Devil's Food Butterscotch Chip Cookies

Ever since I started writing this blog, I've discovered a few things about myself.  I like food.  A lot!  We all know that I'm a muffin fan, well, I'm also a cookie fan....a real cookie monster :-)  This recipe is one that I have made before (I first printed it from cookierecipe.com in 2000), but this time I changed it slightly to use ingredients on hand.  Still...turned out great!    Here it is!

2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup shortening
1 box of Devil's Food cake mix
2 cups butterscotch chip cookies (original recipe calls for peanut butter chips....I was all out so I used butterscotch chips instead!)

Preheat oven to 375F.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs.  Add in the vanilla, shortening and 1/2 of the cake mix.  Beat until light and fluffly.  Stir in the remaining cake mix and the butterscotch chips.

Using teaspoons, drop dough onto an unprepared cookie sheet.  Dough should be approximately 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until done.

VERDICT:
Another hit, yes indeed!  Cookies always go over well, and these were no exception.  These are super easy to make (I don't usually use mixes for cookies and such, but these are good!).  I will be making them again!

Guest Post - Amber from The Confessions of a Doer Mom

HI!  I am Amber and I am glad to be guest hosting today.  You can find me at The Confessions of a Doer Mom!  I am a mom going through a big change in her life as my littlest one just started school and I am starting graduate school.  Check me out sometime!

Cowboy Pasta is one of our favorite dishes around here.  We give up meat every Lent, so I found this recipe a few years ago and it has stuck.  It is a great dish for a dinner as you can make it head and put it in your oven later.  We often bring it to potlucks as well, and people ask me for the recipe.  It is really easy.

1. Dice one large onion and one large sweet bell pepper (any color will do, I usually use green though). Saute them in a large skillet over medium hear in olive oil until them are cooked through.

2. Add one large can, (26 ounces) of rinsed and drained black beans and one small bag (12 ounces) of frozen corn.  Cook until heated through.

3. Add one can (26 ounces) of your favorite spaghetti sauce and one small jar (12 ounces) of your favorite salsa.  Mix until combined and heated through.

4. Mix in one box of shaped pasta and place in casserole pan and top with cheese.  Cheddar or a Mexican mix works well.  Bake for half an hour at 350*.

5. Enjoy!  This is a great dish by itself as it has all of the food groups in it and a name that the kids will love.  Or you can dress it up with a salad.

Let me know what you think!

Polka Dot Cake

I'm always looking to learn fun new tricks when baking.  I know that I've got a long way to go to become good at decorating cakes (I think I need to take some classes!) but I figure I can still find other little ways to dress up cakes...on the inside!  I saw some pictures for "polka dot cakes" and did some reading on how to make them, and I came up with this way for my first go at making one!  Here is what I did:

2 white cake mixes, plus all the ingredients needed to make the cakes
Food colouring (your choice of colours)
Icing

Preheat oven according to box instruction.

Take your first cake mix and prepare the batter according to directions. 

Divide the batter evenly into the number of bowls that you are wanting colours for your polka dots.  I decided to make pink and purple polka dots, so I needed two bowls.  Add the food colouring to the batter until you reach your desired colour.  Pour batter into cake pans.

Bake the cakes according to the box directions.  Note - I always bake for less time than the box states, it may be due to elevation, but I just find they bake faster than the box guidelines.

Cool the cakes completely, then break each cake apart to make your cake balls.  I added a little bit of icing into each cake to help stick the cake balls together.  Form your cake balls, place them on a plate, cover and put them in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.  I left mine in the fridge overnight as I started the project around 9 pm!

Once the cake balls have chilled, prepare the second cake mix according to the box instructions.  Pour the batter into the cake pans (I used 9x9) and then place the cake balls in the batter.  Bake the cakes according to direction (again, I bake for less time than the box recommends).

Once the cakes are baked, cool completely, and ice them.  I made my own buttercream icing for this project.

Now...when you cut into that cake...what a nice surprise to find pops of colour!

VERDICT:
While cake balls a re a bit of work (one of those cake pop baking machines are tempting to try to speed up the baking process), it was fun to have the different dots of colour in the cake.  I made this cake as a little belated birthday cake for my Mom (they were away for her actual birthday), and it went over well, especially with our 5 year old, who usually only eats icing! (He ate the cake too, because of the polka dots). I will experiment again in the future with smaller cake balls, just to see the difference, and maybe use different baking pans, all for fun!

Scrumptious Sunday Recipe Link Party #24

Hello everyone! Happy Sunday to you! How was your week? Mine was hectic! I returned to work this week after my maternity leave. I've been re-learning my job and trying to create some sort of schedule for the family so that I can fit everything in!  I do mornings on my own with the kids (my hubby starts work really early), and so far the mornings have been OK.  The kids are adjusting to the change in their routines, Big B is better with change than Little B, but Little B will get there.  He made it to Friday before daycare called and said, "He's not doing well at all today".  My poor little guy! 

So that's enough about me...it's time to get on with the party!  Scrumptious Sunday Recipe Link Party #24 is now OPEN!  Please come share your recipes, and come check out all the great recipes being shared!

Don't forget, all featured recipes will be shared on my blog, and on my Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages!

Scrumptious Sunday #23 - Features

Happy Friday Everyone!  I'm onto a new blogging schedule - I used to sneak in a little blogging during the day when the baby was napping, but I'm now back to work, and my time to blog is a little more limited.  Well, unless I stay up late....which I will probably do...I am a bit of a night owl! Hopefully I can keep up, I've been having so much fun!  OK, enough about me, let's get on with the features from last week's party! 

Seriously, I am so inspired by everyone each week...so many great recipes shared!  You are truly fueling my addiction, thank you!!

If you are featured, I sure would love for you to grab a BUTTON (and help promote my blog), thank you so much!

<a href="http://iamaddictedtorecipes.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w519/AddictedtoRecipes/addictedbutton.jpg" width="200" height="177" border="0" alt="I was featured, I was Featured by Addicted to Recipes"></a>

Congratulations to this week's features!

Tomato Basil Quiche with Potato Crust from Now Things Are Cookin'

Panko Crusted Fish Tacos from Recipes for Divine Living

Ice Cream Tacos from Pint Sized Baker

Chocolate Cherry Cake from Winnish

Raspberry Brownie Cake from A'Casarella

All of these recipes will be pinned to my Pinterest account, posted on Twitter, and shared on Facebook!

Just a reminder, this week's Scrumptious Sunday Link Party goes live Saturday - at 8 pm PST. Can't wait to see what you bring to the party!

It's A Keeper Thursdays - I'm the Co-Host!

I am so excited to be co-hosting thie week's It's a Keeper Thursday over at Everyday Tastes! Thank you so much Christina for having me co-host with you! I am a faithful participant in the weekly It's A Keeper party - if you haven't yet checked it out, NOW is your chance! We would love for you to share a recipe by linking up (below!). And we encourage you to visit other submissions to check out all the goodness being shared!

If you are new to Addicted to Recipes, I would love for you to join me here! I host a weekly recipe link party on Sundays, called Scrumptious Sunday. You can also find and follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Happy Linking!!

You'll Find Me Over At Pamela's Heavenly Treats!

I am so excited to be guest posting over at Pamela's Heavenly Treats today!  I just love her blog.  we've been bloggy friends for a while now, and I have just loved watching her blog grow! In addition to her blog, she owns a healthy cupcake and cookie business.  Using 100% whole wheat flower is part of her secret!  Head on over to Pamela's Heavenly Treats to see my recipe for Rhubarb-Buttermilk Tea Cake!