Mocha Fudge Cake ~Molly

I found this recipe in Self magazine adapted from a spa in Arizona. It's delicious! I added powdered sugar on top and ate it with ice cream (Mom added milk, but that's gross).

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 eggs
• 3 oz unsweetened, bittersweet, or semisweet chocolate, melted
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup hot coffee
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Vegetable oil cooking spray
• 
  
• PREPARATION
• Heat oven to 350˚. Beat sugar and butter in a bowl until combined. Beat in eggs, then chocolate, then sour cream. Sift flour and baking soda in a bowl; add to chocolate mixture. Beat in coffee, vanilla and salt until combined. Coat a 9" x 13" pan with cooking spray; pour in batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35 minutes.
• 
  
• THE SKINNY
• 279 calories per slice, 11 g fat (6 g saturated), 42 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 4 g protein

Baking Powder Biscuits~by Kelsey

This recipe is from my Pillsbury Complete Cookbook.  I make them often.  They are quick and easy and yummy.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup milk

Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Mix well.  With a pastry blender or fork, cut in shortening until the mixture resembles course crumbs.  Stirring with a fork, add enough milk until the mixture leaves the sides of the ball and forms a soft, moist, dough.  (This should be about one cup.)  On a floured surface, toss dough lightly until no longer sticky.  Roll or press dough to 1/2 inch thickness.  Cut with a 2-inch round cutter (I have found that the top of a wine glass cuts perfect sized biscuits).  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 450 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve warm.

Won Tons~by Kelsey

Mom usually makes these.  They are really good, so I got brave and tried to make them myself.  They turned out pretty good for my first attempt.  They are so yummy, it's worth the effort.

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground beef
finely chopped cabbage
2 whisked eggs
pkg of bean threads (I find them with the Chinese food stuff in the ethnic foods aisle of Fred Meyer)
salt
garlic salt
soy sauce
egg roll skins (these are found in the refrigerated produce section, maybe with the mushrooms in Fred Meyer, I can't quite remember)
cooking oil (lots)

Mix hamburger, cabbage, eggs, seasonings, a little soy sauce.  Break up bean threads and pour hot water on them in a bowl so they will soften.  After they have softened, add them to the hamburger mixture.

Put about 1/4 cup of the mixture on an egg roll skin and roll up like a burrito.

Use a little water on your fingers to seal the edge.  Make sure you don't get it TOO wet, though, or it will fall apart.  Place the roll on wax paper on a tray.  They will stick together, so put wax paper in between each layer if you stack them.  Cook them in oil, (I use my deep-fat fryer with about five inches of oil in it).

The trick is to cook them completely inside without burning the outside.  When they turn crispy brown on the outside they should be done.  Let them cool and then serve with a mix of soy sauce and ketchup for dipping.

Cowboy Macaroni ~ by Sarah

My cousin's wife made this the other day and it was delicious! Audrey asked for seconds and later told me it was "an amazing dinner".  I made it tonight and the whole family loved it.  And it's so easy!

Here's what you need:

Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can creamed corn, undrained
1 can corn, drained
1 can kidney beans, drained (NOTE: The Fred Meyer brand were gross.  Don't go generic here.)
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 bag large elbow macaroni
shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
Brown ground beef with onion.  Season to taste.  Add corns, beans, tomatoes, and spaghetti sauce.

Bring to boil and simmer to allow flavors to blend.

Meanwhile, boil macaroni according to package directions.  Drain and add to sauce mixture.  Mix well and pour into a large baking dish.  (My 13x9-inch pan was too small, so I was able to also fill an 8x8 dish to freeze.)  Cover with desired amount of shredded cheese.  Bake at 350 until bubbly.  I then turned the broiler on for a few minutes to brown the cheese a little.

That's it!  Enjoy!

Delicious--and it doesn't really need a side dish!