Marianne's Spinach/Mushroom Dip

1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained

3/4 cup 100% grated parmesan cheese

3/4 cup mayo (Light Mayo if on South Beach Diet)

1/2 cup 2% milk shredded mozzarella cheese (reduced fat if on South Beach Diet)

1 cup chopped Canned or cooked mushrooms

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients until well blended.

Spoon into 9-inch pie plate or quiche dish

Bake for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with tortilla chips (or with assorted cut-up fresh vegetables if on South Beach Diet)

Nutrition

Calories 70

Total fat 5g

Sat fat 2g

cholesterol 10mg

sodium 210mg

carbs 2g

dietary fiber 1g

sugars 1g

protein 4g

Almost Homemade Applesauce Steusel cakes

oven 400 degrees
Bake 18-20 min or until toothpick is clean. Remove from pan after a couple min. and Cool on rack for 15 min.
Makes 12 muffins
1 Pkg. a cinnamon swirl muffin mix or Streusel muffin mix right around 20 oz. or so. (Disregard instruction on box)
1-1/4 cup un-sweetened applesauce
1 lg. egg
1 T. real vanilla extract

Mix together with mixer until mixed and it will be slightly lumpy. Spray with Pam well and fill muffin tins with equal amounts in each holder, Mix topping (Below) to a crumble and hand sprinkle it over each cup of batter

Streusel Topping
the cinnamon sugar packet from box of mix (disregard Instructions on box)
1/3 cup old fashioned oats
1-2 T. flour (white or wheat no matter)
2 T. Butter at room temp or slightly melted

Finish with a
Drizzled garnish
1/8 almond flavoring
1 1/2 Cup powdered sugar
Heavy cream or milk enough to make a loose paste
Pop in microwave until thinned down 10-25 seconds watch and check often. Cool a little and put in a baggy and cut the corner for a small spout and drizzle.

they will last 5 days at room temp, ***Not at my house***or freeze up to 6 mo. drizzle when ready to serve if you plan to freeze.

German Chocolate Cake

Before you get started take the 2 cans of sweetened condensed milk and submerse it it a deep pan and bring to a boil in the can unopened, simmer in can completely submersed for 2 hours. Cool...Now the carmelizing of the milk is done. set aside. This can be done days ahead of time.
German Chocolate Cake
ingredients
For cake layers
3 cups sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoon unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cup whole milk
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cup boiling-hot water
For filling
16 oz unsweetened large flaked coconut if available
8 oz coarsely chopped pecans (2 cups)
2-14-oz cans sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoon vanilla

For glaze or Chocolate Ganache
2 sticks unsalted butter
18 oz fine-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
6 tablespoons light corn syrup

Heavy whipping cream to thin to desired thickness

Special equipment: 3 (9-inch) round cake pans

preparation
Make cake layers:
Preheat oven to 350°F and oil cake pans. Line bottoms of pans with rounds of parchment or wax paper. Sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk together whole milk, butter, whole egg, yolk, vanilla, and almond extract in another large bowl until just combined. Beat egg mixture into flour mixture with an electric mixer on low speed, then beat on high speed 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and beat in water until just combined (batter will be thin). Divide batter among cake pans bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, ***(Important)***switching position of pans and rotating them 180 degrees halfway through baking, until a tester comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes total.
Cool layers in pans on racks 15 minutes. Run a thin knife around edges of pans and invert layers onto racks. Carefully remove parchment or wax paper and cool layers completely.

Make filling:
Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.

Put canned milk in a small pan and warm being careful not to scorch and set aside.

Spread coconut in a large shallow baking pan and pecans in another. Bake pecans in upper third of oven and coconut in lower third, stirring occasionally, until golden, 12 to 18 minutes. Remove pans from oven.

Stir in sweetened C.milk, coconut, pecans, and vanilla and keep warm, covered with foil.

Make glaze while milk is baking:
Melt butter in a 3-quart saucepan. Remove pan from heat and add chocolate and corn syrup, whisking until chocolate is melted. Add whipping cream a little at a time to achieve desired thickness. Set aside.

Assemble cake:
Put 1 cake layer on a rack set over a baking pan or sink (to catch excess glaze). Drop half of coconut filling by spoonfuls evenly over layer and gently spread with a wet spatula. Top with another cake layer and spread with remaining filling in same manner. Heat reserved glaze in pan over low heat, stirring, until glossy and pourable, about 1 minute. Pour glaze evenly over top of cake, making sure it coats sides. Shake rack gently to smooth glaze.

Chill cake until firm, about 1 hour. Transfer cake to a plate.

notes:
• Cake keeps, covered and chilled, 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

• For easier handling when assembling cake, place bottom layer on a cardboard round or the removable bottom of a tart or cake pan.