Chocolate Lasagna

This is an online copycat recipe of Olive Garden's chocolate lasagna that they no longer make. There are a couple of variations you will find but I like this one because it is the easiest. Tip: a cake slicer makes cutting the layers super easy. Mine is from "Wilton" I found it at Walmart in the craft section with all their "Wilton" products. Also: Duncan Hines brand cake mix did not turn out as well the one time I tried it

Chocolate Lasagna

1 18.25 oz box devil food cake mix
1 1/4 c. water
1/3 c. oil
3 eggs

Buttercream Frosting

1 1/2 c butter - softened
4 c. powder sugar
1/4 c. milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

also needed: 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate - cut up in tiny pieces

Preheat oven to 350 deg.
1. Make cake following instructions on box. (Use box ingredients if different from above)
2. Generously grease 2 round cake pans; bake cake and cool completely.
3. Make frosting- whip the soft butter with mixer at high speed. Add two cups of the powdered sugar, mix well, then add remaining powdered sugar. Add 1/4 c. milk & vanilla, then mix on high speed 2 minutes until smooth and creamy.
4. Slice through cake making a total of 4 layers.
5. Frost between each later gradually increasing amount of icing as you near the top...after frosting sprinkle each layer with semi-sweet chocolate pieces.

Store in the fridge...set out to room temp before you eat...or pop in the microwave (one slice at a time) just a couple of sec's to take chill off

Snow much Fun!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! And it has! We have had plenty of snow this year for sled riding, snowman building and any other snow time fun you can think up. One special treat my family likes is snow cream. All you need is:
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
large bowl of snow (about 3 quarts)

Blend milk, sugar and vanilla. Stir in enough snow to make snow cream into an ice cream consistency.

There are many variations for snow cream. For example you can substitute canned cream or whipping cream instead of the milk for a heavier flavor. You could add Nestles Quik or cocoa for a chocolate snowcream. You could add a beaten egg for a nog taste. Eat it plain or add your favorite toppings - you know your family's tastes.

The most important thing is to ALWAYS - ALWAYS make sure the snow is clean. It takes at least one to two hours for snow to clean the pollutants from the air, then use only snow that has fallen after that first cleansing snow. It also goes without saying(but I will anyway), make sure you don't collect the snow where animals have been. Cleanliness first. Stress that with the kids, because this is a treat even the younger ones can make for the whole family.

Here are some pictures of the snow family that me and Bethany made this year.