cup wht. sugar
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 T. Vanilla
3 cups flour
1 T. baking powder
1 T. soda
1 tsp. salt
1 T. cinnamon
3 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
3 cups oats
2 cups coconut
2 cups pecans

Bake 350 degrees for 12-14 mins.
We do a big cookie. If you do smaller then watch your time.
Makes 6-7 doz.

Walnut Bars

Crust:
1 c. butter
1/2 c. corn starch
1/2 c. sugar
2 c . flour

Filling:

4 eggs, beaten
2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
4 TB flour
2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. chopped walnuts
1 1/2 c. flaked coconut

Mix crust ingredients until play dough consistency. Spread into a 11x8 pan. Bake @ 325' for 15 mins. Combine filling ingredients and spread over crust, leaving a 1/2" border around edges. Bake @ 300' for 15 mins, then 5 mins. more at 350'. Cool bars completely, frost and cut. Keep in fridge until ready to serve.

Frosting:

1/2 c. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 box powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon juice

Chocolate Bundt Cake with Fudge Frosting

Always a birthday request

1 chocolate cake mix
3/4 cup water
1 small package instant chocolate pudding
3/4 cup oil
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Mix by hand cake mix, water, pudding, oil, eggs and sour cream until smooth. Add chocolate chips. Bake in well greased bundt pan at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Chocolate Frosting:

1 cup sugar
5 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup milk
6 oz. (1/2 pkg.) chocolate chips--approx. 1 cup

Bring to a boil, cook 1 minute. Remove from heat, add chocolate chips. Stir until melted and pour over cake.

Creamy Chocolate Icing

Mom's chocolate icing was always a favorite.

1/2 cup shortening
1 egg
1/2 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup milk
4 cups powdered sugar

Whip till creamy. Store in fridge.

Banana Cream Pie

A simple pie done in the microwave.
I love the coconut extract!

5 TB. cornstarch
2 TB. Tapioca
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2 1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Mix in a microwave safe bowl. Bring to a boil in the microwave. Stir constantly every minute or so. This will get frothy. Let it go for about 6-10 mins.

Meanwhile, mix in a large metal bowl :

4 egg yolks

Add the hot mixture from the microwave to the eggs very slowly while whisking quickly.
This will make your custard.
When cool add sliced bananas, 1 1/2 tsp. coconut extract, and 2 TB. of butter.

Pour custard into pie crusts.
Makes enough filling for 2 pies. Cool further in fridge for several hours.
Top with whipped cream.

Sugar Cookies

This is from my dear friend Jenny Jolley. I love the nutmeg addition.

2/3 cup butter, softened
2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
5 cups flour

Combine butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and sour cream.
Mix all the dry ingredients together then add to previous mixture.
Chill for about 2-3 hours.
Roll out and cut.

Bake @ 375 for 6-8 mins. They will not brown.
Frost.