Recipes - Yummyness!


Rocky Road Chocolate Cake - Make in Your Crock-Pot

I wish I had a picture to share with you - this cake is chocolate-heaven! My cousin Amy and I made it together in 2008 and I've made it a few times since. This recipe is very rich so pair it with a basic meal. It's from the October 2008 issue of "Southern Living" magazine. I must tell you that I love, LOVE this magazine - it's always chock full of lovely pictures, travel ideas and tasty recipes. Mmmmm - good!

Rocky Road Chocolate Cake
Makes 8-10 servings
Prep: 15 min.
Cook: 3 hr., 40 min. (you may want to add 10-15 min, to the cooking time)
Stand: 15 min.

Ingredients:
1 (18.25-oz.) package German chocolate cake mix
1 (3.9-oz) package chocolate instant pudding mix
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups milk, divided
1(3.4-oz.) package chocolate cook-and-serve pudding mix
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips


  1. Beat cake mix, next 5 ingredients, and 1 1/4 cups milk at medium speed for 2 min. with an electric mixer, scrape sides as needed. Pour batter into a lightly greased 4-qt slow cooker.
  2. Cook remaining 2 cups milk in a heavy non-aluminum saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or just until bubbles appear (don't boil); remove from heat.
  3. Sprinkle cook-and-serve pudding mix over batter. Slowly pour hot milk over pudding. Cook and cover on LOW 3 1/2 hours.
  4. Meanwhile, heat pecans in a small non-stick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.
  5. Turn off slow cooker. Sprinkle cake with pecans, marshmallows, and chocolate chips. Let stand 15 minutes or until marshmallows are slightly melted. Spoon into dessert bowls (serve with vanilla ice cream - optional).




 Minestrone

1-2 lbs ground beef (I use 1 lb)
1 med. onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped (garlic powder if you don't have a clove)
1 can whole tomatoes
1 can Italian spiced diced tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
1 can whole kernel corn
2-4 stalks celery sliced (I add 4 stalks-we like the veggies)
2 C shredded cabbage, about 1/4 head (I never add this because I never have it)

2 zucchini, sliced (about 2 cups)
1 C or so of uncooked elbow macaroni or other noodles of your liking
3 1/2 C water
2 tsp of instant beef bouillon (I add two cubes of the beef cubes)
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Cook and stir ground beef, onion and garlic in Dutch oven until brown; drain. Stir in tomatoes (with liquid), kidney beans (with liquid) and remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally until macaroni and vegetables are tender (about 10 min).

I serve with breadsticks or garlic cheese bread.
This is quick and tasty.  :)