Recipes and Life: Four Cheese Fettuccini and Moist Chocolate Cake

First off, let me say IT'S SNOWING AGAIN!! I don't want snow. Not right now. I want to go shopping tomorrow without having to hassle the white stuff. It started a few hours ago and we probably have an inch. I honestly don't think it will last. (I never finished this post last night, so now it's Monday morning and the snow stopped around 9:30 last night. Only about 1 1/2" and it's all turning to mush now). The shopping trip I believe is still on. 

I wanted to share a few recipes from our lunch today. I began preparations for our lunch on Saturday night because it was going to be Sunday after church and that can get a little crazy. Things just were not going as I had planned. I had planned a meal with dishes that I have made many, many times, with no problems. I made my lists of things I needed from the store (not much), decided to make my chocolate cake Saturday night and the few things I needed from the store I'd pick up in the morning. I had to take Kat to an indoor soccer game, so the plan was to leave at 8:00 to go the store, then the soccer game, and then to church. The plan was also to cook the chicken ahead, and even the broccoli, this way when I got home from church I wouldn't have as much to do. Let me say that none of that happened.

The cake was made Saturday night, but for some reason it fell a little and wasn't it's usual self. I have no idea what went wrong. It still tasted good, it just wasn't pretty. Okay.....I decided to still serve it, but I took out some strawberries and made some whipped topping to serve on top of it. I even decided not to say a word about it (but Kat did....oh, well). 

I had planned to get up Sunday morning at 6:00 to get chicken cooked, broccoli cooked, dishwasher unloaded and other things ready. The chicken got cooked, and I got the garlic butter on the bread, but I realized there wasn't enough broccoli and hubby forgot to start the dishwasher. And...I didn't get up till almost  7:00. Kat and I left at 8:45. I dropped her off at the indoor soccer place while I ran to Fred Meyers to get my needed items. When I returned we found out there was a change in schedule and they weren't playing their game. We left there to head to church (it's about a 15 minute drive). By that point I decided I was only going to stay till worship and then go home to finish everything up. I knew if I didn't, I'd be stressed and it wouldn't be fun.

Returning home I discovered I only had one can of cream of mushroom soup and one package of cream cheese (both needed for the sauce and I was doubling it so I needed two of each). I did have a can of cream of chicken and so I figured I'd use that and skip the extra cream cheese. Let me tell you, I was sweating bullets. Nan came home with me and was a huge help. 

All in all the lunch was a success, it tasted great and no one knew the fiasco's I went through. I used Sandy's tips of not spilling the beans when things don't go right!! 

Okay...on with the recipes.

Four Cheese Chicken Fettuccine

8 oz. fettuccine noodles

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1 pkg. 8 oz. cream cheese, cubed

1 c. whipping cream

1/2 c. butter

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

3/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 c. shredded Swiss cheese

2 1/2 c. cubed, cooked chicken

In a large sauce pan combine soup, cream cheese, whipping cream, butter and garlic powder. Cook until combined and heated through. Add cheeses and stir till melted. Add chicken. Cook pasta according to directions and toss with sauce. **Note: I added broccoli and mushrooms to this as well as some spinach**

Moist Chocolate Cake
(Printable Recipe)

2 c. granulated sugar

1 3/4 c. all purpose flour

3/4 c. baking cocoa

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2 eggs 

1 c. strong brewed coffee

1 c. buttermilk

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 Tbs. confectioners sugar

In a large mixing bowl, combine first six ingredients. Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes (batter will be thin). Pour into greased and floured 10" fluted tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners sugar.

Like I said, both these recipes are wonderful and well worth making. Well, off to put together some new bedroom stuff the girls picked up today. I'll post more later.

With Joy UNquenchable,