In honor of my son's birthday: Chocolate Ho Ho Cake

For the first time ever, I am not able to celebrate my son's birthday with him this year.  He is away at college, 1000 miles away.  We mailed him a card and gifts and we Skype'd so the whole family could be 'together' and we sang happy birthday and watched him open his gifts, but the Mom in me was still sad that we've turned the page to another new chapter in parenting.  He turned 20.  How is this even possible!? 

In honor of my 'baby' boy I'm reposting his cake from the original website post date in 2006.  This was his cake that year and is so amazing, so delicious and so like a Ho-Ho that you may just want to make this cake for as many birthdays as you can.  Or for holidays.  Or random Tuesdays in September....  ha ha.  Enjoy.



Ho Ho Cake
Cake:

1 dark chocolate devils food cake mix (brand name, not store brand)
1 1/4 c water
3 eggs
1/2 c canola oil

Make the cake according to directions and bake in (2) 8 or 9 inch round pans. Follow the timing on the box (averages 32 minutes). Let cool completely. Slice the tops off to make them completely flat and even.

Filling:

1 cup sugar
6 oz. evaporated milk
1/2 c butter
1 T vanilla
2/3 c shortening
1/8 t salt

Icing:
1 container store bought dark fudge frosting

Beat the filling ingredients until light and fluffy. With a KitchenAid mixer this only takes about 3 minutes. With a handheld it may take up to 7-8 before it comes together. Spread the filling over the cooled cake and top with the second cake. Press down lightly to flatten and make even.

Microwave the frosting for about 20 seconds until it's pourable. Drizzle the frosting over the sides and then pour 1/2 - 3/4 on top. Smooth with a butter knife, spatula or frosting knife.

Cover loosely and refrigerate at least 24 hours.

An icy, Vanilla Frosty... easily made into chocolate, coffee or any other flavor too!

My favorite; vanilla!

Another one of those 'recipes' I throw together often and without thinking about them as a 'recipe' nor to share!  This week we've had them three times - and no guilt is needed other than the fact that it's got sugar in it.  But no heavy cream means it's light on calories and fat grams. 


Vanilla Frosty 

In a blender place;
3 cups ice
1/3 can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2  t vanilla
1/8 t salt
1/3 c Vanilla Almond Milk (or use regular milk and increase vanilla to 2 teaspoons)

Pulse in a blender until smooth.  Serves about 4, 1 cup servings or 2 adult sized servings.

Easy Iced Coffee

This is something I've been enjoying on a regular basis for years!  I love hot coffee in the mornings but it has to be hot, strong and black.  As soon as it cools down a bit, I don't care for it as much but I am frugal by nature and don't want to waste it.  Instead, I use my cold coffee to make iced coffee and enjoy a whole new drink.

I'm going to post the recipe I use to make a whole container of Iced Coffee as this way you use an entire 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk.  If you don't mind having a container of condensed milk in your refrigerator though, and just want to use a heaping spoonful to make individualize drinks as needed, that is what I like to do and it works fabulous.

Iced Coffee
6-8 cups strong coffee - cold
1 - 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 T vanilla
ice cubes

Combine coffee and sweetened condensed milk.  Add vanilla.  Pour over ice in cups and serve cold.

Quick Cheesy Garlic Bread with my favorite ingredient; cream cheese!

Two of my favorite foods are cream cheese and onions.  So versatile and so good!  Cream cheese is an ingredient in many of my recipes and our family loves it in a quick and easy cheesy garlic bread I'll whip up when it's suitable as an accompaniment to the meal.

I've posted many versions of this and it's one I hope you've considered trying.  I don't even use a recipe most of the time, I just open the refrigerator and use what is in front of me depending on what we have on hand.  Substitutions are great in this recipe so don't be worried if you are out of something.  Improvise... play with your food!



Cheesy Garlic Bread

1 8 oz. package cream cheese
1/4 c sour cream
2 T mayonnaise
1/4 c fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 T dried parsley
1 T minced green onion tops or 2 t dried chives
6  garlic cloves, minced or use prepared from a jar; about 1/2 - 1 tablespoon depending on how strong you like your garlic flavor.  You can also use garlic powder of course - start with 1 teaspoon and adjust to your taste.

Blend all and spread on 1 loaf of French bread that has been sliced on the diagonal. Place on a cookie sheet other baking sheet and either bake at 350 until to the desired crispness is achieved or you can broil them for 3 minutes under a broiler on high until the cheese is bubbly and hot.

Homemade Old Fashioned Doughnuts (or Donuts)

This is a cinnamon and nutmeg infused fried donut - not exactly the cake donut of my dreams, but very, very close.  Those good old-fashioned cake donuts with just a hint of spice.  Iced in a simple vanilla glaze and sprinkles of your choice, it's a fun breakfast alternative bringing back the days of Grandpa and Grandma's house.

Old Fashioned Doughnuts

1 3/4 c flour

1/2 T baking powder

1/2 t cinnamon

1/4 t nutmeg

1/2 t salt

3 T milk

1/4 c butter

2 eggs

1/3 c sugar

1 t vanilla extract

oil for frying

either cinnamon & sugar mixture for sprinkling or a simple vanilla icing for glazing

In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Set aside.  In a microwave safe bowl place the milk and butter.  Microwave 30 seconds or so until the butter is melted.  

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, vanilla and eggs.  Using an electric mixer, beat until thick. Add the milk/butter mixture and stir with a wooden spoon (cease using the mixer).  Add the dry flour mixture and stir with the wooden spoon.  Cover your dough and chill about 2 hours.  The dough will remain a bit sticky.  Roll the dough out on a floured surface to about 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick.  Cut dough with a round cookie cutter followed by cutting a hole from the center with a smaller 1" round cookie cutter - or if you have a doughnut cutter, all the better!  Fry 2-3 doughnuts at a time in hot oil - about 375 degrees.  Fry slow.  If your oil is too hot, they will be dark brown on the outside but still doughy on the inside.  It should take about 3 minutes per doughnut.  Drain on paper towels.  You can shake the warm doughnuts and doughnut holes in a paper bag with a cinnamon and sugar mixture or wait until they cool a bit and mix up a simple glaze using powdered sugar, vanilla, a bit of butter and a tad bit of milk.  Beat smooth and use this to ice your doughnuts before sprinkling with jimmies.