Chocolate Gooey Cake in a Jar

What You Need:

Cake:

    Devil’s Food / Chocolate cake mix and ingredients it calls for (oil, eggs, etc.)

Topping:

    1/2 cup packed brown sugar

    1/4 cup cocoa

How to Make It:  

 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray 6 jars with nonstick spray.

Prepare cake batter according to box directions. Divide the batter between the jars.

To make the topping, stir together the sugar and cocoa and sprinkle it over the batter, dividing it between the jars.

Pour about 3 Tbsp. of boiling water over each (I find this easiest by boiling 2 cups of water in the microwave and then dipping a 1/4 cup measuring cup into it, filling it about 3/4 full, then pouring it over top of each cake), but don’t stir them!

Place the pudding cakes on a baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes, until they appear done and the sauce is bubbly.

Serve warm, preferably with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Serves 6.

Crock Pot Ravioli

Super simple, NO boiling required!

What You Need:

    25 oz bag of frozen ravioli (we like cheese)

    1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

    1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

How to Make It:

    Lightly spray your crock with cooking oil.

    Dump your bag of frozen ravioli right into the crock-pot.

    Pour your jar of sauce over the ravioli.

    Stir the ravioli to evenly coat with sauce.
       Be careful, don’t chip a nail. I know this is strenuous work.

    Cover and cook on high for about 2.5-3 hours (depending on how fast your crock-pot cooks).

    About 20 minutes before you are ready to serve, sprinkle the top of the ravioli with finely shredded mozzarella cheese. Pop the lid back on and let it melt- about 20 minutes.

Serve with garlic bread and, if you feel the need for a veggie, green beans or squash mix.

jello-in-a-jar

Fourth of July version

Banana Trifle

Ingredients:

3 cups  cold milk

1 pkg.  (6 1/2-serving size) JELL-O Banana Flavor Instant Pudding

1 box NILLA Wafers

3-4 medium  bananas, sliced

1 tub  (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

Directions:

POUR milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Let stand 5 min.

FOLD 1/2 tub of COOL WHIP into pudding until well blended.

ARRANGE NILLA wafers on bottom of trifle bowl; top with layers of half each of the banana slices and pudding. Repeat all layers. Cover with left over whipped topping.

REFRIGERATE 3 hours. Store leftover dessert in refrigerator.

Brown Sugar Bacon

Soooo YUMMY!

Ingredients:

1 lb. bacon

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil, place a wire rack in pan, lightly grease rack. Lay bacon slices in a single layer on rack. Mix brown sugar and pepper together and sprinkle over bacon. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until desired crispness.

Our Take on Mexican Tinga

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, cut into rings

1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilis

1/2 (7 ounce) can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, or to taste

2 pounds shredded cooked chicken meat

1 large bag tortilla chips

1 can black beans

1/2 cup sour cream

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions; cook and stir until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, puree the tomatoes with chipotle peppers and adobo sauce to taste. Pour into the onions, and add chicken. Cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.Heat black beans.

To serve, make a bed of tortilla chips, top with black beans and chicken, and garnish with a dollop of sour cream. 

Liquid Laundry Detergent

(I got the supplies at Walmart, below are the prices as of 4/16/12) 
The Super Washing Soda and Borax will make 5+ batches
Ingredients:
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar ($.97/bar)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda ($3.24/55oz.box)
1 Cup Borax ($3.38/76oz.box) 

Directions:

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water.
Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.
Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax.
Stir well until all powder is dissolved.
Fill bucket to top with more hot water.
Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
Stir and fill a clean container of your choice half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water.
Shake before each use. (will gel)

Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons.
Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

This one gallon glass jug is what Katie sells to friends.

 This drink dispenser is what we use at home.

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
Top Load Machine- 1/2 Cup per load (Approx. 320 loads)
Front Load Machines- 1/4 Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)