Happy Sunday, all!
Some surprises from the weekend? SNOW!
The past two days have been in the glorious 50s but this morning, without warning, we woke up to big fat flakes swirling around, accumulating like they own the place. Accumulation: a snow-haters worst nightmare. Ben extended his deepest condolences but I know he only halfway means it. Snow is his jam!
Another D’OH! moment? Dropping an entire box of barely-used rigatoni on the kitchen floor while trying to organize the pantry Saturday morning. I took it out upside down and the contents rained out, shattering all over the tile, reaching every corner of the kitchen. The thing that made me really mad? It wasn’t even a sloppy mess that I could use my new steamer to clean up. Oh the humanity!
Some high points? Spending the day shopping and running errands with my Mom on Saturday (sometimes you just need a “Mom Day”, right?) and eating lunch with these two rugrats this afternoon. This picture pretty much captures both Finn and Evie’s moods today – joyful!
Another high point? Eating Easy Chocolate Poke Cake for dessert!
The fam hasn’t been able to get together since New Years, so we all congregated for lunch at my parent’s house this afternoon. I asked my Mom what I could bring to contribute, and she suggested dessert. I toyed around with the idea of making a fancy citrus dessert, then said to hell with it and made this crowd-pleasing, chocolaty, ooey-gooey, decadent cake instead. It is INSANE.
First up, lunch! My Mom made a big crock pot full of BBQ Pulled Pork which she slow cooked for 12 hours then shredded and topped with BBQ sauce. Finger lickin’ good and an awesome dish to feed a crowd. Click here for the recipe >
On the side was green beans and some sort of Asian Ramen Slaw.
After lunch she helped me serve up the cake (Moms just always slice and serve things better, I feel.)
The recipe for Easy Chocolate Poke Cake is actually hers back from the 80s. It’s SO good that is actually better known by a different “rated R” name but, in an effort to stay out of my email subscribers’ spam inbox, I shall call it Easy Chocolate Poke Cake, mmkay? ;)
Start by baking a German Chocolate Cake according to package directions. Let it cool for 10 minutes then use the bottom of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the cake, about halfway down.
Next drizzle on a 14oz can sweetened condensed milk,
and a 12oz jar of caramel topping. Oh, I guess this would be a good time to mention that this dessert is not diet-friendly in any way shape or form. Seriously so good you won’t even care though. Trust me.
Let the cake cool completely, then spread an 8oz tub Light Cool Whip on top, and sprinkle on 4oz Heath Toffee Bits.
Slice, then serve!
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Easy Chocolate Poke Cake
Description
Chocolate Poke Cake is rich and decadent yet incredibly easy — a home run dessert every time!
Ingredients
- 1 box German Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients called for on back of box)
- 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 12oz jar caramel topping
- 8oz container Light Cool Whip
- 4oz Heath Milk Chocolate Toffee Bits
Directions
- Prepare and bake cake as directed on box. Allow to cool slightly then use the bottom of a wooden spoon to poke holes halfway through cake, all over. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping on top then let cake cool completely. Spread cool whip over cooled cake then top with heath pieces.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
The children’s expressions perfectly describe the experience of devouring this cake. Uncontrollable exuberance at the sight. Impatience as you wait for a fork. Then sheer bliss after your first bite.
The sweetened condensed milk and caramel seep into the holes in the cake, making it moist, creamy, and mind-melting. MAKE THIS! :D
I hope you had a wonderful weekend! What were your highs and lows?
Trisha 01.20.2013
I remember my mom making this cake for our neighbors’ anniversary when I was a pre-teen. She told me the name of it, gave me permission to say it, but I was absolutely mortified when I delivered it to them and called it “Better Than You-Know-What Cake”.
And yes, hurray for “Mom Days”!
Andrea 01.20.2013
This cake looks so good! I would have to make it to take to a party or something because it wouldn’t stand a chance in my house :) Also your niece and nephew are just too cute! You’re lucky to have them so close.
Highlight of my weekend was a trip to a local brewery to see a live band. Good food + good music + local beer! Very good times!
Adrian 01.20.2013
My husband is a chef and has tasted just about every dessert out there, but this is the cake he requests for every birthday! :) The only difference is I make it with a Symphony Bar crushed on the top instead of the Heath bits. Soooooooo good!!!!!
