Corn Chowder

OK, so it's sort of getting to be beyond soup season, but I wanted to post this anyhow. This is a recipe that I tweeked and really really liked! So...if you have a cold spring day...make this! You'll love it. Well, if you like corn.

1/3 C. Bacon Pieces (I just buy that large bag from Costco) - Or you could just bake and chop some regular bacon.

2-4 Tbs. Oil

6 C. corn kernals (again, frozen from Costco)

1.5 C. cubed red potatoes (about 1/2 inch in size)

3 C. chicken broth

1/2 C. heavy cream

1/2 C. sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded

salt and pepper to taste

3 Tbs. sugar (optional)

1/4. tsp. cayenne pepper (optional if you want a little kick. I did it once with and once without)

Cook your bacon pieces and oil on medium high heat for a few minutes. Obviously, this is already cooked stuff...but I just crisp it up a bit and get the bacon taste in the oil/drippings/pot. Remove all or most of the bacon from the pan leaving the oil and set aside. Add corn and potatoes to pot with oil. Saute for about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth and simmer uncovered over medium heat until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer 3 cups soup to blender. Puree until smooth. (Be careful to not let blender splash or spill this. It's hot!) Return puree to soup in pot. Stir in cream, cheese, and bacon...(and sugar and/or cayenne if using this). Bring chowder to simmer, thinning with more broth if too thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy this bad boy! I LOVED it. Sorry there is no picture. You'll have to just imagine it. It's fabulous!

Texas Whopper Cake

This is my favorite chocolate cake. Maybe because it is my mom's recipe. I don't know. But every time I make it, I fall in love all over again. And guess what? I'm not that big of a chocolate fan! I know. Crazy, but true.

Texas Whopper Cake

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup butter

1 cup water

4 T. cocoa

1/2 cup sour cream

2 eggs

1 tsp soda

In large bowl, put sugar, flour, and salt. In heavy pan bring butter, water and cocoa to a boil. Take cocoa mixture from heat as soon as it boils. Add immediately to dry ingredients and stir well. Add sour cream, eggs, and soda, mixing in one at a time until well blended (batter will be very thin.) Bake in a greased pan at 375 for 25 minutes (I usually bake it in a 9x13 pan. This time I tried two 8" pans and the cook time was about the same). Make frosting while cake is baking and frost immediately after cake is removed from oven.

Frosting

1/2 cup butter

1 tsp vanilla

6 T. canned milk (evaporated)

3 3/4 cup powdered sugar

4 T. cocoa

Boil milk, butter, and cocoa in heavy pan until bubbly. Stir in sugar and vanilla one at a time until well blended and smooth. Spread over hot cake.