Sunday, December 20, 2009

New Logo

Here is the new logo for my baking and coffee stuff.


The Infamous Cake Balls

Today I shall share with you the recipe for my infamous chocolate covered cake balls. They are so easy, it is going to BLOW YOUR MIND! All of these items may be found at Target.

Ingredients:
  • Box of cake mix, try not to use extra moist but sometimes that is all they have.
  • Can of frosting, premade just adds to the simplicity.
  • 1/2 pound coverture chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate works best.
How you do it:
  1. Make the cake. Follow all directions on the box. When the cake is done and still warm, mix it by hand with the frosting. DO NOT USE A MIXER! Place it in the fridge overnight.
  2. To melt the chocolate, boil water in a small sauce pan, over medium heat. Chop up chocolate into small pieces and place in a metal mixing bowl. Place that bowl over the boiling water and stir. This is the best way to melt chocolate without having to worry about it burning to the pan.
  3. Scoop out cake mix with a small ice cream scoop (or a spoon works just fine) and place in small paper cups. Drizzle melted chocolate over the balls. Add sprinkles for extra goodness.
  4. If you wish to make these more like a truffle, I would suggest scooping out the cake mix and placing the balls on a pan and freezing them. This way they will stay together better when you dip them in cholcoate. You will need closer to a pound of chocolate for this.
Chocolate:
I use good old Baker's brand chocolate that you can find at the grocery store. They come in 1/2 pound/8oz packages. It is decently priced and works well.

Here are my Christmas Cake Balls. I used white cake, vanilla frosting, semi-sweet chocolate and Christmas sprinkles!

Cranberry Appetizer Meatballs

Here is a great cold weather appetizer! Originlly from The Taste of Home Cookbook and revised a little by myself!

The Meatballs

  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup dried bread crumbs
  • 1/3 cup miched fresh parsley
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoon finely shopped onion
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 garlic gloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 pound ground beef

  1. Mix everything except the meat together. Then mix in the meat, this works best by just getting your hands dirty and going for it! (hint: not a bad idea to defrost the meat so its not so cold on your hands.)
  2. Shape mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Place in shallow baking pan and place in oven. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until no longer pink. Transfer meatballs to a slow cooker or chafing dish.

The Cranberry Sauce

  • 1 can whole-berry Crnberry sauce (16 oz)
  • 1 bottle chili saice (12 oz)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  1. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occassionally. Pour over meatballs. Serve warm.