Easy Lentils with Spinach

I started the Daniel Fast with my church on Monday.  For 40 days I have committed myself to eating a Daniel compliant diet and to prayer. Although it's only been two days, blessings have already happened.


For my first meal, I cooked some lentils and they were delicious. I served them with brown rice and this morning ate them with grits. I had no idea just how much lentils yield when cooked.  I have enough to last the week! I boiled them until slightly tender then put them in the slow cooker.  I realised that it was unnecessary to do as the slow cooker would soften them anyway.

Easy Lentils

Easy Lentils by Sapphire Ridge Chronicles
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cup lentils
3 Cups water
1 10 oz box frozen spinach (you can also use fresh)
1 15oz. can diced tomatoes
1 medium onion chopped
3 gloves garlic
1 bay leaf
1 vegetable boullion
black pepper
Directions:
Put all ingredients into slow cooker.  Set cooker to High and cook 4-6 hrs or Low and cook 6-8 hrs.  


Simple.

Works For Me Wednesday - Slow Cooker Odor

I love my slow cooker. It has made life easier on the days I remember to use it. But I  hate the smell whenever I open it. I clean and dry it properly before I put the top back on to store it, but when I open it, I smell whatever I cooked the last time I used it.  


Now, what I do after it's washed and dried, is sprinkle a little baking soda in it before I put the top on.  The next time I open it, there is no scent!  The baking soda has absorbed all of the odor.

Well, it works for me!

Mousse Filling.... Is it Really That Simple?

Yes it is.  At least this version is.  All you need are two ingredients:

• Heavy Cream
• Instant Pudding of your choice

Just replace the amount of milk required, with heavy cream.  Use a whip attachment on your mixer. You get a lovely thick mousse consistency, that tastes great and requires little effort! 

You can also add  a teaspoon or two of any type of flavouring or liqueur to take it up a notch.

It's a great filling for cakes.  Remember that your cakes will need to be refrigerated because of the heavy cream.

This is what I used for my Chocolate Cake with Cheesecake Layer .

Happy Valentines Day

Show someone love today.

Baby Shower Cookies Last Weekend

Purple and Pink Theme:

Forgive Me Father For I Have Sinned.......

This is sooo good. I think I put on two pounds with just one slice!

Chocolate Cake with Cheesecake Layer

I made this for my husband who was celebrating his birthday on Super Bowl Sunday.  After the meatballs, chicken wings, fries, soda and green salad (is green salad apropos for Super Bowl Sunday?) We cut into this bad boy!

I had fun making this cake and am very proud of the way it turned out.  My decorating skills have something to be desired so I just left it plain. 

This tastes like a cake you get from a fancy restaurant after a five-star dinner.  Yes...it's that good.

In there is Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Mousse filling and a single layer of Cheesecake covered with chocolate ganache!

I used the Hershey's Chocolate Cake recipe.  That's my go to Chocolate Cake recipe.  It's moist, absolutely delicious and easy to make. I also make my chocolate cupcakes with this.

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE CAKE by Hershey's:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans or 30 muffin cups.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. 
3. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. 
4. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
5. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

Be careful. Because the batter is so thin, you may be inclined to put more in the pans.  I have had several overflows.

Next, I'll tell you how I made the mousse...it's ridiculously easy!!


UPDATE: I used this cheesecake recipe, minus the crust and melted butter. Make sure you freeze the cheesecake before assembling. For the mousse filling I used this recipe. For the ganache, I used this recipe.