Alisha 01.20.2013
I’m from Iowa, too and my M-I-L calls this “better than ANYTHING cake”! ha! Sooo good!
Molly 01.20.2013
Love that cake!! We call it ‘Better Than Recess Cake’ for the sake of our nieces and nephews’ ears. :) My willpower goes out the window when it comes to moderation and that cake.
Nancy 01.20.2013
Why does everything you make, make my mouth salivate? I don’t know how many times I’ve swallowed my spit reading this post. TMI? Weird? Sorry lol
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl 01.20.2013
Wow, that cake looks fantastic. But then again, I am pretty much a sucker for anything dessert-related ;).
P.s. your nephew and niece are absolutely adorable! :)
Potatoes and Pilates 01.20.2013
The expressions on your niece’s and nephew’ faces are too funny! Sheer bliss.
Mom days are the best.
Hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Rachel 01.20.2013
Haha–When I was a teller, our supervisor would bake for us on our birthdays. The “Better Than _ _ _ Cake” was the most-requested! :) I have never made it myself though, and for good reason–I’d eat the whole thing in one sitting! My high for this weekend is the holiday tomorrow. My low was the half-inch of snow we woke up to this morning!
Mandy @ Eat Pray Grow 01.20.2013
Anyone else know this as “Better than Sex” cake? Maybe that’s just an Illinois thing ;-) But really, it’s…um…it’s pretty darn good.
Iowa Girl Eats 01.20.2013
Haha, yep, that’s what I meant by it’s “R rated” name! ;)
Amanda 01.21.2013
haha, we call it the Better than Sex cake, too (or Chocolate Caramel Cake when kids are around ;) ). Delicious either way!
Tracy 01.21.2013
Haha! Thank you, Mandy! I was dying to know the rated R name!!
debtgirl 01.20.2013
Looks great and I cannot believe how big those kids are getting! They grow so fast!
Kimberly 01.20.2013
What a fun day! And I really MUST try this recipe for our next family gathering!
Krysten 01.20.2013
I made this for dessert tonight, too! Although mine goes by the inappropriate R-rated name ;) It’s always such a hit, so delicious!
Iowa Girl Eats 01.20.2013
So crazy! ‘Tis the season for “poke cake”?!
Leanne 01.20.2013
Just out of curiosity, why light cool whip after sweetened condensed milk and caramel sauce? Seems like I should just go for the full calorie onslaught at this point.
Iowa Girl Eats 01.20.2013
You can do whatever you prefer! I don’t taste a difference in flavor between regular and light, so that’s why I used it.
Allison 01.20.2013
My mom use to make that cake for my birthday – we call it Health Bar Cake. Sadly, we lost her 1 1/2 years ago so I haven’t had it in a while.
High this weekend was taking my nephew tubing at Sleepy Hollow last night just before the weather got cold and nasty!
vbrunmeier@sbcglobal.net 01.20.2013
Your entire family is adorable, including your mom! I love these old recipes. They are so simple and everyone always loves them. Looks like a keeper!
kim@hungryhealthygirl 01.20.2013
That looks insanely amazing! Next family get together and I’m totally making this. Love seeing all of the cute family photos!
Amy M 01.20.2013
Highs: discovering Temple Run 2, watching five episodes of Homeland (so addicted even though Carrie drives me nuts sometimes), chomping on Whiskey Walnut Bars, and bringing my husband for his first visit to the Latin King (whoa, good weekend!)
Low: it’s already Sunday afternoon and I can feel the end-of-weekend blues creeping up on me!
Cathy 01.20.2013
A high this weekend was seeing YOUR pictures of your family: those kids are adorable. And your Mom seems like a woman who likes nothing better than to have her family around, and happy. The spilled pasta made me think of a time I dropped a full pot of chili I was carrying to the table. That was awful to clean up! This recipe is being saved for the next time I need something special to share.
Iowa Girl Eats 01.20.2013
You hit the nail on then head. There’s nothing my parents love more than having their family around! :)
Leianna 01.20.2013
We had the same dessert today at our family Sunday dinner. On the other side of Iowa! Maybe it’s an Iowa thing, so yummy too!!!!
Iowa Girl Eats 01.20.2013
Haha, oh my gosh, you’re kidding?! Too funny!