Deep Dark Chocolate Cake

2 C sugar
1 3/4 C flour
3/4 C baking cocoa
1 1/2 t baking soda
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
2 eggs
1 C milk
1/2 C vegetable oil
2 t vanilla
1 C boiling water

Combine sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Last add boiling water. Bake in 9x13 pan, or 2 9 inch rounds at 350 for 30-35 mins. I prefer the rounds but these are my tricks for getting them out of the pan successfully. I grease and flour the pans, then cut out parchement paper to put on the bottoms of the pan. Wait for the cakes to cool completely before removing. Use a knife to cut around the edges.

Buttercream Frosting
6 T softenend margarine
2 2/3 C powdered sugar
1/2 C baking cocoa
1/3 C milk
1 t vanilla

Beat margarine then add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk. Add vanilla. I really never measure the powdered sugar but just keep adding until it's the right consistency for spreading.

This is the cake I've brung to family dinners for years.

Cheese Potato Soup

5 C diced potatoes
1 C shredded carrots
3 C chicken broth
1/2 C chopped onion
1/2 t salt
pepper to taste
3/4 C margarine
3/4 C flour
1 qt half and half
2 C grated cheese

Combine potatoes, carrots, chicken broth, onion, salt, and pepper in soup pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer until vegetables are tender but not over done, about 20 mins. Don't drain liquid off. In a saucepan melt margarine then add flour to make a roux. Add the roux and half and half to pot. Slowly bring heat up until thickened. Add cheese and stir until melted.
Half a batch is enough for my family, but I have freezed the other half for later use. This is comfort food we love with homemade bread, just pay no attention to nutritional values.

Roasted Butternut Squash, Red Potato and Asiago Soup

I made this soup last night just for Jord and I and we loved it! I did have to branch out a little bit (I had no clue what fennel or pancetta was), but it was very worth it. I actually cut the recipe in half and we still had plenty left over! I actually got this recipe from pickypalate.com, I'm loving that website lately, enjoy!


Roasted Butternut Squash, Red Potato and Asiago Soup

2 lbs cubed butternut squash (you can buy this already cut for you in the produce dept)
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Lawry’s garlic salt with parsley


5 lbs baby red potatoes, cut into fourths (I left the skin on)
5 Tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon Lawry’s garlic salt with parsley
1 1/2 Cups milk


3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 bunch of celery, diced
4 large carrots, peeled and diced
1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced (optional, but so good)
1 large onion, diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
4 oz diced pancetta
4 Tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 14 oz cans chicken broth
1 Cup shredded Asiago Cheese (you can also use Parmesan)
1 1/2- 2 1/2 Cups milk


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place butternut squash onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, pepper and garlic salt. Use hands to coat all ingredients together. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden and fork tender. Remove.

2. Place potatoes into a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Boil for 10-12 minutes or until fork tender. Remove and transfer to a stand or electric mixer. Mix on slow until smashed, then add butter, salt, pepper, garlic salt and milk.

3. Place olive oil into a large dutch oven over medium high heat. Add in celery, carrots, fennel, onion and red bell pepper. Add pancetta to vegetables as well. Cook and stir occasionally for about 10 minutes, until vegetables are softened and pancetta is browned. Sprinkle in flour and stir, will be thick. Slowly add in chicken broth and increase heat slightly; cook until hot and thickened, about 5-7 minutes. Reduce heat and stir in mashed potatoes in batches. Stir in Asiago cheese until melted. At this point add additional milk until it is your desired consistency. I like my soup pretty thick, so I add less milk, but it is completely up to you. Right before serving, stir in roasted butternut squash. Enjoy.

Sweet Chex Mix

I haven't ever made this myself, but believe me I will be making it. It is delicious, and a perfect holiday snack! And to keep up with holiday traditions, it has some scary amounts of butter and sugar...

Sweet Chex Mix

1 1/2 cups butter
1 cup white karo syrup
1 cup sugar
3 cups rice chex
3 cups corn chex
6 cups golden grahams
1/2 cup coconut (you can double this, or more if you want)
1/2 or 1 cup slivered almonds

1. In large bowl combine cereals, coconut, and almonds
2. In saucepan combine butter, sugar, and karo syrup
3. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes
4. Pour over cereal mixture
5. Spread on wax paper until slightly dry to touch
6. Separate into bite-sized clusters

Cafe Rio Pork and Tomatillo House dressing

Ok, everyone! I know I've sent this around before but we made it again while Mom and Dad were here and we all loved it. So good! Now it can be easily found, even though many of you can just run out and get Cafe Rio. Lucky dogs...


Cafe Rio Pork

Pork Loin or pork roast

1 1/2 cans coca-cola (must be coke, diet drinks and drinks without caffine don't work)

1 cup sugar

1 (7oz) can chipotle chilis in Adobo sauce (disguard the chilis)

1 heaping teaspoon each of dry mustard and cumin

1 tsp minced garlic

mix all sauce ingredients together in blender, pour over pork in a crockpot and cook on low for 7-9 hours.

Cafe Rio Creamy Tomatillo house Salad dressing

1 buttermilk ranch dressing packet made as directed (it calls for buttermilk but I used regular milk once and it seemed ok to Lance)

2 tomatillos

1/2 bunch cilantro

1 clove garlic

juice of 1 lime

1 jalapeno

Use food processor to blend all ingredients well (I use a blender)

Pumpkin Muffins

1 C canned pumpkin
1/3 C vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 t baking powder
1 t pumpkin pie spice
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 1/4 C sugar
1 1/2 C flour
1 t cinnamon
1 T sugar

Streussel Topping
1/4 C packed brown sugar
2 T flour
1 T butter, softened
1/4 t cinnamon (optional)

Line 12 regular sized muffin cups. Mix pumpkin, eggs, and oil. Add baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, salt, sugar, and flour. Mix until combine, but don't over do it. Fill muffins 3/4 way. Mix cinnamon, and 1 T sugar and sprinkle tops of batter. Bake at 350 for 25-30 mins.

