Travis' 6 layer chocolate cake with whip cream and seven minute icing

Fudge Cake:
3 Squares chocolate-unsweetened, or 6 TBLS cocoa
1/2 c. Imperial Margarine
2 1/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. real vanilla
2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/4 c. cake flour or flour sifted with 1-2 TBLS of corn starch
1 c. sour cream
1 c. boiling water

Beat margarine, sugar, and eggs on high speed.  Add vanilla and chocolate on low speed until smooth.  Add flour, soda and salt until just mixed in.  Add sour cream and boiling water until smooth.  Pour evenly into 3 spring form round pans 8-9 inches.  Bake at 350 degrees for at least 24 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Whip Cream:
Beat heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar together until resembles frosting.

Seven minute icing:
3 egg whites, beaten to stand in stiff peaks
1 3/4 c. sugar
10 TBLS cold water
2 TBLS corn syrup
1/4-1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla

Mix and cook over a double boiler, until thick, usually between 7 and 10 minutes, while continues beating with mixer.

Cut each cake in half, and put whip cream in between each layer, ending with frosting the whole cake with seven minutes icing.

S'mores stuffed chocolate chip cookies

S’mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks softened butter

1 Cup granulated sugar

3/4 Cup packed light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon vanilla

3 1/2 Cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 Cups semi sweet chocolate chips

24 graham cracker quarters or 12 full sheets separated at perforations

3 Hershey Bars, broken into rows of 3 bars

12 large marshmallows cut in half lengthwise

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a large baking sheet with parchment or a silpat liner.

2.  In a stand or electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla, continue to beat until well combined.

3.  Place flour, salt and baking soda into a bowl; mix to combine then add slowly to wet ingredients along with the chocolate chips.

4.  Layer a graham cracker quarter with 3 Hershey chocolate squares and 2 marshmallow halves.  Close with another graham cracker.  Top s’more with a large scoop of cookie dough.  Place in hands and place another large scoop on bottom then front and back sides as needed.  Form dough around s’mores.  Will get messy, but stick with it, it does not have to be perfect.  S’mores will move around but it’s no big deal.  Place large cookies onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes or until edges are golden and centers are cooked through.  Let cool for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack or serving plate.

Makes 12 large stuffed cookies.

These are one of my favorite recipes, for bake sales, father's day, exc...     I got this recipe from picky-palate.com

squash, basil and pasta (GF)

2 cups sliced zucchini and summer squash
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
2 T olive oil
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
3 c. GF pasta, cooked
(optional) Parmesan cheese, shredded

In a skillet, heat oil, and add onion, saute 2-3 minutes.  Add garlic, saute 1 more minute.  Add squash, and salt and pepper, saute 5 more minutes, add fresh basil, saute 2 more minutes.  Add cooked pasta, and cook until heated through, remove from heat and add cheese if desired.  I like to make this dish with some grilled chicken.