Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake with Butter Pecan Frosting


Kimberly
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cake 
with Butter Pecan Frosting
serves 12-16

Cake
1/2 C butter
1 3/4 C sugar
1/2 C vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 C unsweetend cocoa
2 1/4 C flour
1/2 C buttermilk
2 C zucchini, grated
1 C chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Beat butter and sugar together until fluffy.  Add oil slowly, mix until well blended.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix in salt, baking soda and cocoa.  Mix well.  Mix in flour.  Add buttermilk and zucchini. Mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into greased 9" x 13" baking pan and bake about 30-35 minutes, until tested done. Cool 10 minutes and frost while warm.  


Butter Pecan Frosting
3/4 C butter
1 C brown sugar
1/3 C heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 C powdered sugar
1 cup pecans (optional)

Melt butter in a small pan over low heat. Add brown sugar and cook 1 minute. Remove from heat and add cream and vanilla. Stir in powdered sugar and pecans until combined. Spread over warm cake. 
The pecans are delicious in this but it is good without them too.  Half my family doesn't like nuts so I usually frost half then add 1/2 cup pecans and frost the second half.  Great use of extra zucchinni!!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Taco Lasagna


Kimberly
Taco Lasagna
serves 9-12





10 to 12 flour or corn tortillas( we perfer flour)
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 1/2 pkgs of taco seasoning
1 24 oz jar of salsa
1 16 oz sour cream
4 cups shredded cheddar or monterey jack ( I use sharp cheddar)
1/4 tsp cayanne pepper or 1chili powder


Preheat oven to 350.
Cook the ground beef according to taco seasoning directions. Mix cayanne if you like a little kick or chili powder if you like it mild into the sour cream container.  Stir until well blended.  Set aside.
Place a layer of tortillas on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.  Make sure the bottom is completely covered, I rip some of the tortillas to place over holes. 
Place half of sour cream mixture over tortillas.  Cover completely with a thin layer.  
Then spread half of the taco meat. 
 Then half jar of salsa.
 Cover with half the cheese.  
Repeat all the layers again starting with tortillas and ending with cheese.  
Cover with foil bake for 45 minutes.  Remove foil and bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
This is a simple easy dinner that everyone loves!!!!