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Better Than Megan Fox Cake?

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This cake is my husbands favorite, he asks for it on his Birthday and Father’s day every year. I make it for him unasked if I am starting a new home remodeling project and have gotten in wayyy over my head…
I have heard it called all kinds of things, Better than Sex cake is the most common. Although, when I was younger I heard it called Better than Robert Redford cake a lot. Times have changed. 
In front of the kids my husband refers to it as Better than Procreation Cake, this year he called it Better than Megan Fox Cake, I guess she is the new hottie. Whatever. I’d like to see what she looks likes after having 6 kids… 
Anyway, on to the best cake EVER!

This is all you need:
Bake a chocolate cake according to directions, I like German chocolate. When it is hot and out of the oven, take a fork and poke holes all over it. Thousands of them! Don’t be shy let the cake have it, pretend it is Megan fox…

Next pour an entire 14oz. can of sweetened condensed milk over the top of the hot cake.

It will look like this… as it starts soaking in.

Next, and I am not joking, pour an entire jar of caramel syrup over the top. I like Mrs.Renfro’s, but had this on hand. 
Now, amazingly, it will all soak in. Put it in the fridge to cool down. It is better if it sits a long time, like overnight before eating.

When cool, frost with cool whip and (if you are not lazy) chop up Heath or Skor bars to put on top. If you don’t have time dump a bag of Heath toffee bits on.

I can’ t even describe how good this cake is. Have you seen the Diner scene in When Harry Met Sally? That about says it all!

How to slice an avocado and make guacamole! Video.

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O.K. don’t laugh, I made a little video about how to cut an avocado and make simple guacamole. Tucker filmed it with the camera and not the video camera so the quality isn’t great. 
Simple guacamole recipe:

Some kosher salt 
Few tablespoons of pre-made salsa
If you have it, some lime and maybe a little cilantro. Yum!
Do you have a good guacamole recipe??

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How to slice an avocado and make guacamole! Video.

By 2 Comments By clicking on our links, we might make a SMALL commission - Thanks for the support! See our full DISCLOSURE here.

O.K. don’t laugh, I made a little video about how to cut an avocado and make simple guacamole. Tucker filmed it with the camera and not the video camera so the quality isn’t great. 
Simple guacamole recipe:

Some kosher salt 
Few tablespoons of pre-made salsa
If you have it, some lime and maybe a little cilantro. Yum!
Do you have a good guacamole recipe??

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What to do with .99 cent a lb strawberries? Freezer Jam!

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It wasn’t until I was in college that I tried freezer jam. Can you believe I had lived my entire life until then without any? Crazy. So I would like to take a minute to thank my roommates, it was either Cami, or Chelsea who brought some from home and changed my bagel eating life. This was my staple meal while in school, a plain toasted bagel, with slightly melted plain cream cheese and piled with strawberry freezer jam.
 It doesn’t get any better than this….
strawberry freezer jam recipe

Paul took the bigger kids to the Astro’s game, I had the little kids and 10 pounds of strawberries that I found for .99 cents a pound.

Hmmmm, what to do with my night??
Park the little kids at the table with coloring books and get busy!
This is the easiest yummiest most satisfying thing that you can preserve. Take the tops off your strawberries. Toss them into your food processor or a large bowl. Pulse them slowly until they are in small chunks, or mash with a potato masher until smashed.
Don’t over smash them or esp. in the food processor, don’t kill them! Just small pieces will work!
For every 2 pounds of strawberries mashed, I used 1 1/2 cups sugar and one packet freezer jam fruit pectin.
I got all the supplies from Wal-mart. I love the nifty little freezer jars they had. Are these new? I have not seen them before and thought they were really cool. I had to try them out and was in LOVE!
This is super quick to make, abut 40 minutes and 9 pounds of strawberries later I had this stash to throw into the freezer. Enough to last us for the next few weeks…. just kidding the  next month or so 🙂 It last up to a year in the freezer or a month or so in the fridge.
If you have not had freezer jam on a bagel with cream cheese, do yourself a favor and make some this summer!

How do you use a large amount of fruit in the summer? Do you can? Make freezer jam? Share some good recipes or a link to your site if you have canned or put up something!
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Hershey’s vanilla fruit torte ~ Fruit pizza recipe!

