Aunt Clara's New York Chocolate Cake

Aunt Clara

My great Aunt Clara used to make this cake. Its been a family favorite for years. Today I made it for my mother's birthday party.

1 pkg. chocolate fudge cake mix (Pillsbury)
1 pkg. instant chocolate pudding
1 Cup cold coffee 4 eggs
½ Cup oil
½ tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt

Mix together all ingredients (except vanilla). Beat at high 4 minutes. Add vanilla; mix well. Bake at 350 in ungreased angel food pan for 1 hour. Or bake 30 minutes in 2 9-inch cake pans. Cool completely before inverting pan.

Jello Instant Pudding Frosting 

1 pkg. Dream Whip
1 pkg. instant chocolate pudding
½ Cup cold milk

Beat at high until stiff peaks form. Spread on side and top of cake.

Tomato, Pepper and Spaghetti with Goat Cheese

8 ounces uncooked spaghetti

1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cubed

1 1/4 C chopped fresh tomatoes

1/2 C fresh basil, cut into 1/2 slices

1 clove garlic, minced

1 T extra-virgin olive oil

4-ounces crumbled goat cheese

1/4 C sliced ripe olives, drained

Cook pasta according to package directions.. Place bell pepper in a colander; drain pasta over bell pepper. Combine pasta, bell pepper, tomatoes, and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; toss gently. Serve immediately.

Nashville Eats

We went to Nashville, Tennesee over the weekend.  We enjoyed some good music and food.  Here are a couple of the places we tried.  I recommend them all!

Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops

1 T fresh rosemary, chopped

1/2 t sea salt, divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T olive oil
4 (4-ounce) lamb loin chops, trimmed
1/8 t freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray

Combine rosemary, 1/4 t salt, and garlic with olive oil.  Rub mixture evenly over both sides of lamb. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

Season both sides of lamb with remaining 1/4 t salt and the pepper. Heat grill pan and spray with cooking spray.  Grill 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.

Rhubarb Pie

4 1/2 Cups rhubarb, chopped
1 1/3 Cups sugar
6 T flour
1 T butter
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

Cinnamon

Combine sugar and flour. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of it over pastry in pie plate. Top with rhubarb. Sprinkle with remaining sugar and flour, reserving 1 tablespoon. Dot with small pieces of butter. Cover with top crust. Add a dash of cinnamon to remaining sugar and flour mixture.  Brush crust with water and sprinkle with remaining sugar/flour mixture.  Bake for 15 minutes in preheated 450 degree oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees, and bake for 40 to 45 minutes longer.