cardiac arrest cake

This cake is to die for... maybe that is where it gets its name :) This is a real crowd pleaser and even better after a few days in the fridge. A cake that gets better in time??? Gives you a little more motivation to use your self control so it can last a few days. Plus it is super easy to make! Try bringing this one to your next summer gathering. It won't disappoint. I make mine with real homemade whipped cream. I think it is so much better and super easy (and economical ) to make. 

1 German chocolate cake mix
1 Smucker's caramel sauce
1 Smucker's hot fudge sauce
1 Eagle Brand or other condensed milk
1 (8oz) Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream)
3 crushed Heath bars or Skor bars

Bake German chocolate cake according to instructions in a 9x13 pan. Cool for 15 minutes. Poke holes all over cake with the end of wooden spoon about 1/2 inch apart. Warm caramel and hot fudge and pour over cake, then pour condensed over all of the cake. Refrigerate several hours or over night. Top cake with Cool Whip or whipped cream and then crushed candy bars.

Lime Chicken

We had a lot of limes left over from the blessing, so when we had a party to host I knew just what we were going to make. This delicious lime chicken!!! We got this chicken recipe from my mom's friend Tami and every time we make it people love it. Great for summer BBQs!

Tami's Lime Chicken

1/2 c. fresh lime juice

1/2 c. white vinegar

1/2 c. oil

1/2 c. soy sauce

1 1/2 tsp. seasoned salt

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 c. sesame seeds (I didn't have these this time so omitted them)

6-8 boneless chicken breasts

Mix all marinade ingredients. Marinate chicken at least 3 hours or over night. BBQ and serve as you please. Great in tacos, salads or just on its own!

Lime Cilantro Rice and Cafe Rio Pork

For our baby Davis' blessing, we had everyone over after church for a late lunch. I needed something we could cook ahead of time, that would also be a crowd pleaser. I thought a Cafe Rio style meal would be perfect! We have some family recipes that we used for the meal. Lime Cilantro Rice and Cafe Rio Pork. Serve with cooked tortillas (the ones from costco), and all the salad/burrito fixings you can think of. The meal was a success and we had a lot of fun entertaining family and friends.

Lime Cilantro Rice

2 TB oil

4c. long-grain rice

8c. water

1 bunch Cilantro, finely chopped

Juice of 2 limes

2 tsp. crushed garlic

Heat oil in large skillet. Add rice, cilantro and garlic. Saute 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add water and lime juice and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered until all liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. You can use a rice cooker. Serves 20

Cafe Rio Pork

6 lbs Pork (tenderloin is best)

1 (16oz) bottle salsa (we use 1/2 salsa and 1/2 chili sauce)

Coke (1-12oz can)

2 c. brown sugar

Place pork in crock pot and fill it 1/2 way up the pork with water. Cook on high for 5 hours. Drain off water. Cut pork in thirds. Mix together sauce ingredients and put on top of pork. Cook an additional 3 hours on high. Shred pork with forks. Leave it on low until ready to serve.

Hawaiian Haystacks

Lets be honest, who doesn't like a dinner that comes together like that, is good and is also great for left overs? This meal fits into all those categories. I loved this growing up because i was obsessed with chow mein noodles. I would sneak into my moms pantry and eat them right out of the can, and a meal that uses these is a must eat for me! I added carrots and mandarin oranges in mine, and opted out of the coconut. Thats what is great about this meal, just put on top whatever you like! olives are really good on it too :)

Hawaiian Haystacks

2 c. cooked diced chicken
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 c. chicken broth
4 c. cooked long grain rice
2 can chow mein noodles

Combine soup and chicken broth in a large saucepan to make gravy. Stir to blend. Add chicken and simmer for 8 to 10 min.

Toppings:

3 med tomatoes diced
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 c. chopped celery
1/2 chopped green pepper'1/2 c. chopped green onions
1 can pineapple chunks drained
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/2 c. toasted coconut

Layer on plate in the following order:

Rice, chow mein noodles and gravy. add tomatoes, celery green pepper, and green onions. Top with pineapple and cheese. Top with almonds and coconut.

Chocolate Toffee Cookies

Are you in the mood for some gooey, chocolately, crunchy goodness??? Well you found just the cookie to satisfy your craving! A mix of melted chocolate, toffee and nuts is sure to hit the spot. Enjoy!

Chocolate Toffee Cookies

1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 c. unsalted butter (you can really use any kind)

1 3/4 c. brown sugar, packed

4 lg. eggs

1 TB vanilla

7 oz toffee bits or crushed Heath bars

1 c. chopped nuts ( I like walnuts or pecans)

Melt chocolate chips and butter in top of a double boiler over simmering water. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl. Using electric mixer, beat brown sugar and eggs until thick (about 5 min). Add melted chocolate mixture and vanilla and beat until well combined. Mix in flour mixture, then toffee and nuts. Chill batter until firm, about 45 min. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Put balls of dough (about 1/4 c. each) on sheet and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Cool. Makes about 2 dozen large cookies.

Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

This casserole is not your ordinary Chicken and Broccoli Casserole. It had such a great flavor to it. It was the only way my mom would get me to eat broccoli when I was little and still is to this day ha ha. I think its the curry in it that gives it that amazing flavor! This is one that frequents the dinner table a lot and is great for left overs!

Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

20 oz. frozen broccoli florets
6-8 chicken breast or 10-14 tenders, cooked ( I just boil mine the break in half)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 c. mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. curry
1 T. lemon juice
1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Cooked white or Brown rice

Layer frozen broccoli in a 9x13 pan. Break chicken into large pieces ( if using chicken tenders do not break). Lay chicken on top of broccoli. Mix soups, mayo, curry and lemon juice together. Spread on top of chicken. Sprinkle cheese in top. Bake at 350 for 45 min until hot and bubbly. Serve over cooked rice.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

In honor of St. Patrick's day coming up, I made some shamrock sugar cookies. I love sugar cookie dough, and this is by far the best dough I have ever tasted! The cookies always come out perfect. I am always trying new sugar cookie recipes to see if I can find another one I like, and so far these still are my No. 1 sugar cookie!

1 c. sugar 1/2 c. shortening and mix together

add 2 eggs, 1 c. sour cream, and tsp. vanilla and beat until smooth

add 3 c. flour, 1/2 tsp. salt, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp. soda

Let stand in refrigerator for some time. add more flour when rolling out for the first time ( soft and sticky dough). Roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Bake at 350 for 6 to 8 min. TIP: these do not get brown so DO NOT OVERCOOK!