Easy Chocolate Cake

I admit, I am a cake mix snob. Didn't grow up with 'em, still don't use 'em. I think they taste weird. So when a birthday or some occasion rolls around that calls for a cake, this is the one recipe I always use. So simple and easy, turns out perfect every time- it makes me wonder why people even use a cake mix??

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup baking cocoa
1 1/4 cups water
1 1/4 tsps baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom and sides of pan with shortening. Lightly flour.
*Jan's trick I learned from her - get a huge wad of saran wrap, grab a glob of shortening and smear it all over the pan. Keeps your hands clean!

Beat all ingredients in mixer on low for 30 seconds, scraping the sides constantly. (Let's be honest, its not that easy to do, but that's what the recipe says.)

Beat on high for 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pans.

Baking times:
9x13 - 40 to 45 mins
round pans - 30-35 mins
Done when toothpick comes out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes on wire rack, remove cakes from pans to wire rack (I don't when I do a 9x13), cool for an hour. Frost!

I don't like to use dark non-stick pans when I bake, they mess everything up, so I stick with the shiny silver pans for my cakes.

Mom's Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

This is the BEST Lemon Poppy Seed Cake. It is SOO moist because of the pudding and the cinnamon and sugar crust on the outside is delicious!

But I MUST warn you - This is very addicting!! My Mom made it once and I think I had 5 pieces.... Be ware!

Mom's Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Ingredients
1 Yellow Cake Mix
1 sm Package of Instant Vanilla Pudding
4 eggs
1/2 C. Oil
1 C. Water

Mix 10 min in Bosch or Kitchen Aid on Level 1 speed
Add 3 T Poppy Seeds
After spraying bundt pan with pam, sprinkle a heavy amount of cinnamon and sugar to coat the pan pretty thick.
Pour 1/2 mixture into bundt pan, sprinkle more cinn and sugar, then pour in remaining batter
Bake at 375 for 40 min
Remove immediately to a wire rack after baking.

ENJOY ! :)

Chess Cake

I got this recipe from a co-worker. I tasted a bite this morning and knew I would probably loose the paper with the recipe on it so, I'm putting it on here to prevent myself from loosing the recipe :)

Ingredients*
3 Eggs
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
1 Yellow cake mix
4 cups Powdered sugar
1/2 c butter softened

*Directions
Preheat oven to 350
Grease a 9x13 in cake pan
In a large bowl mix together cake mix, butter and 1 egg
Pat batter into greased 9x13 in pan
In a medium mixing bowl mix together cream cheese, 2 eggs, and sugar
Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cake mix batter
Bake for 35 min or until golden brown
Let cool and cut into bars
Enjoy!

She said they also freeze really well! Cut them up and put in storage bags or tupperware and freeze and then you can take out a little at a time when you want them! YUM!