Party Punch

 This is a super easy one! 

 It's a 1:1 Ratio

1 bottle of Raspberry Lemonade (I used the Winco Brand)

2 liter of Sprite

Mix and serve  

Super Chocolate Cake with Fudge Frosting

 Dry Ingredients

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

2 Cups Sugar

3/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Salt

Wet Ingredients

2 Eggs

1 Cup of Buttermilk

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/2 Cup Sour Cream

1 Cup Hot Water

Method

Preheat oven to 350

Grease you sheet pan

In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients.

Add eggs, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and sour cream.  Mix until smooth.

Slowly stir in the hot water (batter will be thin)

Pour into pan and tap gently to release bubbles.

Bake in a half sheet pan (12x18) for 18-23 minutes

Fudge Frosting

1/2 Cup Butter

1/4 Cup of Milk

1/4 Cup of Cocoa Powder

3-4 Cups of Powdered Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

Pinch of Salt

Method

Melt butter, milk, and cocoa in a saucepan

Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth.

Pour and spread over warm cake for a classic glossy finish

Tomato Soup & Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Tomato Soup

1/3 Cup Olive Oil (Extra Virgin)

5 Large Carrots - Pealed and coarsely chopped (2 3/4 cups)

1 Large Yellow Onion - Coarsely chopped (2 cups)

1 Tablespoon of Dried Basil

3 (28 oz) cans Italian Style Whole Tomatoes in puree

1 3/4 Cups of Chicken Broth

2 Cups Heavy Cream

Salt & Pepper 

2 Tablespoons Fresh Basil - cut in fine ribbons

Method:

Heat a 6-8 quart saucepan over medium heat, add oil and coat bottom of pan.  Add carrots, onion, and dried basil.  Saute, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 10-12 min.  Season with salt and pepper (1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper)

Add all three cans of tomatoes and broth.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer (uncovered) for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat, puree soup with an immersion blender in the pot (or use a blender)

Return soup to pan. Stir in cream and keep warm on low heat.  Season to taste with salt and pepper (usually 1 tsp of salt & 1/4 tsp pepper) and add ribbons of fresh basil and enjoy.

Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

1 Package of King's Hawaiian Savory Butter Rolls

Sliced Cheddar Cheese - (Cut each slice in 4)

8 Tablespoons of Butter

1/2 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan

1/8 tsp Salt

3/4 tsp Granulated Garlic

1 Tablespoon of Fresh Parsley (Finely chopped)

Method:

In a medium bowl, mash together butter, parmesan cheese, salt, and granulated garlic until combined.  Then stir in finely chopped parsley.  

Slice rolls like you would a loaf of bread.  Spread butter mixture on one side of each slice, add 2 small squares of sliced cheddar cheese, and top with another buttered slice to make a sandwich.  Then you can fry multiple in the pan, just like you would any other grilled cheese sandwich. 

We served the soup and sandwiches at Madison's baby shower and they were a big hit!