Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake

This is my favorite recipe from Paula Deen. Everyone in my family loves this one! I can heartily rate it a 5 star!

Ingredients:
2 sticks unsalted melted butter, (keep the sticks melted separately)
2 Tablespoons butter for greasing the pan
1 (18.25 ounce)Betty Crocker Super Moist Milk Chocolate Cake Mix
1 8 ounce package cream cheese
3 eggs
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 (16 ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly grease a 13 by 9-inch glass pan

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, and 1 stick melted butter, and stir till well blended. Pat the mixture into the glass pan to cover bottom of pan.

With a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the remaining 2 eggs and 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder. Lower the mixer speed and add the sugar. Keep beating till ingredients are well mixed. Slowly add the remaining 1 stick of melted butter and vanilla, continuing to beat the mixture until smooth. Stir in nuts with a spatula. Pour filling over cake mixture that is already in glass pan. Bake for about 30 minutes being careful not to overcook. The center should be a little gooey when finished. Let cake cool on rack before cutting. This cake freezes well. I like to cut into pieces when partially dethawed for neater edges. Enjoy!

Best Fluffy Biscuits

After trying quite a few biscuit recipes, this one is the fluffiest...

Ingredients
1 1/3 Cups Flour (White Lily)
2 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Cup Crisco
2 Teaspoons Sugar
1 Beaten Egg
1/2 Cup Buttermilk

Start with all ingredients at room temperature. Preheat oven to 425.
Sift together 1 1/3 Cups Flour and 2 1/2 teaspoons of Baking Powder. I like to use a mesh strainer and tap it till the flour and baking powder goes through.

Stir in 1/4 Teaspoon of Salt and 2 teaspoons of sugar.

Cut in the Crisco till the mixture is crumbly. Do not overmix.

Stir together egg and buttermilk.

Make a well in the middle of dry ingredients and stir in the milk mixture with a fork stirring just enough to moisten.

Turn mixture out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead about 15 times and pat into a circle about 1/2 inch thick.

Cut out rounds with a cutter dipped in flour. Do not twist cutter. Push straight down and lift straight up.

Add to baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes at 425 and serve warm on a decorative server.

Luscious Banana Bread

No need for a mixer with this easy recipe, but be sure to use all ingredients at room temperature. This Banana Bread is moist, delicious, and perfect for an afternoon tea. Cut into slices, serve on a creamware cake stand, and let your guests enjoy!

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup (1 Stick) Unsalted Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 Teas Salt
2 Eggs
1 Teas Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour - Sifted
1 Teas Baking Soda
1 Teas Baking Powder
3 Ripe Bananas - mashed

Directions:
Preheat over to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9 x 5 inch Loaf Pan with Pam Cooking Spray
Mix well together the sugar and and butter with a spoon. Add salt, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking soda, bananas, and baking powder and mix well.

Pour batter into loaf pan and bake approximately 45-50 minutes. When done, take out of oven, and let rest in pan for about 5 minutes. Then remove from pan and let cool on a rack.

If desired add 2 handfulls of raisins or chopped walnuts before pouring into pan.
Tip: Whenever I have bananas that are becoming too ripe, I throw them into the freezer. When it is time to make banana bread, simply take them out of the freezer and let thaw. You'll never have wasted bananas again.

How to Keep Tea Hot for Hours

I have found the best way to keep tea hot for an extended time is to use a teapot warmer. These useful and decorative items are made by a variety of companies. I use the Royal Patrician Warmers that are available in both gold and silver. Simply add a tea light and set your teapot on the warmer. It is best to start with hot tea in the teapot. I set out 4 or 6 warmers with my favorite teapots on top, each with a different flavor of tea. Your tea will stay hot for several hours, a perfect amount of time to serve guests at a Tea Party.

Cheddar Cheese Ring Appetizer

This is a nice cheesy appetizer with a slightly hot flavor.

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound sharp Cheddar Cheese (grated)
1 Cup pecans (chopped)
¾ Cup Mayonaise
1 Medium onion (grated)
1-2 cloves garlic (pressed)
2 Tablespoons Tobasco
1 Cup Strawberry Preserves or Raspberry

DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients except preserves and mix well. Mold into a ring. Chill.
Fill with Strawberry or Rasberry Preserves. Serve with Rita or Water crackers.

Quick and Easy Sweet Potatoes

Delicious Sweet Potatoes topped with cinnamon and hot from the oven will please the whole family.

Ingredients:
5-6 large sweet potatoes - boiled till almost soft about 30 minutes
½ stick unsalted butter
Salt
Pepper
Cinnamon
Dark brown sugar
Maple or pancake syrup - 12 ounces ( I use Roddenberry's)

Directions:
Boil sweet potatoes in large pot for about 30 minutes till soft. Let cool and peel off skin.
Cut into quarters and lay flat in glass baking dish. (one layer only)
Add salt and pepper.
Add a slice of butter on every other potato
Cover with cinnamon.
Sprinkle with dark brown sugar.
Add about ½ bottle of pancake syrup over top.

Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes.

Delicious!

Christmas Lime Jello Salad

You will enjoy this jello salad any time of year, but at Thanksgiving and Christmas, the color and flavor of this side dish makes any meal a little more special.

Ingredients:
2 3 ounce boxes Lime Gelatin
2 Cups boiling water
2 Cups Sour Cream
2 Cups Cottage Cheese
2 Cups Crushed Pineapple

Directions:
Dissolve both boxes of lime gelatin in boiling water. Chill until slightly thickened. Beat in sour cream with mixer until smooth. Fold in cottage cheese and pineapple. Spray molds with Pam and pour into 1 quart mold or 8 small molds. Chill until firm. Unmold, set on a bed of lettuce and garnish with orange or lemon slices or more crushed pineapple and fresh mint.

Serves 8-10