These muffins were wonderful! I just added the struessel topping. If used, combine ingredients with a fork, until crumbly. Then sprinkle over muffins instead of cinnamon-sugar mix.

Hill Family Belgian Waffles

2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, separated
3 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cups shortening, melted
1 3/4 cups milk
non-stick cooking spray

In 1 medium bowl sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In a second smaller bowl, mix egg whites and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved and eggs have become stiff (make sure you mix at high speed or it’ll take forever). Set aside. In a third bowl, mix yolk, milk and shortening. Combine the egg-milk-shortening mixture with the flour mixture and mix until blended. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the waffle batter. Do not over mix! Coat the waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray and pour enough batter in iron to cover waffle grid. Close and cook as per manufacturer's instructions until golden brown.

Pork Chops with Bacon and Cabbage

Ryan got me a subscription to Everyday Food for Christmas last year, which I have loved. This recipe was in there, and we really thought it was really tasty. It's one of those recipes that actually looks like the picture when you make it yourself at home, so I felt really fancy. And I have been trying to venture a little out of the ordinary chicken dinners.

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 bone-in pork chops (1-inch thick)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
4 strips bacon, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 head green cabbage (about 2 1/2 pounds), cored and cut into 8 wedges
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk

1) Preheat oven to 400. Set a large roasting pan across 2 burners over high heat;add oil and heat. Season pork with salt and pepper; brown on one side, 3 to 5 mins. Flip and cook 1 min more. Transfer to plate.

2) Reduce heat to med. Add bacon; cook until golden, about 5 mins. Add onion; cook until softened, 5 mins. Add cabbage, cut side down and cook till light golden, about 6 mins. Flip and cook until slightly tender,about 3 mins.

3) Add flour and stir till coated. Add milk and cook, stirring constantly till thickened, about 4 mins. Season with salt and pepper, then nestle chops in sauce.

Transfer pan to oven . Bake until pork is cooked through, about 10 mins.

Microwave Carmel Popcorn

Our friends made this for us last time we were with them and we just kept munching away! Seemed to be a lot easier than the traditional making of carmel popcorn-keep in mind this is not the gooey version...

Microwave Caramelcorn

1 cup light brown sugar
1 cube butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 batch freshly popped popcorn (unsalted)

Put popcorn in large microwave-able bowl. Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, and salt in a medium microwave-able bowl. Microwave on high 1 minute 30 seconds. Add baking soda. Stir. Cook for another 1:30, stir. Pour caramel over popcorn, stir lightly. Place large bowl with caramel and popcorn in microwave. Cook for another 1:30, stir. Cook for one last 1:30, stir and let cool.

Chocolate Chip, Oats n Caramel Cookie Squares

My latest cravings have revolved heavily around these bars. yum.

1 roll (16.5 oz) refrigerated chocolate chip cookies (I made a batch of choc chip cookies from scratch - just using the back of the bag of chips as the recipe)

1 cup quick-cooking oats

Dash salt, if desired

2/3 cup caramel topping

5 Tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

1 bag (16 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, break up the cookie dough. Stir or knead in oats and salt. Reserve 1/2 cup dough mixture for topping. In ungreased 9 inch square pan, press remaining dough mixture evenly in bottom to form crust. (If you made a batch from scratch, you might not want to use the whole batch - or maybe use a bigger pan so they are not too thick).

2. Bake 10-12 minutes or until dough puffs and appears dry.

3. In small bowl, mix caramel topping, flour, and vanilla until well blended. Sprinkle walnuts and chocolate chips evenly over crust. Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture. Crumble reserved 1/2 cup dough mixture over caramel.

4. Bake 20 - 25 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen bars. Cool completely, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Store tightly covered.

Cheese Fondue

2 Cups Milk
2 Cups heavy whipping cream
3 Cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teason garlic powder

Heat milk, whipping cream, and cheese on medium heat until cheese is all melted. You may have to raise the heat a little, but be careful, do not allow it to boil!

Add worcestershire sauce, salt, and garlic powder.

In another pan make a rue using 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup flour. (First melt the butter, then add the flour and stir constantly over med-high heat until it is smooth and bubbly. This will be the thickener.)

Add the rue to the milk/cheese mixture and stir over med heat . Fondue will thicken.

It tastes best with delicious french bread.

Recipe makes kind of a lot of fondue. I usually half this recipe when I am cooking for around 4 people.

Time to share...

So while I was living with Marissa this summer, we got to share lots of fun recipes together. We planned on copying each others recipes down, but never got around to it. We thought it might be a fun idea to have a family recipe blog so that everyone can share their recipes, without having to call and copy down the recipe, risk losing it, call again, etc, etc. So I have added all your e-mail addresses on so that you can post too! Hopefully we can share some fun recipes, and make it a little easier to share. Of course this will all be more fun if everyone shares, so don't keep all the treasures to yourself. And if there is a recipe someone has that you want, just have them post it on here so you can look it up when you need it! Make sure that with each post you label what category the recipe falls under (main dish, dessert, etc) as well as any other defining quality, (cookies, chocolate, chicken, etc.) that way anyone can just look up a recipe based on the category. Let the cooking begin!