Chocolate fun cake bon appetit

bon appetit is the best food magazine out there for recipes. The recipes actually turn out!!

I try to make at least 3 recipes from every issue of bon appetit. I have tried so many other recipes from other magazines and they are all either boring or never turn out and taste as good as they appear in the picture.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fun Cake is amazing. March 2012 page 70. I used Trader Joe's Cookie Butter in the frosting instead of peanut butter to change it up. WOW DELICIOUS!!! The cake batter is Vegan so if you wanted to make your own vegan topping that would be nice.

For the cake

nonstick spray the sides and the bottom of an 8x8x2 pan then lay parchment paper on bottom.

whisk in a bowl 1 1/4 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder, 11/2 tsp. kosher salt, 1 tsp. baking soda. Now add and whisk in 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, and 1 1/4 cup water. Fold in 1/2 cup of chopped dark chocolate.

Pour into pan, bake at 350 degrees for about 35-40 min until center is cooked. Cool on a cookie rack. When it is cooled flip over onto a decorative plate. Peel parchment paper off. Now decorate with whatever topping you want!!!! This cake is so moist and delicious!

ARTICHOKE DIP

Okay I use to make this recipe when I worked for a Gourmet Caterer Company in Baltimore Maryland.

We served high-end clientele and they always loved this simple delicious dip.



In a food processor combine

Artichokes 1 large can (drain) or 1 frozen bag from Trader Joe's

1 cup Mayo

2 Tbsp. Hot sauce

2 Tbsp. Heavy Cream (could substitute with sour cream)

Parmesan Cheese Shaved 5 oz  (save a little to sprinkle on top) can use a combo cheese with Romano & Asiago if want.

Salt & Pepper

After all mixed up put in a glass Pyrex and sprinkle top with little Parmesan cheese. Bake in oven at 350 degrees until bubbly. Sprinkle chives on top. Serve warm with  Pita chips or custini. You could serve this in a small warming pot for a party.


ENJOY!!!

Chalk Board Paint

Okay we all know about this fabulous paint, but you have to see how I used it!

Use Chalk Board Paint on Glass. These snowmen are adorable, my Nieces will love these filled with cookies and candy.

Once I had the paint out, I could not resist painting a new decoration for my kitchen. I took an old decorative board that said "Welcome" and painted over it. Now with the chalk board paint over top, I can change it up and draw pictures or write any phrase. Really it is endless what you can paint. 

This is so easy to use. Do at least 2-3 coats of paint to get good coverage.

ICE COFFEE

Iced Coffee is so delicious!

Sometimes in the middle of the day when I need a pick me up, I go for a home made iced coffee.

I found this Organic Sweetened Condensed Milk in a squeeze bottle at Trader Joe's. Just a little squeeze in my iced coffee makes a nice creamy and sweet taste.

I put a little cold coffee in a glass with about a teaspoon of this condensed milk, stir it up then add more cold coffee, ice and a little cream or almond milk.

Mmmmmm refreshing & and so delicious!!!

YUMMY LATTE

I LOVE ESPRESSO!

I make my own Latte every morning. Yes, I admit I am addicted to Coffee & Espresso. Shopping at Trader Joes today I found this amazing yummy Grinder, for me a Latte Topper. I will use this to top Cookies, Truffels, Hot Chocolate, Granola, Toffee, Popcorn etc. You have to get yourself some!

Block Decorations

Yard Sale Find - Made into Year Round Decorations

I found a set of Christmas decoration blocks at a yard sale and thought I could make 6 different special occasion sayings out of these blocks. I didn't want to do Christmas or Halloween because I have plenty of decorations for those holidays. Anniversary and a saying like "Celebrate Life " are nice to have in the house. 

Using craft paint, I painted each side of the blocks a different color, then used alphabet stamps in different colored inks for the wording. On the extra blocks that did not have a letter, I made decorations like hearts, stars, flowers, and Easter eggs.

I bought these blocks for $4.00 and now have transformed them into 6 decorations!

CANDLE MAKOVER

I am ready to give my mantle a new look.                        


BEFORE

 I was sitting in my living room looking at my fireplace mantle and decided it was time for a quick make-over. So, I thought of a fun way to change the look. I decorated my candles with paper and ribbon and changed the color of my candle holders with craft paint. This was an easy way to transform my fireplace mantle decor.

 Grab double sided tape, a paper cutter, decorative papers and ribbon. Cut the papers to different widths and layer them to create a design you like. Now tape the paper layers together at the back of the candle. Tie a fun ribbon for extra embellishment if you want. Since my candles are the plastic flame less, I can just take this design off and change up the look whenever I want.

For re-decorating the candle sticks, I just used craft paint and lightly brushed the paint over them for a new look. EASY!

                                                                     AFTER