Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Wow!  This is such a delicious and easy frosting.  It easy makes plenty for a two layer round cake.  This icing is so fluffy!  Thank you Cooking Classy for the great recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups (12 oz) butter, at room temperature (I like to use 1 cup unsalted and 1/2 cup salted)
• 3 3/4 cups (448g) powdered sugar
• 2/3 cup (68g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 - 5 Tbsp half and half
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

• In a the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter on moderately high speed until very pale and fluffy. Sift in cocoa powder then add in powdered sugar, 3 Tbsp half and half, and the vanilla and mix on low speed until combine, scrapping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix in up to additional 2 Tbsp half and half to thin as needed. Increase mixer to medium-high speed and whip until fluffy.

Chocolate Ganache

Chocolate ganache can used on top of cake or many other desserts.  It also makes desserts look expensive and fabulous.  Thank you Rose Bakes for the recipe.

Ingredients:

4 oz semi sweet chocolate (by weight)½ cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. First, warm the cream in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering. While it's heating, chop the chocolate into small pieces if you're using bars or bricks) and place in a glass bowl. When the cream is heated, pour it over the chopped chocolate and stir until the chocolate it melted and the mixture is smooth. Allow to cool and thicken. {Note: you can also allow this to completely cool and whip it to use as a filling or frosting for piping.} I stuck mine in the frig for about 10 minutes to speed up the process!
2. I've also added in ¼ cup of corn syrup (for added shininess) and vanilla (for extra flavor) but these are not necessary!

One Bowl Chocolate Cake

My husband loves chocolate cake but I will not buy a box cake anymore because of the tons of ingredients that I can't even pronounce.  I have made several chocolate cakes but this one is moist, delicious and so easy to make.  Thank you Rose Bakes for the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare two 8" or 9" round pans (or I've also used a 9"x13" sheet cake pan). Make sure to grease and flour the pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the eggs, oil, milk and vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed, then stir in the boiling water.
4. Pour into the prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow them to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then flip them out on a wire rack and let completely cool before frosting.

Wheat Crackers

I was trying to find a saltine recipe but ended up finding this recipe.  It is quite tasty, and I think would be so good with pimento cheese or anything like that.  Thank you Little House Living for the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 c. wheat flour
• 4 T. butter (softened or melted)
• 1 1/2 T Sugar
• 1/2 t. salt + some for sprinkling
• 1/4 c. water (more or less)

Directions:

In a bowl, mix together the sugar, wheat flour, and salt. 

Add in the butter. Mix until crumbly.

Slowly add in the water. You may need more or less.  Mixing with a fork combines the ingredients better and still lets them be flaky.

Roll the dough out until it's very thin. (It will not rise at all so just roll it out to be the thinness you desire to eat!) You will need to roll out the dough on parchment paper if you aren't using a stonewear pan so it doesn't stick.

Score your crackers with a pizza cutter. If your crackers aren't perfectly square, no big deal

Sprinkle with a little more salt.

Bake at 400F for about 15 minutes. Watch the crackers after 10 minutes to make sure they don't get too "done".  They will burn quickly!

Enjoy plain, with cheese, dip, or any other way you normally enjoy crackers!

Hot Dog Chili

I love a good hot dog with really good chili.  Canned chili will not give you the delicious, wonderful taste that goes on a good hotdog.  This recipe is easy and can easily be frozen.  You can freeze it in an ice cube tray, with one cube being just about enough for one hot dog.  Once frozen, just remove from tray and place in container.  This recipe can easily be doubled.

Ingredients:

1 lb. hamburger (You want to use ground chuck or ground round - anything that is more fatty will give you a very greasy chili)

1 can tomato soup

3/4 cup ketchup

1-2 Tbls dried minced onions

1-2 tsp chili powder (you can add more depending on your taste and amount of heat you like)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a pot and mix well.  Turn heat to medium and cook for 45 minutes to one hour or until thickened and all meat is cooked.  When you check with thermometer, you want to have a temperature of at least 165 degrees.  Stir often to make sure it is not sticking.  If it begins to bubble, just turn down the temperature a little bit.

Cheeseburger Macaroni

This recipe is very easy and much better than store bought boxed kinds.  Most times we double the recipe which gives us something good for lunch since it is so easy to reheat.

Ingredients:

1 lb hamburger

1 medium onion

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Salt and Pepper to taste (about 1/2 tsp each is a good place to start)

7 oz uncooked macaroni

1 small can tomato paste

1/2 lb American, Velveeta, or Cheddar Cheese

Directions:

Brown hamburger, onion and spices in large, deep skillet.  Drain oil from pan when meat is completely cooked.  

Place hamburger back in pan and stir in tomato paste.  Add uncooked macaroni and enough HOT water to cover the hamburger, tomato paste and macaroni mix.  Stir well and bring to a boil.  Cover and turn down to a simmer.  Cook until macaroni is soft.  If needed, add a little more water to allow to cook more until macaroni is soft.  When dish is done, remove from heat, add cheese and cover.  Cheese should be melted in about 5 minutes.

Homemade Herbal Shampoo

I haven't made this yet, but I will for my next batch of shampoo.  Thank you Nerdy Farm Wife for the recipe.

Customizable DIY Herbal Shampoo Recipe:

• 2 ounces Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Baby Mild Pure Castile Soap
• 4 to 5 ounces of water, infused with herbs (see suggestions below)
• 1/4 teaspoon carrier oil – more for dry hair, less for oily (options below)
• 20 to 40 drops essential oil (suggestions below)

First, make your herbal infusion by placing a teaspoon, or pinch, of each type of herb you wish to use in a heat proof jar or glass, pour one cup of simmering hot water over the herbs, cap with a saucer and let steep for several hours. Strain and set aside 4 to 5 ounces. Any leftover infusion can be used in your bathwater or diluted with vinegar to use as a hair rinse.

Add the castile soap, carrier oil and essential oils to the water. Gently stir until mixed. Try to avoid whipping up any bubbles, as much as possible. Pour into an easy to dispense container. You can recycle an old shampoo bottle for this.

Make small batches at a time and store this in your refrigerator. Shelf life will be up to a few weeks, but check for spoilage before each use.

Shake or swirl gently before each use. If at all possible, follow with either a rinse or spritzing of vinegar and water. More on this below.

Okay, so now that we know the basic recipe, let’s talk about how to customize this shampoo in order to make it your own.

Herbs to try in your infusion:

These can be fresh or dry or a combination of both types.

Chamomile is traditionally used for light hair and rosemary for dark hair, but feel free to mix and match as you please. You can make a lovely floral shampoo, using roses, violets, lavender and other flowers with matching essential oils or create a more medicinal one with rosemary, thyme and tea tree oil.

Comfrey and calendula are great for scalp conditions and rosemary is said to prevent thinning hair. Lavender may help a dry, itchy scalp. These are just a few suggestions.

Peruse through the listings of available bulk herbs at Mountain Rose Herbs and see which names catch your eye. Each herb has a little link under its name that you can click for more information that will let you know what it’s useful for.

You can also invest in a great herbal reference book. My favorite is Making Plant Medicineby Richo Cech.

• Calendula
• Chamomile
• Comfrey
• Lavender
• Lemon or Orange Peel
• Nettle Leaf
• Oregano
• Plantain
• Rose Petals and/or Leaves
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme
• Violet Flowers and/or Leaves