Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Sheet Cake

We had friends over Sunday night and I had a been wanting to try this recipe but not have a ton of cake for just the two of us. This is a *DIVINE* chocolate cake, if you never make anything on my blog please, please, please make this! I love Pioneer Woman's cookbook and throughly enjoyed making this recipe.

It makes an 18x12 sheet cake.(Note: I did not have an 18x12x2 pan so I used a standard size pan and just cooked the cake a little longer)

Below is the recipe from Pioneer Woman's website, click here and see her step by step photos!

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE:
• 2 cups Flour
• 2 cups Sugar
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• 4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
• 2 sticks Butter
• 1 cup Boiling Water
• ½ cups Buttermilk
• 2 whole Beaten Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• _____
• FOR FROSTING:
• ½ cups Finely Chopped Pecans
• 1-¾ stick Butter
• 4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa
• 6 Tablespoons Milk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 pound (minus 1/2 Cup) Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.

In a saucepan, melt butter.

Add cocoa.

Stir together.

Add boiling water,

allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture,

and stir lightly to cool.

In a measuring cup, pour the buttermilk and add beaten eggs,

baking soda, and vanilla.

Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture.

Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

While cake is baking, make the icing. Chop pecans finely.

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat.

Add the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir together.

Add the pecans, stir together, and pour over warm cake.

Cut into squares, eat, and totally wig out over the fact that

you’ve just made the best chocolate sheet cake. Ever.

Happy Baking!!

Baked Chicken Nuggets

I have been trying to cook out of my pantry to avoid spending more money on groceries this month and I wanted a quick easy meal the other night so I found this delicious recipe in my Southern Living fast family suppers recipe book. It was so quick and easy and I had everything I needed at home! I LOVE chicken nuggets. They are one of my favorite comfort foods. If you have kids they will love this and it is a great alternative to frying chicken nuggets.

What you Need:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup of fine bread crumbs

1/4 cup of parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp of dried basil

1/2 tsp of dried thyme

1/4 tsp of salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 cup of melted butter

How to make it:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Take your chicken and cut it into about 1 inch size pieces, this is not an exact science( you could also buy chicken tenderloins and make strips instead.)

2. Now place all of your dry ingredients in a heavy duty ziploc bag, and shake it up till it is mixed well

3. Dip each chicken piece into the butter and cover completely then place in the bag and shake.

4. Place each breaded piece on a greased baking sheet, and then bake for 20 minutes and you are done!

It is so yummy, just serve it up with your favorite sauce and side dishes.

We had steamed english peas and PW's mac and cheese with it.

Enjoy!

Happy Cooking!

Pioneer Woman's Linguini with Clam Sauce

I love Linguini with clams. Growing up my Aunt would always make this dish for me and it was fabulous. When I bought PW's cookbook and saw this recipe, I was really excited to try it. It a perfect blend of flavors and has creamy rather oil based sauce. It was just plain FANTASTIC. Better than all that it is a quick meal to make, under 30 minutes. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

What You Need:
2 – 10 oz cans of clams, drained, juice reserved
3 cloves garlic, minced

Chopped parsley

2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
¾ c. white wine (optional- if you do not want to add it you can use white wine vinegar or non alcoholic white wine)
¾ c. heavy cream
Juice of ½ lemon
1 box of Linguini noodles
Salt and pepper to taste

Grated Parmesan cheese

How to make it:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions (I use whole wheat pasta)
2. Melt 1 tbsp of the butter with the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
3. Add the clams and garlic, cook about 3 minutes
4. Add the wine (or your substitute) and stir. Let cook for 3-4 minutes, until it has reduced
5. Lower heat. Add lemon juice and the remaining butter, stir through and cook a few more minutes
6. Add cream, parsley, salt and pepper (**note: you don’t need too much salt because the clams are fairly salty**). Cook until heated through
7. Pour the sauce over the bed of hot noodles toss, top with cheese, and serve with a lemon slice.

Viola! You are done, that was easy and your kitchen smells decadent.

Happy Cooking Y'all!

