Cake Balls

This has easily become a favorite among my friends and family. And I'm not complaining- they are super easy to make. Just a little messy!

On this particular night, I made red velvet cake balls mixed with cream cheese frosting and dipped in white chocolate. But the combinations are ENDLESS. I've made chocolate cake mixed with chocolate frosting dipped in chocolate, confetti cake mixed with white frosting dipped in chocolate. And another good one if you can find it is pink lemonade cake mixed with lemon frosting (or pink lemonade frosting) dipped in white chocolate (my friend Nicki concocted that one). AMAZING.

So pick your poison and get to baking! :)

Ingredients
1 Box of cake mix (including ingredients listed on box- typically eggs, water, and oil)
1 container of frosting
1 bar of Almond Bark

1. According to the directions on the cake box, combine ingredients for cake, pour into pan, and bake.

2. Let cake cool completely.

3. When cool, crumble cake into a large bowl. I just dig in with my hands, but you may be able to use a fork for this step. I typically leave the edges of the cake out as they can get pretty crusty after baking.

4. Mix in the entire container of frosting to the cake crumbs. Make sure to mix VERY well.

5. Cover and chill in freezer for at least one hour- the longer, the better!


6. In a microwavable bowl, add all of the almond bark chunks and microwave for 90 seconds. Stir, and continue microwaving in 15 or 20 second intervals, stirring after each time.
DO NOT overheat the almond bark- you just want it warm enough to be smooth. (About 3-5 times in the microwave).

7. Remove cake mix from freezer and scoop small amounts. Roll into a ball.

8. Drop the cake ball into the chocolate and use a fork to scoop it out. Place balls on parchment paper to cool and harden.
NOTE: You want to do this step VERY quickly. If the cake ball is in the chocolate too long it will completely fall apart and you'll have a big mess! Don't be too concerned with covering every piece of the cake in chocolate.

I typically keep my cake balls in a ziploc bag or container in the freezer- I like them best cold and they keep longer that way. ENJOY!

Microwave Fudge

Yes, you read that right- microwave fudge. I got this recipe from my friend Nicki and it is the best! Don't spend all that time standing over a hot stove- just throw the ingredients in the microwave and stir it a couple times. It tastes delicious and you would never know it came from the microwave!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup margarine or butter

3 cups sugar

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 pkg (12 oz.) chocolate chips

1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow cream

1 tsp vanilla

1. Line a cake pan with tin foil and spray with Pam. You can use any size of pan you would like. I like the long pans because the fudge is not too thick.

2. Microwave margarine or butter on high for 1 minute.

3. Add sugar and evaporated milk. Mix well.

 4.

Microwave 3 minutes. Stir.

Microwave 2 minutes. Stir.

Microwave 3 minutes. Stir.

Microwave 2 1/2 minutes. Add chocolate chips and stir.

5. Add vanilla extract and marshmallow cream. Stir until all the white from the marshmallow cream is gone. At this point you could also choose to add chopped nuts.

6. Pour into greased pan (or pans) and let sit for a few hours. 

7. Remove foil from pan and cut into pieces. Enjoy!

Sloppy Joe's

I do not know too many people that love sloppy joe's, and I always used to cringe when I saw sloppy joe's on the menu during elementary school- but that was because they were not my mom's sloppy joe's! I could eat them all day long- and I think you would agree! And the best part...it is under 30 minutes to make. :)

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can of Chicken Gumbo Soup
• 1 can of water
• 1 Tbsp ketchup
• 1 Tbsp mustard

 Directions:

1. Chop medium onion.

2. Heat a skillet on high and add ground beef. Season to taste (salt, pepper, garlic salt or powder). Cook until brown and drain.

3. Add onions and mix. Continue cooking on high for approximately 3 minutes.

4. Add the chicken gumbo soup. Also fill the soup cup with water and add to the mixture. Mix well.

5. Add ketchup and mustard and mix well. Lower temperature to medium/low and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes.

6. Toast hamburger buns in toaster and top with sloppy joe mixture. Enjoy!

Simple Salisbury Steak

Simple Salisbury Steak

Anything under 5 ingredients is a great dinner in my books! This one is so easy to throw together after a long day at work- and it is likely you will always have the ingredients on hand. The flavor of the meat is delicious and it makes for a yummy leftover as well!

  
Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 medium yellow onions
• 2 packets brown gravy
• Heavy cream or half and half (OPTIONAL)

• Seasonings- Salt, pepper, garlic salt, basil leaves

1. Form ground beef into thick, oblong shaped patties.

2. Add patties to a deep pan and season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic salt. (If you do not have garlic salt, you can substitute garlic powder and add a little extra salt.)
Cook on high, browning both sides of the patties.

3. Thinly slice the yellow onions into rings and separate.

4. In a saucepan, cook gravy per the packets instructions- usually one cup of water per packet. We also added 1 to 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream to thicken the gravy.

5. When meat is mostly cooked through, go ahead and add the onions to the pan. Cook on high about 10 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally.

6.  Turn to medium/low heat and add the gravy sauce- mix together.

7. Turn to very low heat, and add some basil leaves to the mixture. Cover pan and simmer for 15 minutes.

This meal is delicious when served with mashed potatoes! Enjoy!!