Chocolate Cake Cookies

Now that it's summer my kids are always asking for snacks. I do love to stick to healthier things such as fruits, veggies, yogurt, cheese sticks, crackers, etc. However, every once in awhile you just need something sweet! I love this VERY EASY recipe for Chocolate Cake Cookies. You can make them within a half hour and enjoy!



 Ingredients:
One Chocolate Fudge cake mix (I love Betty Crocker)
2 large eggs
1/2 C vegetable oil

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in bowl. Roll dough into small balls (approx 1 inch). Place 12 on baking sheet and cook at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes (one pan at a time). You will know the cookies are done when they start to crack on the top. Let cool on pan for about 2 min then transfer to a cooling rack. It's that simple, and they are so delicious!! I usually get 2 1/2 to 3 dozen out of one box of cake mix.

Ham Fried Rice

For some reason my pictures keep turing to the side. Oh well, you can still see it. This is my ham fried rice recipe. We love it. I add something different that my husband doesn't necissarily like, but really you can't taste it (the coleslaw mix). This recipe makes a lot.

Ingredients
4-5 C cooked rice (cooled in the fridge)
1 pkg diced ham (I like to buy the already diced ham pieces)
8 oz coleslaw mix
2-3 scrambles eggs
Soy sauce
1 bunch green onions (chopped)

Instructions
Cook the rice ahead of time. I like to do it the day before. Put the rice in a container in the fridge to cool. Fried rice works best with cold rice. Once ready to cook, heat a wok pan and spray with Pam. Put in diced ham, coleslaw mix, already scrambled eggs, and green onions in pan. Stir and let cook together on medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir everything together. Add a few splashes of soy sauce, just until rice in light brown. Add just a little at a time. You can always add more, but can't take any away. Let cook together on medium-low heat for about 15 minutes. I usually just turn it to low after awhile and finish cooking whatever else it is I am making for the main dish. Enjoy!

Chicken with Sweet and Sour Sauce



 This is a delicious one ladies! I have not seen a post for a long time...I want some more of your yummy recipes. Here is this easy and tasty one. Our whole family loves it. The best order is to boil the chicken breasts (I usually do this any time during the day), make the sweet and sour sauce, make the chicken batter, then cook the chicken pieces. Enjoy!

 This is the finished chicken, now here is how to make it... You need:

8 chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces (I cook the chicken first by boiling it)

Then you want to make the the batter...You need:
1 C all purpose flour
1 C cornstarch
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp garlic powder (garlic lovers add 1 tsp)
2 tsp sugar
1 1/3 C cold water (if reducing to half recipe, use 1/2 C plus 2 1/2 Tbsp water)
1-2 tsp sesame oil (optional but good to add...I just use vegetable oil if I don't have sesame)
Oil (for frying)
seasoning salt (optional, I don't use this)

Instructions:
In a large bowl combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, garlic powder; add in water and sesame oil; whisk vigorously until smooth. Add handfuls of chicken pieces and use your hands to mix until well coated. Heat oil in a deep fryer or dutch oven to 375 degrees. Carefully add chicken, one at a time, to the hot oil and fry until golden brown (it doesn't take more than about a minute or so because the chicken is already cooked). Remove from oil and place on a paper towel. Sprinkle with seasoning salt immediately after frying if desired (I don't use this).

Now for the yummy sweet and sour sauce:

You will need:
1/2 C ketchup
1 tsp soy sauce
1/3 C white vinegar
1/2 C brown sugar, lightly packed
1 C white sugar (can reduce to 2-3 Tbsp for a less sweet taste)
3/4 C cold water (or can use unsweetened pineapple juice or half of each. I don't like pineapple so I just use the water)
3 Tbsp cornstarch (for a thinner sauce reduce to 2 Tbsp, or for very thick sauce use 4 Tbsp)

Instructions:
In a sauce pan combine the first 5 ingredients and mix until well blended. In a bowl whisk the cold water (or pineapple juice) with cornstarch until smooth and well blended. Then whisk water mixture vigorously into the ketchup mixture; bring to a boil stirring or whisking constantly over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue simmering and mixing until thickened (be patient the sauce takes a few minutes to thicken up). Remove from heat and allow to sit at room temperature, or you may cool to room temperature then refrigerate until ready to use. I prefer room temperature.

Once the chicken is done I serve it on a plate and drizzle the sweet and sour sauce over it. It's so delicious! I got this recipe from a friend and I can get all my family to eat it. It may sound hard to make, but it really is easy. I serve it with my Ham Fried Rice. I'll post that recipe next!