DAY 45 RECIPE: CHOCOLATEY STREUSEL COFFEE CAKE

Oh lord! What a crazy day! My kids and I are leaving on Sunday to go to BC for 5 weeks, so needless to say, I have about a million things to get done before then. So I thought, since I have so much leftover spaghetti from last night, I would be lazy and just have leftovers and I would make a quick little coffee cake for dessert and for my blog recipe today.
WELL, I must say this fabulous quick little coffee cake recipe that I concocted did NOT make my life easier today! hahaha....It has been a little ridiculous. The batter for this cake is EXTREMELY thick, and I don't have a stand mixer, so my mixer was getting quite a work out. It had batter all the way up the beaters, and it flew EVERYWHERE! It also seems that I misjudged and used a mixing bowl that was just a bit too small. So again, batter EVERYWHERE! It was getting a little out of control and was kind of making me laugh, so I thought I should pull out my camera and take a photo of the disaster that was now adorning my outfit (and my entire kitchen).
I reached just above my workspace (where my camera regularily resides) and grabbed the camera. I am apparently a little clumsy today as well, for as I grabbed for the camera, I dropped a glass(which thankfully did not break) AND my camera INTO the cake batter!
Here is a photo I was intending to take when I dropped the camera into the batter...just a shot of some of the gong show my kitchen( and clothes) endured today!

I fished it out as quickly as possible and as I pulled it out all I could do was laugh. All you could see was about a half of a camera with a giant blob of SUPER thick cake batter attached to it. What a gong show! Thankfully I was able to clean it off and it still works. For now.
So it seems my lazy day has turned into about 100 times more work than I had anticipated. Foiled again!
On the good side of things, the cake has turned out to be quite amazingly delicious (even if it is a cake with no icing!). I hope you enjoy, and hopefully your attempts will be less disasterous!

DAY 45 RECIPE:

CHOCOLATEY STREUSEL COFFEE CAKE


INGREDIENTS:
CAKE:
1 Cup Butter
1 Cup White Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
4 Eggs
2 Cups Sour Cream
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
4 Cups Flour
2 Tsp Baking Soda
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1- 102g Pkg Instant Vanilla Pudding
½ Cup Chocolate chips, melted

STREUSEL:
2/3 Cup Flour
2/3 Cup Brown Sugar
¼ Cup Butter, cold
½ Cup Hazelnut Pieces
½ Cup Chocolate Chips

DIRECTIONS:


STREUSEL:
Mix together flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Toss in chocolate chips and nuts. Set Aside.

CAKE:
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour a 9” X13” Pan.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir together, set aside.
In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugars.
Add eggs, vanilla extract, sour cream, and vanilla pudding mix.
Beat all together until well blended.
Add flour in three parts, beating well after each addition.
Take 3 cups of batter and transfer to another bowl. Add melted chocolate chips to this batter and blend.
Now, drop big blobs of batter in an alternating pattern of your choice into the pan. Use about ½ of each kind of batter for this step.
Now sprinkle about ½ of the streusel mixture on top of the batter.
Using remaining batter, drop alternating blobs of batter on top of the streusel layer. Spread the blobs slightly so they are all touching.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle the remaining streusel mixture on top of cake. Return to oven and continue to bake for another 40 minutes.

DAY 44 RECIPE: SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Todays recipe is the first thing I ever learned to cook. I was 10 years old, and amazingly I remember it. Over the years it has changed slightly, but is 90% the same as my Mom taught me:) It is always a hit and people really think it is "the bees knees"! Very easy to make! Please enjoy it! Will definately convert the "jarred sauce users"!
DAY 44 RECIPE:

SPAGHETTI SAUCE


INGREDIENTS:
1 Lb Ground Beef
1 Large Onion, chopped
1 Large Green Pepper (or Red), chopped
1 Can Mushrooms, drained
OR:
2 Cups Chopped Fresh Mushrooms
5 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 - 28 OZ Can Crushed Tomatoes
1 - 28 Oz Can Diced Tomatoes
1 - 5.5 OZ Can Tomato Paste
2 Tbsp Chilli Powder
1 Tsp Thyme
1 Tbsp Oregano
1 Tsp Basil
2 Tbsp Molasses
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Brown beef in a large sauce pan/dutch oven over med high heat, about 10 minutes.
Add Veggies and garlic.
Continue to cook for another 8 minutes. Stir frequently.
If necessary, drain any excess fat.
Reduce heat to low and add diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Mix well.
Add seasonings and molasses. Mix well.
Simmer on low for 20 minutes, up to 4 hours. Stir occasionally.

DAY 43 RECIPE: "SHAKE N' BAKE" CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

I like to make "Shake n" Bake" chicken drumsticks for James. They are quick and easy, no muss no fuss, and they pack really well for lunches.I thought it would be good to try and make a version of my own, so I at least know what is actually in it. This is super easy and turns out great! You can make extra of the "coating" mix and keep it in an air tight container for later use. I feel like this recipe is a bit healthier as well, because it uses whole wheat flour. Whatever the case, it is quick easy and cheap! Enjoy!!!
DAY 43 RECIPE:

“SHAKE N’ BAKE” CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS.


INGREDIENTS:
10 Chicken Drumsticks
¼ Cup Whole Wheat Flour
¼ Cup Fine Bread Crumbs
4 Tbsp Cornmeal
¼ Tsp EACH Garlic Powder,
Onion Powder
Paprika
½ Tsp Salt

DIRECTIONS:
Pre heat oven to 400 degrees.
Line a sheet pan with tin foil. Spray lightly with baking spray (like Pam)
Soak chicken in water for about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together all dry ingredients. Put into a large plastic freezer
Bag.
Take chicken out of water and shake off a bit.
Drop chicken one piece at a time into the bag and shake to coat. Place on sheet pan and spray lightly with baking spray.
Place in oven and bake for 45 minutes.

DAY 42 RECIPE: GRILLED STEAK

Our Valentines day celebration is here at home this year. I thought it would be nice to have a simple yet lovely meal. I bought a steak for James to have and that is the recipe I am sharing tonight. I have to give credit where credit is due however. This recipe is James'. It is always a big hit, and it is very simple and easy to prepare, but I am told it is amazing! I hope you all enjoy it!
I have to say it is a little cold in these parts for grilling, but James did brave the cold!
DAY 42 RECIPE:
GRILLED STEAK

INGREDIENTS:
1 12 OZ T Bone Steak
2 tsp Chilli Flakes
1.5 Tsp Garlic Powder
1 Tsp Onion Powder
2 Tsp Sea Salt
1 Tsp Pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Heat up your grill, make sure it is piping hot when you are ready to go.
Take your steak out of the fridge for about 15 - 20 minutes before you are ready to grill.
Blend together all spices in a small bowl.
Now, massage the steak rubbing the spice mixture into all parts of the steak, both sides.
Let sit for about 10 minutes.
Put on hot grill 3minutes, turn and continue to cook for another 3 minutes.
This will give you a medium doneness.