Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake

My new favorite.

Cake:
Mini chips!
1 box of devil's food cake (gasp!), with required ingredients, mixed
1 recipe cheesecake mix: 2 softened 8oz bars of cream cheese, 2/3c sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 eggs, mixed
Layer chocolate mixture first, adding a cup or two of semi-sweet chocolate chips as well
Layer in cheesecake on top
Cook for at least 40 minutes at 350

Cream cheese frosting recipe here

½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

InstructionsIn stand mixer, beat butter and cream cheese

Gradually add sifted powdered sugar and vanilla

Beat on high until fluffy

(refrigerate)

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Soup

12-16 servings

¼ cup vegetable oil

4 medium size onions, chopped (yellow)

2 tsp. thyme leaves (could be excluded)

½ tsp. nutmeg

1 pound rutabagas, peeled & diced

2 pounds thin skinned potatoes, peeled & cubed (golden potatoes)

2 large cans of pumpkin

14 cups chicken stock (might be too much)

Combine onions, oil, thyme, nutmeg, cook on medium heat till soft (5 minutes)

Add rutabagas, potatoes, and cook over medium heat, stir occasionally until veggies soften (30 min)

Pour in stock and bring to boil over high heat

Reduce heat, cover, simmer until potatoes and rutabagas are soft

Take potatoe/rutabaga mixture with pumpkin and put in food processor to puree

Coconut Curry Shrimp

2 tbsp red curry paste
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 can coconut milk
Water chestnuts (add last)
Simmer for 5-10 minutes, then add water chestnuts

Steam cauliflower, add to sauce

Cook rice separately

Take frozen shrimp out of bag, run under cold water to thaw, dry it off
Chop up garlic
Sautee in pan with olive oil for 3-5 minutes, add salt

Creamy Polenta

4 c water
4 c milk
3 tbsp butter
2 tsp salt
2 c polenta (corn grits)
1/2 c creme fraiche
1/3 c parmesan cheese

Boil water, milk, and butter in large stockpot - keep a CLOSE EYE on it so that it doesn't boil over.  Once boiling, whisk in salt and polenta, stir for 3-4 minutes, then simmer for approximately 30 minutes more until thick and creamy.  When ready, stir in creme fraiche and parmesan.

Frittata II

1 bag baby spinach
2 tbsp oil
1-2 rainbow bell peppers, diced
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
8 eggs
feta
salt, pepper
2 tbsp milk

Sautee bell peppers in oil
Wilt spinach in same pan with a bit of water, wring out well and chop
Sautee together garlic, peppers, spinach
In bowl, beat eggs, then add pepper, milk, crumbled feta, and spinach mixture
Using large oven-safe skillet, pour in egg mixture, tilting to spread eggs, occasionally lifting to let liquid run under and cook
Turn heat low, cover, cook about 10 minutes, until just set
Turn on broiler, put pan (uncovered) in middle of oven for just a couple minutes
Let set and cool

Chocolate Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

Chocolate Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

1 package softened cream cheese
1/4 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c butter, softened
1 c water
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa
1.25 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 3/4c sugar

Optional glaze: 1/4 pack of cream cheese, 2 tbsp sugar, dash of milk

Preheat oven to 350

Beat cream cheese and sugar, add egg and vanilla, beat well
In another bowl, beat all ingredients for chocolate cake (wet first, add dry)
Pour about half of chocolate mixture into greased bundt pan, then add cream cheese (swirl with knife a little), then add remaining chocolate mixture.  Bake for about 55 minutes, add glaze when cooled and removed from pan.

Meatballs

Makes 24 small meatballs . . .

1 lb beef
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp powdered garlic
3/4 tsp oregano
Dash of liquid smoke
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup italian breadcrumbs
1 egg
Salt, pepper

Bake at 400 degrees for approx 8-12 minutes, until centers are no longer pink