All Fool's Cake

This is my favorite favorite cake recipe of all time. It is the only cake that I would let my mom or grandmas make me for my birthday when I was younger and is my go to chocolate cake. Just a warning though, it will ruin all other chocolate cakes for you. None can measure up to All Fool's Cake.

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Cake

• 3 c. Flour
• 2 c. Sugar
• 1/2 c. Cocoa
• 2 t. Baking Soda
• 1/2 t. Salt
• 2 Eggs
• 1 c. Oil
• 1 c. Sour Milk (make sour by adding 1 T. vinegar)
• 1 c. Hot Water

Put ingredients in mixing bowl, except hot water.  Beat thoroughly and then add water.  Beat again. Pour  into a baking pan (cookie sheet). Make filling.

Filling

• 1 pkg. Cream Cheese (softened)
• 1 Egg
• 1/3 c. Sugar
• 1/8 t. Salt
• 1 c. Chocolate chips
• 1/2 c. Chopped nuts ( I use walnuts)

Beat the first 4 ingredients together well.  Then add chocolate chips and nuts. Drop spoonfuls of filling on top of cake 1-2 inches apart. With a butter knife, swirl filling into cake.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

You can also use this recipe for cupcakes. Fill cupcake liners with chocolate cake batter, place a spoonful of cream cheese filling on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes about 36 cupcakes.

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If you feel the need, you can frost this cake. I don't feel that it needs frosting (I'm not a frosting lover), its just that good.

Best Steak Marinade Of Your Life

Want a steak tastier than any you've ever had before? Follow this marinade recipe and be amazed. 

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• 1/3 c. Soy Sauce
• 1/2 c. Olive Oil
• 1/3 c. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1/4 c. Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 1/4 T. Garlic Powder
• 1 1/2 T. Dried Basil
• 1 T. Dried Parsley Flakes
• 1/2 t. Ground Black Pepper

Mix ingredients in a small bowl. Poke holes on both sides of steak using a fork. Place steaks in a glass casserole dish and pour marinade over top.  Cover and place in the refrigerator and let sit for 15-24 hours. Grill to your liking.

Creamy Avocado Pasta

Sorry I have been so MIA lately! I HAVE been cooking...just not blogging. This is a yummy and quick meal. We are fans.

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• 1 Medium Ripe Avocado, pitted
• 1/2 Lemon, juiced & lemon zest to garnish
• 1-2 Garlic Cloves
• 1/2 Salt, or to taste
• 1/4 c. Fresh Basil
• 2 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 6 oz Your Choice Pasta ( I did whole wheat spaghetti)
• Pepper to taste

Boil pasta and cook until Al Dente.

Meanwhile, make the sauce by placing the garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil into a food processor.  Process until smooth. Add the pitted avocado, basil and salt. Process again until smooth and creamy.

Pour sauce over cooked pasta and toss until evenly combined. Garnish with lemon zest and black pepper.

Note: This is only makes about 2-4 servings.

Chili and Cornbread Waffles

This is one of those meals that is great for nights when you really don't feel like cooking but will feel guilty if you don't have a home cooked meal on the table for your family. Its a good one, and easy one, and a quick one!

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• Your favorite cornbread recipe (I was particularly lazy and used a box mix)
• Your favorite chili recipe (OR be lazy once again like me and do canned chili)

Spray waffle maker with cooking spray. Pour corn bread batter onto waffle maker and let cook for  3-5 minutes or until slightly crunchy. Pour chili on top; sprinkle with cheese.

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What did I tell you?! Easy, cheesy....literally.

Chicken And Rice Soup

• 1 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 med. Onion, chopped
• 2 Garlic cloves, minced
• 2 med. Carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2 in. thick slices
• 2 Celery Ribs, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1/2 in thick slices
• 4 Fresh Thyme Sprigs
• 1 Bay leaf
• 2 qts. Chicken Stock or Broth
• 1 c. of Water
• 1/2 c. White Rice
• 1 1/2 c. Shredded Cooked Chicken Breasts
• Salt and Pepper

Place a soup pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, thyme and bay leaf. Cook and stir for about 6 minutes, until the vegetables are softened but not browned. Pour in the chicken broth and water- bring liquid to a boil. Add in the rice and chicken; season with salt and pepper. Cook on medium-low heat until the rice is tender (about 30 minutes). Serve hot.

Skinny Turkey Ranch Club Wraps

I found this recipe on Pinterest but I revamped it and made it even "skinnier" and in my opinion, even tastier. Try it and let me know. My kids loved eating the "green tortilla."

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• Garden Spinach and Herb Wrap
• Deli Smoked Turkey Breast
• Ranch Yogurt Dressing ( I looked all over the grocery store for this stuff without success so I mixed together a little plain Greek yogurt and a little bit of ranch dressing. So yummy!)
• Turkey Bacon (baked in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes)
• Baby Spinach leaves
• Colby Jack Cheese
• Tomato

Spread Ranch Yogurt dressing on the center of your wrap. Add turkey, bacon, tomato, cheese, and spinach. Roll up and cut in half. Enjoy!

Nutella Cheescake (Guest Post)

Today is a guest post by my little sister Aimee. She's going to school to be a Home Ec Teacher. This is good; the girl can COOK! She has always been one to create miracles in the kitchen with random ingredients if she doesn't have what the recipe asks for. Take it away Aimee!

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Hey everyone! Thanks Abbey for asking me to be a guest on your blog!

The other night I was home alone watching The Food Network Channel (one of my faves) when I had the urge to make something chocolatey. Now I don’t usually have this type of craving because I’m not the biggest fan of chocolate, so I figured I should act quickly.  And it was fantastic! I found a Nutella cheesecake recipe on Pinterest that was easy so I decided to make it with my own twist on it. My kitchen doesn’t always have the necessary ingredients to make yummy food, so I really had to improvise with a lot of things. 

Filling

• 8 oz. Softened Cream Cheese 
• 2/3 c. Nutella
• 8 oz. Whipped Cream

Mix the cream cheese and Nutella together with a mixer. Once they are combined, fold in the whipped cream until there are no streaks. Then pour onto crust and top with more whipped cream if desired.

Crust

12 Oreo Cookies, crushed

3 T Butter

(mixed and pressed into a cheesecake pan)

Or

Graham Crackers

Or

I used an oatmeal crust that I threw together. It was a combination of oatmeal, brown sugar and butter that I baked in the oven. 

 Spread filling onto pie crust and top with more whipped cream!

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Its me again. She's good huh?! I vote that it would be a great dessert for your Valentine. 

 If you have a recipe that I or the rest of the world needs to know about, share the wealth and be a guest poster! Email me at morethanjustacasserole@gmail.com to let me know!