The Loosle Chronicles

Ok…so not the best picture in the world, but I promise you this cake was the BOMB.COM!! lol! I LOVE Texas Sheet Cake. It takes me back to living in Chicago with Teri and the Sears familia. I think it was the first time I’d ever had it. Anyhow, those were the days. I think between the three of us we put that entire cake away within 2 days. lol! What heffers! heehee. Anyhow, I used a recipe I got from thepioneerwoman.com. So go and make it now! DELICIOUS!!

Pioneer Woman Chocolate Sheet Cake
(adapted from Ree, thepioneerwoman.com)

Combine in a mixing bowl:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a saucepan, melt:
2 sticks butter
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa. Stir together.
Add 1 cup boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In measuring cup, pour 1/2 cup buttermilk.
Add:
2 beaten eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

While cake is baking, make icing:
Chop 1/2 cup pecans finely.
Melt 1 3/4 sticks butter in a saucepan.
Add 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat.
Add:
6 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 lb minus 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Stir together.
Add pecans, stir together, and pour over warm cake.

Cut as desired. And devour! So delicious.

Friday night I got together with a group of my girlfriends from work. We played Mad Gab and had some yummy snacks. I have been dying for an excuse to make cupcake pops (as photographed above) since I saw them posted on Bakerella.com. And then I saw that she had a party at the Pioneer Womans and I knew I had to give in (heehee) and make these! I’ll be honest…I didn’t totally love the flavor of the cake and frosting when I first made it, but I tried it the next day and it tasted a lot better. In the future I’ll definitely not use the entire can of frosting and I want to try new flavors. The girls liked them so I guess that’s all that mattered! It was really easy and fun to make too! Enjoy!

Cupcake Pops

1 Box Cake Mix (Any flavor…I used Devil’s Food)

1 Can Frosting (I guess you could make your own too…I’m not brave enough to do that, but feel free to try it!)

Candy Melts

Candies to decorate (be creative!)

Lollipop Sticks

Waxed Paper

Styrafoam (or something to hold the pops in to dry)

Prepare cake as directed. Once completely cooled crumble into a large mixing bowl. Once completely crumbled add a little less than a full can of frosting. I mashed mine to combine with the back of a large spoon. Then form little balls with the cake and place on lined cookie sheet. Place in fridge or freezer to harden. Then shape and dip into candy melts (melt as directed on package) and decorate as desired. For step by step pictures click here.

I was craving some hot fudge today. Probably because Jon bought vanilla ice cream and root beer. I’m not a huge fan of root beer floats, but I do love hot fudge sundaes! So…I went online and found this Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Sauce recipe. Unfortunately I can’t remember what site I found the recipe on. It was one of those that just lists a ton of recipes no pictures. Anyhow, here’s the recipe…enjoy!

Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Sauce

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup chocolate chips

Place all ingredients in microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave another 30 seconds. Stir. Then pour over some ice cream!

Ok…so I was on Bakerella’s website and found this recipe! How could I possibly pass it up? Obviously, I couldn’t! heehee. I know. I’m supposed to be losing weight, but I couldn’t resist. I promise you these were EASY and DELICIOUS!! You’ve got to try it. If you’re a coupon person you’re in luck because this will probably be one of the cheapest desserts you’ll find because all it calls for is one box Betty Crocker Brownie Mix and one Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie mix. Just follow the directions on the brownie mix and on the cookie mix. Pour the brownie mix into a 9×13 inch pan. Then drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoon. I pressed my cookie dough into the brownie batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Then to top it off you can mix up some ganache! Jon preferred it without the ganache, but I liked it with. So…please go and try this…RIGHT NOW!! It’s free points & free calorie day! hahaha. Enjoy!

Here’s the recipe for the ganache from Bakerella’s site!

Chocolate Ganache
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate morsels
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
6 Tbsp butter

• In a small saucepan, heat cream and butter until just before the boiling stage.
• Pour over the chocolate morsels.
• Let stand about 20 seconds and stir until smooth.
• Pour over brownies and let set before cutting.

Ooey-Gooey S’more Bars

1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups (about 2 sleeves) graham crackers, crushed
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
1 can sweetened condensed milkPreheat oven to 350. Mix together butter and 1 1/2 cups crumbs. Press into bottom of 9×13 pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips, marshmallows, and remaining crumbs over top. Evenly pour milk on top. Bake 15-20 minutes until medium golden brown. Cut away from pan while still hot. COOL COMPLETELY (about 1/2 hour) before serving…or chance burning your tongue off for a lick of goodness!

Thanks for the idea Amy…you ROCK!!