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I am posting my favorite recipes the next few days, this one I have been making since I was 17, it is my favorite dessert! It is PERFECT for the 4th! Everyone will LOVE you if you make it this weekend! In fact, if you make one take a picture and send it to me and I will send you a little surprise! You won’t be sorry it really is good!
First you have to create your base.
3/4 cup butter softened, 1 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup powered sugar. Now, I always double mine because I like the crust a little thicker…. (the above is not doubled)

Then press it into a pizza pan, mine is about 18″. The kids like to help with this part…
Bake at 300 degrees, 20 -25 min. until lightly browned.
Now you need your sauce, or vanilla filling. Did I mention this is really low calorie??? 🙂 Melt the vanilla chips with the whipping cream and beat in the cream cheese.
Spread onto the COOLED crust. I throw it into the fridge at this point while I do everything else. Yummmm, now I just have to keep the kids fingers out!
Cut up your favorite fruit (usually whats on sale!) Pineapple is a must, and so are strawberries! Can you believe I had to buy blueberries from the store…. Try to use as many different colors as possible.
Start spreading them out on the cold crust. This is the kids job.
Isn’t it pretty?! Throw it back in the fridge or put it somewhere safe so no one can snatch any fruit off the top.
Now it is time to make the glaze. You might be tempted to skip this part because it is so pretty already, but this will keep the fruit on the pizza, and keep anything from getting brown, like if you used banana’s. I also double this part. Combine in a small sauce pan until thick and pour over pizza.

I try and pour quick and then use a small spatula to spread it out thinly and evenly…

Here it is!!! I keep mine in the fridge. You will NOT have any leftovers I promise! I really need to get a better camera, this does not do it justice! People will think you bought it from a store, it is so pretty!

hershey vanilla fruit pizza

Hershey’s Vanilla Chip Fruit Tart

3/4 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
Vanilla filling (recipe follows)
Fruit topping (recipe follows)
Heat oven to 300 degrees. Beat butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy; blend in flour ( I double mine). Press mixture onto bottom and up side of 12-inch round pizza pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned, cool completely.Prepare Vanilla Filling; spread on cooled crust. Cover; chill. Prepare Fruit Topping. Cover; chill assembled tart.
VANILLA FILLING:
1 2/3 c. (10 oz. pkg.) Hershey’s vanilla milk chips
1/4 c. whipping cream
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
In microwave-safe bowl, microwave vanilla chips and whipping cream at high (100%) 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Beat in cream cheese.
FRUIT TOPPING:
1/4 c. sugar
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 c. pineapple juice
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
Assorted fresh fruit
In small saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; stir in juices. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened; cover. Meanwhile, slice and arrange fruit on top of filling; pour liquid mixture over fruit.


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I love cooking. When I was 17 I had the chance to live with my Grandma for a year while I attended Barber College. She is one of the best chef’s I’ve ever known, the good home-grown, buttery, rich and savory kind. I’m sure her kitchen is one of the few still left that if someone helps her clean the kitchen after breakfast and accidentally tosses that can on the counter you’ll hear, “Who threw out my bacon grease?!?” So here are a few recipes that I’ve shared by name, or you can see them all once by clicking HERE.

Guacomole (homemade, and how to slice one)

Pampered Chef Braid

Breakfast Crescents

Zucchini Bread

Banana Pudding

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

Pink Lemonade Pie

Deep Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake

Oreo Truffles

Acorn Squash

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ice Cream Cake

Fruit Pizza

Taco Salad

Strawberry Freezer Jam

https://mylitter.com/437/

Recipes

By Leave a Comment By clicking on our links, we might make a SMALL commission - Thanks for the support! See our full DISCLOSURE here.

I love cooking. When I was 17 I had the chance to live with my Grandma for a year while I attended Barber College. She is one of the best chef’s I’ve ever known, the good home-grown, buttery, rich and savory kind. I’m sure her kitchen is one of the few still left that if someone helps her clean the kitchen after breakfast and accidentally tosses that can on the counter you’ll hear, “Who threw out my bacon grease?!?” So here are a few recipes that I’ve shared.

Zucchini Bread

Banana Pudding

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

Pink Lemonade Pie

Deep Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake

Oreo Truffles

Acorn Squash

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ice Cream Cake

Diets suck! I am making zucchini bread!

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I am literally going to chew my arm off, I am on a stupid diet and seriously hungry! I know, I know, you aren’t supposed to get this hungry but to save a long story I just am!

The kids are pulling some beautiful produce out of the garden every day and if I serve them sautéed squash one more time for dinner there is going to be mutiny!
So I thought I would torture myself and make zucchini bread and muffins, which aren’t allowed on my diet right now, no matter how ‘healthy’ I make them! I can’t tell you how good my kitchen smells right now… I am slobbering on my key board.
I took an o.k. recipe and made it fantastic ( if you ask me!) the kids gobble these up like cupcakes! The following recipe makes 1 loaf, 8 mini loaves, and 24 muffins.

