Share the Love...Cake Balls!!

I love chocolate! And I love my friends!! And I love my friends who love chocolate!!! When I was living in Japan, there was this recipe that everyone knew about except me, the new girl. They called them cake balls, amongst other things. Crack balls, truffle balls, cake truffles. Call them what you want, but they are something to behold. And something to share. My sweet friend and neighbor, Jody, was ever oh so kind enough to share these lovelies with me and the recipe too. I love them because every time I make them, I think of Jody and all of the dear friends I made there, and how much we loved to get together, and how we loved to get together and eat...especially chocolate. All you had to say was...cake balls...and you could draw a crowd. The recipe has been circulating for some time. So, I wanted to share it with you as well. I make them at Christmas for gifts and sometimes for birthdays. Just change out the sprinkles for whatever the occasion. Today, I used a red velvet cake.

Cake Balls

Cake of your choice (chocolate or red velvet)

One can of icing (cream cheese, vanilla, chocolate)

Almond bark or chocolate chips

Shortening

Prepare and bake cake according to directions. Allow to cool. Break cake up in large bowl and add can of frosting (I use cream cheese) and mix well (your hands are your best tools). Refrigerate until completely cool. Next roll into truffle size balls and place on sheet pan. Refrigerate again for about an hour so they are easy to dip. Melt chocolate in microwave or in double boiler (almond bark works great) and add about a teaspoon of shortening to thin mixture out a bit. Dip call balls in chocolate and place on sheet pan lined with wax paper. Decorate immediately, as chocolate dries fast. Now share!!! And enjoy some for yourself too!!


Happy Valentine's Day!!! 

Sufferin' Succotash...Feed Your Cold!!

Mark my words. I almost NEVER lose my appetite, but I have been fighting a cold (yeah, right!) or what feels more like the flu and a bad case of bronchitis for a week now, and it totally zapped my appetite. So what's that whole "starve a fever, feed a cold" thing about? How is this possible when you can't taste anything? I suppose it's just unlicensed wisdom passed down from previous generations on what the body may or may not need to fight viruses and fevers. Well, after a week on a great weight loss plan (NO FUN), I finally climbed out of my feverish state and decided to feed my cold and my weird craving. It was Succotash!! Just a side note, I hated Succotash as a kid and haven't had it since the last time my mom made me eat it. I remember huge chunks of tomatoes and lima beans. Yuck!! Well, apparently those days are of the past, because it's what I wanted when my appetite finally returned. I revamped my mom's old recipe just a bit, and my teenagers didn't even flinch when I put it in front of them. I realize this goes beyond chicken broth and hot tea, but after a week of that, I was ready for something new and clearly needed a good dose of veggies!

Succotash

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

15 oz chicken or vegetable broth

1 pint frozen or fresh lima beans

1 pint frozen or fresh corn

1 fresh zucchini, sliced

15 oz crushed tomatoes, undrained

salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the onion in olive oil and a little butter until tender. Add garlic for about 30 seconds then add in remaining ingredients and cook until zucchini is done. I added extra broth to make it more soup-like. Makes a great side dish or main dish with sausage or chicken added.

A Bite of History:

• Succotash dates back to the Great Depression.