Chocolate Mousse Cake-Olive Garden Style

This is my all time favorite dessert! I was so happy when I found a recipe for it. It is quite the process, but sooo worth it. There are 5 layers and then the frosting. We will start with the bottom and work our way up. Thanks to my friendy Sandy for taking the picture!She's an awesome photographer!

Chocolate Layer Cake
9 tablespoons sugar               1/2 cup flour
1 egg                          3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract        1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons vegetable oil         1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon shortening              1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water

Make chocolate cake layer by combining the sugar, egg, and vanilla in a bowl and mix it with an electric mixer on high for one minute. Add the oil and shortening and mix well. Then add the water, mix until smooth.
Combine the rest of dry ingredients in another bowl. Add this to the bowl of wet ingredients and mix until smooth. Pour into a well greased 10-inch SPRINGFORM pan (this is important, you have to be able to open the sides of the cake while keeping it on the pan).
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Let cool.

Chocolate Cheesecake Layer
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
1 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Make this layer when the cake is almost cooled. Add the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla to a bowl and mix on high until the cream form stiff peaks. Mix in the cream cheese until smooth. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in a glass bowl on high for 30 seconds. Stir and then heat the chips for another 15 to 30 seconds. Stir until smooth then mix them into the cream mixture. Spoon the mixture over the chocolate cake layer. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Fluffy Cheesecake Layer
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces cream cheese, softened

Make this layer just like the last one, but without the chocolate chips. Mix the cream, sugar, and vanilla together until the cream forms stiff peaks. Add the cream cheese in until smooth. Spread over the chocolate cheesecake layer and chill for another hour.

Chocolate Custard Mousse Layer
1 egg 
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Using a metal bowl, whisk together the egg, cream, and sugar. Set the bowl over water that is simmering in a saucepan over medium-low heat (if you have a double boiler you can use that instead). Whisk for 6 minutes or until thick. Remove the bowl from the heat and add the chocolate chips and vanilla with a spoon until smooth. Spread over the fluffy cream cheese layer.

White Swirl
2 tablespoons white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Combine all ingredients and heat in a glass dish in the microwave for 30 seconds. Take out and stir. Heat in 15 second increments until smooth. Drizzle over the chocolate custard layer and use a knife to make the swirl into the custard. Chill until firm. About an hour.

Dark Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar                                                    
3 tablespoons dark cocoa powder                                                                                               
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream

6 ounces of mini chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients using an electric mixer until smooth. Load the frosting into a pastry bag. Use the large star tip.

Remove the  cake from the springform pan and pipe the frosting around the edge of the cake.
Press the mini chocolate chips around the sides of cake. Press firmly to make the chips stick. Chill the cake for at least another hour. Use a serrated knife to cut pieces.

Enjoy!

Seriously sooo good.

Homemade French Fries

So so easy, but I still didn't know how to make homemade french fries until I tried.

Ingredients:

2-3 cups Vegetable Oil (can be substitute with other oils too)
4-5 Potatoes (will serve 4 people or so)
Garlic Salt or Regular table salt.
Any other seasonings preferred

Directions:

Cut potatoes into strips. Let them dry on a towel. Heat oil in a small sauce pan (unless you have a deep fryer). Before putting the potatoes in make sure they are dry. They won't fry if they are wet. Place the potatoes in the oil and let them fry for 5 minutes or until they are golden brown. You will have to do them in sections unless you want to use a big sauce pan and tons of oil. Take them out, put them on a plate with a papertowel, and sprinkle with salt and any other seasoning of your choice.

I save my oil and use it for next time.

I love to serve these with BLT's or Club sandwhiches (above).

Caramel Apple Spice-Starbucks Style

I LOVE Fall. This time of year is the best! Starbuck's Caramel Apple Spice makes it that much more enjoyable. I was extremely happy when I saw a recipe going around on Pinterest. It linked me
HERE.

Ingredients:
4 cups apple cider
3 tablespoons caramel syrup
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
4 tablespoons of whipped cream (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a slow cooker for 4 hours and enjoy!
I think next time I will try adding some nutmeg too.

Yummy

Homemade Alfredo-Pasta Factory Style

There is a yummy restaraunt here in St. George that serves some good alfredo. I have been looking for a good recipe and finally found one that turns out good! I found it on THIS website. She has some other good recipes too!

Next time, I think I will try adding some fresh garlic to the sauce to see how that tastes.

Ingredients:
1 cup of butter
8 oz cream cheese
1 cup milk-works better with whole or 2%
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

Directions:
 Melt butter and cream cheese in a sauce pan, stirring/whisking often.
Once melted, add the milk and whipping cream. continue to whisk so it doesn't burn.
Once everything is blended and hot, add the parmesan cheese. Continue whisking until nice and smooth.
Lower heat and continue to whisk until it thickens up.

Enjoy with your favorite pasta, salad, and fresh HOMEMADE breadsticks.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

I found this yummy recipe on Pinterest, which linked me HERE. This turned out so delicious!! 

Ingredients:

3 over-ripe bananas, smashed up

1/3 cup melted butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

dash of salt

1 1/2 cups flour

For the Swirl:

1/3 cup sugar

1 Tbs cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Use a loaf pan and spray it with vegetable oil. In a mixer, or bowl using electric mixer, mix the bananas, butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla together. Add the dry ingredients just until mixed. Don't over mix.
Mix the sugar and cinnamon together for the swirl mix.
Then pour half of the bread mixture into the loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the swirl mixture over the bread mixture. Pour the remaining dough on top of the swirl mixture. Sprinkle the remaining mixture on the top of the bread mix.
Bake for 60-70 mins.

I updated the dough recipe, so check it out. I never made it with a mixer before, but tried it and fixed the steps!

My Mom's Famous Bread