 

Tiff’s Zucchini Bread and Muffins:

INGREDIENTS
Zucchini-Bread
6 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup applesauce
2 cups white sugar
2 cups brown sugar
6 cups grated zucchini
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups whole wheat flour
6 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts ( I don’t put any in)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F ( 165 degrees C). Grease and flour your pans.
In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and frothy. Mix in oil, applesauce and sugars. Stir in zucchini and vanilla. Combine flour, cinnamon, soda, baking powder, salt and nuts; stir into the egg mixture. Divide batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until done or 20 min on muffins.

Homemade from scratch Banana Pudding… review!

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homemade banana pudding
My husband and I love banana pudding. I usually make it the traditional way with instant vanilla pudding and vanilla wafers. One Thanksgiving when I was in college, ( no one tell my husband this story….) I went with a boyfriends family on vacation for the break. His Mother made the most amazing homemade banana pudding I have ever had, it was insanely good. I have tried to repeat it and have never been successful. She did not use instant pudding.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when we went camping. We got rained out one night and went into town for dinner. The men got banana pudding for dessert for themselves in honor of my birthday 🙂 It was INCREDIBLY good! They used sugar cookies instead of vanilla wafers and it was the perfect ratio of cookies, pudding and banana’s. Since them my husband has been begging me to make it. So I looked at tons of recipes on the web and ended up making it this way. First I made huge soft sugar cookies, just cutting them out in random circles. It didn’t matter if they were pretty. I made up my own recipe:

Sugar Cookies:
1 c butter
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 t. almond extract
3 3/4 c. flour
1 t. cream of tarter
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1/4 c. heavy cream

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in egg, vanilla and almond extract. Combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and alternate with heavy cream. Shape into two 5-in. rolls; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Unwrap; cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Next I made the banana pudding recipe…

Banana Pudding
10 servings

Hands on: 25 minutes
Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes or more for cooling

Feel free to use the full-fat versions of the sweetened condensed milk, if you prefer. The pudding can also be served in individual 1-cup ramekins.

1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Dash of salt
2 1/2 cups 1 percent low-fat milk
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups sliced ripe bananas (about 5 to 6)
45 reduced-fat vanilla wafers
4 egg whites
1/4 cup granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Combine flour and salt in medium saucepan. Gradually stir in low-fat and condensed milks and yolks, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 8 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Arrange 1 cup banana slices in a 2-quart baking dish. Spoon 1/3 pudding mixture over bananas; top with 15 vanilla wafers. Repeat layers once; top with remaining bananas and pudding. Arrange remaining 15 wafers around inside edge of dish. Gently push wafers into pudding. Beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until foamy. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved (2 to 4 minutes) Spread meringue over pudding, sealing to edge of dish. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden. Let cool at least 30 minutes.

Emma helping with the cooking part.
Layering the sugar cookies. I broke them up to fill in the spaces.
Instead of the meringue on the top I used whipped cream.
I have to say I was disappointed. It was a bit time consuming as any good dessert can be, but I still like the instant pudding and vanilla wafer recipe better!  Paul liked it a lot, not as much as the restaurant birthday dessert dish, but still thought it was good. The pudding part to me really lacked something…

Any ideas? I am willing to put in the time and effort if I can make it right! Maybe I haven’t found the right recipe. Maybe homemade form scratch isn’t better? I could be making it too hard and should just stick with Jello instant pudding and boxed cookies! Or maybe I should just call the ex-boyfriend’s Mother and ask for her recipe….

All time favorite recipe: Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

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I have been wanting to post this recipe for a while but keep forgetting. This is our all time favorite dinner recipe. I would guess we have made it about every 10 days for the past few years and are not tired of it yet.  It is so EASY!!

My little kids LOVE it. They will eat 2 tilapia fillets each. When we make it for the 8 of us we have to make 15 pieces. If you are looking for a fish recipe that EVERYONE will eat and enjoy, this is it! Try it! I promise you will like it, and if you don’t tell the kids it is fish they will love it also!

 

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder<
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
2 pounds tilapia fillets

DIRECTIONS

Preheat your oven’s broiler. Grease a broiling pan or line pan with aluminum foil.
In a small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Season with dried basil, pepper, onion powder and celery salt. Mix well and set aside.
Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets over and broil for a couple more minutes. Remove the fillets from the oven and cover them with the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side. Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork. Be careful not to over cook the fish.

See how easy that is! Promise me next time tilapia is on sale you will try it. Even picky eaters like it.

Do you have a favorite fish recipe we can try? I will try any posted and let you know how it turned out over here. I have fed the kids fish since they were born, so fortunately my kids love it. We are willing to try anything new.

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