Peanut Butter Balls

I love Chocolate, doesn't everyone :-), add peanut butter and you can not lose. So yesterday morning I decided to whip up some peanut butter balls. Perfect for Valentine's Day make these for your sweetheart and you are sure to have them wrapped around your finger! Ok are you ready to make this yummy dessert?Get your pen and paper out to write down this list of ingredients, are you ready??

What you need:

4 tbs of melted butter

1 cup smooth peanut butter

2 cups powdered sugar

6 oz semisweet chocolate chips

That is it! You probably have all of that in your pantry!

How to make it:

1. Mix the peanut butter, sugar, and butter together in a bowl

2. Now roll the mixture into balls and place in a baking dish

3. Put the balls in the freezer for 10 minutes

4. Now melt your chocolate in the microwave

5. Then dip your balls into the chocolate and cover them completely (***side note: I am sure there is a better way to do it like use a skewer but I didn't I used my hands can we say messy fingers***)

6 Place the covered balls back into the baking dish and place it in the refrigerator for 25 minutes and you are done!!

Enjoy!

**They may not be pretty but they are delicious, as you can tell my hubby stole a few before I took the picture***

Happy Cooking Y'all!!!

Pioneer Woman's Chicken Fried Steak

I am a little late in this PW's post, but with work I have not really had a chance to cook lately! I made this yummy chicken fried steak that tasted divine!

What you Need:
3 pounds sliced cube steak
2 large eggs
3 1/2 cups milk
3 1/3 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoons paprika
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
3 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup canola oil

How you make it:
1. Beat the eggs with one cup of milk and place in shallow dish

2. Mix 3 cups flour with 2 teaspoons salt, paprika, cayenne and black pepper, place in shallow dish

3. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Dip in eggs, then flour, then back in eggs, coating thoroughly each time. Place on empty plate until ready to cook.

***Side Note: easiest way to do this set it up in a line then you get less mess everywhere***

4. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Fry meat 3 pieces at a time until golden, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove to paper towel lined plate and keep warm.

5. After frying all the meat, pour out all grease except for 1/4 cup and heat up the grease. Sprinkle 1/3 cup flour over the grease and whisk it together.

6. After a couple of minutes the flour mixture will turn brown. Whisking constantly, pour in 2 cups of milk. Let gravy come to slow boil to thicken. Add more milk as needed if it gets too thick. This should take 5-10 minutes. (***side note my poor hubby kept adding flour and it did not turn out well oh well lessen learned***)

7. Now enjoy!

I absolutley recommend this recipe your hubby with think you stole his grandma's recipe!

Happy Cooking!!

Chicken Broccoli Braid

This is a modified pampered chef recipe. My mom made this when I was a kid and it is one of my favorites. It is also one of the firsts things I ever learned to cook. It is so simple, so enjoy.

What you need:

1 package frozen broccoli

4 chicken breasts or tenderloins (I use the frozen kind)

2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

½ cup of mayo

2 packages of crescent rolls

How to make it:

1. Boil your chicken for 45 min on med-high heat

2. Roll out your crescent rolls flat into one large piece of dough on a greased baking sheet

3. Using a knife and cut 1 inch wide strips in towards the center, starting on the long sides. There should be a solid strip about 3 inches wide down the center, with the cut strips forming a fringe down each side.

4. Spread the chicken mixture along the center strip. Fold the side strips over chicken mixture, alternating strips from each side. Pinch or twist to seal.

5. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown .

6. Now enjoy!

   
   

   
   
   
   Happy Cooking Y'all!
   

The Lady and Sons Macaroni and Cheese

Hey Y'all. I do not know about you but I am a sucker for homemade macaroni and cheese. My grandmother made the best and I try to repeat it but it is not quite like hers. I found this recipe and online it is the mac and cheese recipe from Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah, GA. A few nights ago decided to try this side dish, and it was wonderful!

What you will Need:

• 4 cups cooked elbow macaroni, drained
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk

How to Make it:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Once you have the macaroni cooked and drained, place in a large bowl and while still hot and add the cheddar. In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and add to the macaroni mixture. Pour macaroni mixture into a casserole dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Top with additional cheese if desired.

I got this recipe from the food network website.Of course you know I am a sucker for Paula Deen. Give it a try I think you will love it!

Happy Cooking Y'all!