Best-Ever Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake

I got this recipe a long time ago and have made it a coupld of times but there was always something about it that my husband didn't like. The original recipe is from Kraft and they use a tub of Cool Whip for the fosting and it gave the frosting a waxey texture that bothered my husband. On my next attempt I tried just making a regular chocolate frosting and I didn't like it because it turned out too sweet. This is the final attempt and the best by far. I ended up making it twice in one week and both times it was a huge success!

1 box chocolate cake mix
1 box (8oz.) Bakers semi-sweet chocolate
1 box (small) chocolate pudding (the instant is fine)
1 cup sour cream
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
1 pint whipping cream
Sugar
Vanilla

Preheat your oven to 350. Mix cake mix, pudding, sour cream, oil, and water together until well combined. Cut up 2 of the ounce blocks of semi-sweet chocolate (I am lazy so I just added semi-sweet chocolate chips) and add to the cake batter. Stir to combine. Place cake batter in 2, 9 inch round pans. Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes. (I live in a high altitude area and I didn't need to change anything to make it turn out.) Take cake out of the oven when a toothpick come out clean when poked into the center of the cake. Let cool in the pans on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Remove cake from the pans and let cool completely before adding the frosting.

Frosting
Whip the entire pint of whipping cream. Add the sugar and vanilla to the whipped cream to taste. Melt 6 oz. of the semi-sweet chocolate (either in a double broiler or in the microwave). Add the chocolate to the whipped cream and mix together.
**I have made this frosting twice and the first time turned out wonderful. I used a hand held blender to mix the cream. The second time I used my kitchen aid mixer and the cream came out lumpy. I did another variation of this frosting for another cake and I used the hand held mixer again and it turned out smooth again. I think when I used the kitchen aid I over whipped the cream so be careful if you decide to use one.

New Craft Project

So my sister-in-law is making my niece a blanket to go on her bed in her bedroom. She is going to make the same rag quilt that I showed you a couple of months back. She asked me if I would go to the fabric store to help her pick out fabric. Of course I said YES! So this weekend I went and my other niece from Denver who is becoming an avid sewer came as well. I ended up buying some material for a fag quilt that I will be making for a little boy and my niece Sydney decided to make a rag quilt as well. I am so excited for this quilt I am going to be making.

My husband says that the material isn't very "boyish" but I will show him when it is done.

Sydney chose the cutest fabric for her quilt! She is going to be quite the little crafter one day. She doesn't like flowers very much so we changed it to stars. Look at what a wonderful job she did choosing her fabric and sewing this square!

A frugal tip for all of you sewers out there. Most fabric stores have bags of fabric that is too small to be put on their remnant table. I bought this entire back of fabric for $1.99!

Makin Cascarones

This year my family had our Easter erly because my mom will be visiting my dad for Easter and my brother Merlin was in town with his kids. I have been saving my eggs shells since my last post and I was able to get a few dozen saved up for the event. I decided to make my own die for the eggs because I didn't want to spend money on this project!

Step 1: What you will need.
Cups for the die
Food coloring
Vinegar
Water
Spoons
1 Tbl.

Put 2 Tablespoons of vinegar in the bottom of your glass. Put 1t.-1T. of food coloring in the vinegar and stur. Then add enough water to completely cover the egg.

 

I tried to do purple but it turned out really ugly :(

These are the finished eggs

Step 2:Finishing

Once all of the eggs are died you will need all of the following:

Glue

Dyed eggs

Confetti (go to Kinko's or Alphagraphic's and have them empty their hole punchers)

Tissue paper (My mom saves all of the tissue paper given to her in gifts)

Cut the tissue paper into squares big enough to cover the opening in the top of the eggs

Fill your egg with confetti (this is paper from the shredder which doesn't work as well)

Put glue around the opening

Place tissue paper over the opening

Ta Da! You are done...Now you and your kids can have a blast smashing them on eachothers heads. Even my little 3 year old nieces joined in!

Start Saving Your...

Egg Shells!

My husbands family has the best tradition for Easter. They make Cascarones. Cascarones are egg shells filled with confetti. On Easter while the kids are going around looking for all of the candy filled eggs the adults get to join in and gather the cascarones and smash them on top of other peoples heads.

As you can see my husbands family really gets into it...all of those males trying to one up each other. The kids also ejoy the cascarones...

 

To Make:

When you are cracking the egg you need to make sure to only take the top off.

To do this all I did was take a regular butter knife and tap around the top of the egg. I dumped out all the egg-y goodness, threw the top shell away and washed out the inside. When the time comes you dye the eggs festive colors and fill with confetti. To seal off the top you take a piece of tissue paper and glue it over the opening. This is what the finished product might look like. (thanks to http://www.amols.com/catalog/product/MX601?gclid=CMCMqJ_eoKACFSMXawod1GxXZg for the picture)

If you aren't up for the cracking and saving eggs you can buy them premade from the website above.

The Latest in the Fablehaven Series

Can I just say I am so excited for this book to come out! (March 23!) This is the final book in the Faablehaven series. I am a huge fan of these books and my kids at school are as well. I have introduced many of my nieces and nephew to these books and they love them. I must say...don't get upset with me...that I enjoy this series better than Harry Potter. The last books in the Harry Potter series were hard for me to get through. 4 out of the five book of Fablehaven have been released and each book gets better than the previous. The idea behind the books are genius.

This is the synopsis of the book from Brandon Mull's Website

For centuries, mythical creatures of all description have been gathered to hidden refuges around the world where they are watched over by human caretakers. Kendra and her brother Seth discover that their grandfather is the caretaker of one of these secret wildlife sanctuaries—Fablehaven.

Brandon Mull has also written another chapter book called The Candy Shop Wars and a FABULOUS picture book called Pingo. Read his books I know you'll love them.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Today with my day off I was able to go and see The Lightning Theif. I loved it! I am reading the book right now to my 3rd graders and I am loving the book (so are my kids). My mom, dad, and husband went with me to the movie. None of them have read the book and they all loved the movie as well. If you are looking for a good series of books to read you should check them out. If you are just looking for an entertaining movie definately go and see it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This week has gone by so quickly. Today my dad brought me the most BEAUTIFUL flowers! My dad never forgets his girls on Valentine's Day. I love him so much! Here is a picture of the flowers he gave me...they are my favorites!

Yesterday I celebrated Valentine's Day with my kids at school. Can I just say that I am so happy that I teach school because exchanging valentines as kids is one of the most fun things. I even decorated my own box this year. Here is is full of all of my wonderful treats.

This week my husband was sick so he stayed home. Can I just say that I have the best husband in the WORLD! When I am sick I lay down and do nothing all day. When I came home from work I found a clean kitchen and these waiting for me.

Everyone should have milk and cookies waiting for them after a long days work. Thanks Honey! I love you:)