How to Win the KitchenAid Giveaway Today

Just leave a comment on this post telling me what recipe/topic you would like to see featured on ZESTY in 2012.   Remember, you can still enter the contest from previous days!

- – - – - – - – - -

Happy Friday!!  I have a great re-post of a delicious recipe for you today!

Tis the season for POTLUCKS.  If you’re invited to a party, heading to a potluck or just craving a chocolate treat that takes little to no effort – this is a recipe for you.  Now as you read further you will realize that a lot of this recipe comes with off the shelf help.  Items like chocolate cake in a box, instant chocolate pudding, skor bars and some homemade whip cream.

My mom makes this recipe sometimes when we have family functions – so the last time I was invited to a potluck I dragged this along (see picture above).  Needless to say, when this made it out on the table for dessert it was an instant hit and didn’t last very long.

Next time you need a simple sweet treat – try this one.

Ingredients

• 1 Chocolate Cake Mix
• 1 Package Instant Chocolate Pudding
• 3 Skor Bars
• 3 Cups Whip Cream

Method

1. Bake a chocolate cake mix in a 9×13″ pan as per instructions.

1. Break cake into 1″ cubes.
2. Hammer or use food processor to crumble up 3-4 SKOR bars (or use a package of SKOR bits).
3. Prepare 1 package of chocolate pudding mix as per instructions.

1. In a large bowl filled with pieces of cake cubes, place a layer of pudding, then a layer of whipped cream and finally topped with some SKOR bar bits.

1. Repeat layers. Once you reach the top of the bowl, top with remaining skor bar bits.

1. ENJOY!

ZestyTip: A common downfall when baking cakes is opening the oven door too soon.  This sudden rush of cold air into a warm/hot oven will result in the cake collapsing and coming out flat. The oven door should not be opened until ¾’s the way through allowed cooking time.  Controlling its browning process is essential.

How to Win the KitchenAid Giveaway Today

Just leave a comment on this post telling me what recipe/topic you would like to see featured on ZESTY in 2012.   Remember, you can still enter the contest from previous days!

1. Please “like” the Zesty Cook facebook page and come back and tell me you did it. If you are already a “liker,” leave a comment telling me you are already a fan.
2. Tell me your favorite holiday tradition and leave a comment telling me.

3. Tell Zesty your favorite Holiday dish
4. Tweet about this contest and leave a comment telling me you have tweeted.
5. Tell me the first thing you would make with the mixer.
6. Tell your favorite Holiday Movie.
7. Subscribe to Zesty and Tell a Friend.
8. Name your favorite Chocolate
9. Tell me your favorite zesty dessert post
10. Name your Vegetable.

Please be sure to leave separate comments for each entry to increase your chance to win!

Alright so there you have it… Friday is upon us and i still have shopping to do.  2 more sleeps until Christmas! Have a great day!

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty

Yes!  You read the title correctly.  Mrs. Zesty made these delicious cupcakes for a wedding shower she was attending on Friday evening.  It was a bit of a hectic Thursday night/Friday which meant that I was unable to help with the food preparation as much as I wanted too.

The results were fabulous!  Mrs. Z has always been a great baker (along with her whole family).  These little dream treats are super simple and super tasty.  Nothing more than cake mix (without all the oil), some pre-made frosting, and crumbled Skor bar to kick it up a notch.

Feel free to follow below for the details.

Ingredients

• Betty Crocker Chocolate Cake Mix
• 3 Eggs
• 1 1/3 Cup Water
• 1/2 Cup Oil ( used closer to 1/4 cup)
• Vanilla Frosting
• 2 Skor Bars

Method

1. Preheat oven to 325 Degrees
2. Follow instructions o n the cake mix
3. Place liners in the muffin tins
4. Using a measuring spoon and fill the cup cakes tins until about 3/4 full
5. Bake for 17 -22 minutes
6. Remove cup cakes and place on wire rack; let cool
7. Once cool, spread frosting
8. Place Skor bars in ziploc bag and rush with rolling pin
9. Top cup cakes with Skor pieces
10. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: To keep the mess under control, Mrs. Zesty uses a measuring spoon and liners in the muffin tins.  This also eliminates some unwanted oil in the muffins.

So a couple of things about this little treat.  I was very thankful that Mrs. Zesty pulled through to make these delicious cupcakes as I knew time would be tight for me.  And secondly, they tasted great and were so easy to make.  I really appreciate the reduction of oil in this recipe.  The cupcakes were very light and fluffy, but the Skor pieces really gave them dimension and texture.  Great Job J!

Hope you have a great Monday!  I will forewarn you that yesterday we had a huge beach day which was followed by a killer BBQ/Dinner at the Sis In Laws.  So stay tuned for some dishes that will make your tongue hang out.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty

I’m Back! Yes you better believe it!  I had somewhat of a long day yesterday flying from Miami to home.  This all started with me going to the self service check out line in Miami and the computer was unable to print out boarding pass.  I thought to myself… oh dear here we go again.  So I ended up going up to the American Airlines Counter to tell the lady my story.  She punches my name into the system and a puzzled look appears on her face.

After a moment, she sputters “Sir, your flight has been canceled – that is why it did not print your boarding pass.”

“oh lovely, what do we do now?” I asked.

A few minutes elapsed and she ended up re routing me through New York and adding an extra connection but all in all it wasn’t that bad.  I am home so that is the main thing!

Now to finish off baked goods week – I thought I would save possibly the best for last.  Chocolate cake with homemade boiled icing topped with skor bar bites.  As you can recall I posted the boiled icing recipe a while back and I also posted a skor bar trifle back in February.  This chocolate cake is a combination of both without the chocolate pudding.

A simple great classic that you can make any day of the week for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 Cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 Cup cocoa
• 1/8 Tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 Lb. stick butter, cut into 8 equal parts
• 1 Cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 Cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 Tsp. vanilla
• 3 Lg. eggs
• 1/2 Cup sour cream

Method

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.
2. Stir together flour, cocoa, and baking soda.
3. Cream butter, sugars and vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until blended.
4. Add flour mixture and sour cream; beat gently just until smooth.
5. Bake in a greased and floured bundt pan for 45-55 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes.
7. Loosen edges and around tube; turn out on rack.
8. Cool completely.
9. Add boiled icing and top with skor bits.



10. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: Make sure the rack is in the center of the oven. Shiny pans reflect the heat, and are the best choice for cake baking. I also like to reduce the oven temperature by 25° when using glass pans.

I hope you have a great weekend! I will see you on Monday.  I am planning a fun zesty giveaway next week.

Take care

zesty

Download my Free Recipe Book: Simply Zesty