Almond Mocha Cake

If you are looking for a dense, moist, chocolate cake

full of flavor then this is the cake for you.

Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1-1/2 cups strong coffee

1/2 cup margarine

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup sugar

2 tsp almond extract

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

Icing sugar

Heat oven to 325F.

Generously grease a 12-cup Bundt pan.

Gently press almonds in bottom and half way up

sides of greased pan.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat

combine coffee, margarine and chocolate chips

until mixture is smooth, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and stir in sugar & almond flavoring.

Place in large bowl and cool for 5 minutes.

At low speed, gradually blend flour and baking soda

into chocolate mixture until moistened.

Add vanilla and eggs;

beat at medium speed until just blended.

Pour into greased and nut-lined pan.

Bake at 325F for 60-70 minutes

or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 

Cool upright in plan 25 minutes;

Invert onto serving plate.

Cool completely.

Sprinkle with Icing sugar & enjoy!

 ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!



Berry Crisp

Isn't it funny how you can start thinking about one thing

and it leads you to something completely different?

For me it started with my slight case of spring fever.

Hubby & I were discussing garden plans

and changes we want to make this year.

Next thing I knew I had a craving for a

Berry Crisp.

The tartness of the berries, the crunch of the top,

mixed with the sweetness of the ice cream.

It's like a spring sensation for your taste buds.

So, I scrounged around and this is what I came up with.

Berry Crisp

4 cups frozen mixed berries

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup flour + 3 Tbsp.

3/4 cup quick cooking oats

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

Toss the mixed berries with 1/3 cup sugar and 3 Tbsp. flour.

Place in a greased 9-inch baking pan.

Combine the cooking oats, brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour.

Add butter and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Sprinkle over the berries.

Bake at 350F for 30-40 minutes

or until golden brown.

Top with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

(I topped with Vanilla Fudge Crackle to add a chocolate crunch)

 ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!



After School Crunch Bars

I love the quick simplicity of these bars.
They are good with the peanut butter chips
but my favorite way
is with the butterscotch chips :)



Ingredients

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup peanut butter (or butterscotch) chips

2/3 cup margarine

2 tsp. vanilla

4 cups Rice Krispies

2 cups Rolled Oats

Glaze

1 cup peanut butter

In a large microwave safe bowl

combine chocolate, peanut butter chips and margarine.

Microwave on medium for 2-3 minutes,

stirring once halfway through.

Stir until smooth.

Add vanilla, Rice Krispies and oats.

Stir well.

Press into a 9x13-inch greased pan.



Melt peanut butter in microwave for 30-40 seconds.

Drizzle over bars.

Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Cut into bars and enjoy!

 ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

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Carrot & Herb Biscuits

 

These biscuits are the perfect accompaniment

to a bowl of soup on a cool winter day.

The original recipe is from the Pillsbury Complete Book of Baking.

 

 

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups flour

3/4 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

3 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. basil leaves

1 tsp. parsley flakes

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 cup margarine or butter

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/3 cup milk

1 egg

 

Heat oven to 400F.

In medium bowl, combine

flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, basil, parsley & salt; blend well.

Using pastry blender or fork,

cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Stir in carrots.  Add milk and egg,

stirring just until moistened.

To form each biscuit,

drop 1/4 cup of dough unto ungreased cookie sheet.

 

Bake at 400F for 12 to 14 minutes

or until light golden brown.

Serve warm with butter :)

 ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!



 

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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

 

These Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are so good they're bad.

You just can't stop at one!

 

 

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

3 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups raisins

 

Preheat oven to 350F.

Lightly grease or line with parchment paper cookie sheets.

Cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.

Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt.

Add oats and raisins and mix.

Drop by tsp. onto cookie sheets, about 2-inches apart.

Bake 11-13 minutes until golden, but still moist beneath cracks on top.

Cool approximately 2 minutes on sheets

and then remove and finish cooling on wire racks.

 

Enjoy!

 

 ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

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Double Chocolate Chunk Cupcakes

 

These cupcakes have a festive feel and flavor to them.

They are another great item to have in the freezer

for the busy days ahead.

 

 

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 egg

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1/4  cup chopped slivered almonds

 

Heat oven to 375F.  Line 18 muffin cups.

In large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cocoa,

baking soda and salt; blend well.

Add buttermilk, margarine, almond extract and egg;

blend just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Fold in white chocolate and milk chocolate chips and almonds.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full.

 

Bake in 375F oven for 15-20 minutes or until

toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Serve warm or cool.

 

Recipe from:  Pillsbury: The Complete Book of Baking

 ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!



 

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Butterscotchy Almond Bars

 

This is my daughter's favorite Christmas treat.

It is one of the first things I make

and include a few in her last parcel before Christmas.

 

 

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup butter

2 cups packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1-1/2 tsp. vanilla

 

Nutty Topping

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup corn syrup

2 Tbsp. water

1/4 tsp. salt

1-1/2 cups sliced almonds

 

Combine flour and baking powder; set aside.

Melt butter in large saucepan.

Remove from heat; blend in sugar.

Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Stir in flour mixture.

Spread batter in a greased 13x9-inch pan.

Bake in 350F oven for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and prepare Nutty Topping.

 

Nutty Topping

Melt 1/4 cup butter in small saucepan.

Add and mix in sugar, corn syrup, water and salt.

Bring mixture to boil; boil 4 minutes; stirring constantly.

Pour over base and sprinkle sliced almonds over top.

Bake 15 minutes longer.

 

 

Cool 30 minutes and then drizzle melted chocolate over top.

Slice while still warm.

(This makes it easier to get out of the pan) 

 

 

~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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