Chocolate Trifle

For Valentine's dinner on Sunday I made lasagna (one of my husband's favorites) and chocolate trifle for dessert. It is so delicious but so rich it is best to invite friends over and share the calories!

Chocolate Trifle

1 chocolate cake mix

1 package (3.9 ounce) vanilla instant pudding mix

1/2 cup water or milk

1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk (anything with this included must be amazing... and slightly fattening)

1 container (8 ounce) frozen whipped topping, thawed (frozen, thawed... what?)

1 chocolate bar, cinnamon candies, coconut (optional... to add a little somethin' special and for aesthetics)

1. Make cake as directed. Once baked, let cool. Cut into 1 inch squares, putting half into the bottom of the trifle dish.

2. Mix vanilla mix, water (milk) and sweetened condensed milk. Once mixed, add the whipped topping.

3. In trifle bowl, place half of the cake, half of the pudding mixture. Repeat layers. Shave chocolate onto top layer for garnish. Refrigerate for 8 hours before serving.

A man's bouquet...

On my way to work I am a frequent listener to NPR and before Valentine's heard several references to sending a dozen roses to your sweetheart. Sure, a dozen roses would work for me, but not for my loved one.  Instead he would appreciate a dozen donuts. Sure I could have just bought a dozen donuts, but why not make him a bouquet of donuts....

I bought dowels from local craft store, Michael's, cut out leaves from green paper and bought a variety of donuts from the grocery store. Put them together and you have a man's bouquet!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

*Word to the wise.... don't get donuts from the grocery store, get them from a real donut store.

Spunky Chicken...

While on the dreadmill in our apartment office I was watching the Food Network and saw a spunky lady make a delicious meal. I came in just after the beginning so I don't know who the cook was or what the dish was called. I thought it seemed easy enough so I made the dish last night. Whatever it is called, it is fantastic! So here is my recipe from what I can remember...

Spunky Chicken (spunky after the cook on FN)

4 chicken breasts (I used thighs but should have used breasts)

6-8 strips of turkey bacon, cut into chunks

1 lb mushrooms

1 medium onion chopped

1/4 package of cream cheese

1/4 c milk

1/4 c almonds

EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

(These are fairly close to what I used; however, the great part of a recipe like this is you can adjust to whatever you want. If you want it creamier add more milk, if you want it cheesier add more cream cheese. If you happen to love bacon, throw a few more strips on)

DIRECTIONS

1. Start cooking the breasts with a little butter in one pan

2. In the other start cooking the bacon. Once halfway cooked add the onions and later the mushrooms. I put a little butter in this pan as well to start the sauce.

3. The sauce: In my food processor I creamed the cream cheese with the milk to start the sauce. It will be runny, which is what you want. Add this to the bacon mixture. For the thickener start blending the almonds in the food processor and slowly add a little EVOO. This should become a paste. I kept adding more EVOO thinking it would turn more creamy, it doesn't and while the paste sits the extra EVOO will start to settle.

I served the chicken over a bunch of asparagus.

Fall into Chocolate...

I absolutely adore these two cards... they are simply adorable and amusing as well. Sure, I am all for love but I am also all for chocolate! I mean honestly, it is near Valentine's day and my heart partially belongs to chocolate!

Black Bottom Cupcakes

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/3 cup white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper cups

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, egg, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt until light and fluffy. Stir in the chocolate chips and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, 1 cup sugar, cocoa, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center and add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Stir together until well blended. Fill muffin tins 1/3 full with the batter and top with a dollop of the cream cheese mixture.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

* I first tried these cupcakes in college, my roommate's mom made them and I fell in love. She also has some great Valentine ideas!

As fond 0f these cupcakes as I am, I have a chocolate trifle planned instead...

Tabs on cooking...

Family Cookbook... Mi madre is compiling all of our (the girls in the family) favorite recipes and I am in charge of making the tabs. I have one set down (my sister's) and three more to go...