Chocolate Cinnamon Cake (Quick and Easy)

There are times when you want a quick dessert, but not a large amount.  Maybe just enough for 2, 4, or even 6 people.  This is one of our favorites.  It's just enough for a small family, especially when there are only 2 or 4.  It comes together quick, and you probably have the ingredients in your pantry.

You will need:
2/3 cup baking mix, (such as Bisquick or Jiffy)
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tabs. cocoa
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 Tabs. softened butter
1/2 cup chocolate flavored syrup

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a small / medium bowl, combine baking mix, sugar, cocoa, and 1/2 teas cinnamon.  Whisk together to remove any lumps in the baking mix and cocoa.

Add in milk, egg, and softened butter.  With a hand mixer on low, mix for 30 seconds, then with the hand mixer on medium mix for 3 minutes.  Be sure to scrape the bowl often.

Pour into an 8 X 4 inch loaf pan that has been sprayed with baking spray.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven, and allow to cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes.

Gently remove cake from pan, and allow to cool.

While the cake is cooling, in a small microwaveable bowl combine the chocolate syrup and the remaining 1/4 teas. cinnamon.  Microwave on high for 1 minute.  Remove and stir.

Drizzle the topping over the top of the cake.

Your quick and easy chocolate cinnamon cake is now ready to serve.

The cinnamon adds a nice touch to the chocolate.  My husband likes to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of his cake, which is also very delicious.

So, the next time, you're in a hurry to get a dessert for your dinner - give this chocolate cinnamon cake a try.

Enjoy !!

3 Bean Cassoulet

Last year during our 28 day cruise from Rome to Singapore, there were several days that I needed a break from the heavy meals,  So I would order from the vegetarian / vegan menu.  I had a 3 Bean Cassoulet that was so tasty and so filling, (it also gave my system a chance to relax from the heavy meals).  In fact, I had it several times on our cruise.  Since I've been home, I've tried several times to recreate the recipe, and I've finally think I've hit upon it.  It's great for those meatless Monday night meals, or even as a side dish.  This recipe has very few ingredients, yet makes a large pot.  You can easily feed 6 to 8 people as a main dish.  Let me show you how I make it.

You will need:
1 can (28 ounces) tomatoes
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans
1 can (15 ounces) great northern beans
1 can (15 ounces) small white beans with garlic and onions
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
2 teas. dried parsley flakes
1 teas dried basil
1/2 teas. salt
1/2 teas dried thyme
1/8 teas pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Drain and rinse the  garbanzo and great northern beans.
Drain but do not rinse the small white beans, (you don't want to remove the garlic and onions).

Add the 3 beans to a 3 quart baking dish.

Note:  You could also use chickpeas in place of the garbanzo beans.

Add your chopped carrots, onions, and minced garlic.

Make sure to chop your carrots and onions very small, (so they will cook completely through).  I used 1 large carrot and 1 medium onion.

Add the parsley flakes, dried basil, salt, dried thyme, and pepper.

Add the tomatoes, and bay leaf.


Note:  You can also use stewed tomatoes, to add another layer of flavor.

Stir everything to combine completely.

Cover and bake for about 90 minutes, (until the vegetables are cooked completely).

Once the vegetables are cooked completely, you will notice that tomatoes have formed a sauce and thicken slightly.  Let the cassoulet cook just slightly, before serving.

And you have a wonderful, tasty, meatless main dish.  Or, a great side dish.

And for those who have a meat lovers in the family, An alternative is to brown up some ground meat and add it to the cassoulet as you are assembling it, and bake it all together, (just remember to drain any excess fat from the meat, before adding it to the mixture).


Enjoy !