A very pretty "Classic Vanilla Bundt Cake"

What is better than a beautiful bundt cake to greet relatives and company? Now you might think, “that is so typical”…but just wait until you see this cake.  The cake pan was originally bought at William Sonoma and is VERY easy to use! The instructions on the cake pan say to butter and flour the pan to prevent sticking, however I have found that non-stick cooking spray works just as well (and without as much effort!).  In addition, when I have used flour in the past, it turns the outside of the cake splotchy with flour, and when presentation is everything, splotchy white patches just will NOT do!

The box I had for the vanilla bundt cake was also a William Sonoma product.  Now I’m a firm believer that even if it “comes from a box”…it can still be considered homemade! This particular “boxed cake” had the sugars and flour mixed together in packets and then all I had to do was mix in 2 sticks of butter, 4 eggs and a cup of milk! The box said it should cook between 50-60 minutes…Though it ended up being more like 70 minutes.  While that was baking I mixed together a glaze (1/2 cup water, ½ cup sugar, 1 tbsp vanilla) and then covered the cake with it when it came out of the oven! (Put the glaze on while the cake is still warm, so that it absorbs more of it!) and for a final touch, sprinkle the cake with confectioners’ sugar (powered sugar)!

It turned out to be a very pretty, and yummy dessert!!! I would definitely make this again!! The cake itself was very sweet, best served with a black coffee!!

Millions of chocolate kisses,

<3 Grace 


*Sorry I didn't get a picture of the whole bundt cake! My family got to it first!! :) 

Chocolate chip cookies! (The secret is in the sugar!)

One of my favorite types of cookies is Chocolate Chip!!! (Hellllloooo,.... its chocolate!) ...I've always found with past recipes that the cookies end up being flat or crispy!! THIS recipe though is soooo good!! They didn't even last a night! The cookies are fluffy and soft...and its an easy enough recipe for little hands to join in and help! ...Hope you enjoy :)

Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/4 cups brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract (I didn't have any, so I went without! And they still turned out great!)

1 large egg

1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (the cookies were extra chocolatey, just the way I like um!! But if your not a chocoholic...1 cup would do!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, wisk butter and brown sugar. Beat in vanilla extract and egg until smooth. Add in your mixture of dry ingredients (mix until there is no visible flour).

Stir in chocolate chips.

Place rounded tablespoons of dough on baking sheet.

Bake for 9-11 minutes, until just golden around the edges. (I took my batches out after 9 minutes, and they were perfect!)

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. (Or if you are like me..sneak a couple of the warm gooey ones!)

It makes 3 dozen cookies :)

** These cookies don't get really wide, however they do get tall!!! And they end up being VERY soft!!!! Probably one of my favorite recipes for CC cookies :)

I don't remember exactly where I got this recipe from...but for whoever came up with it...a million chocolate kisses! <3 Grace