Black Magic Cake

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup strong brewed coffee
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans or one 9x13 inch pan.
2. In large bowl combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center.
3. Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed. Batter will be thin. Pour into prepared pans.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and finish cooling on a wire rack. Fill and frost as desired.

One Pan Orecchiette Pasta

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 onion, diced
• salt to taste
• 8 ounces spicy Italian sausages, casings removed
• 3 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided, or as needed
• 1 1/4 cups orecchiette pasta, or more to taste
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped arugula, or to taste
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, or to taste

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion with a pinch of salt in hot oil until onion is soft and golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir sausage into onions; cook and stir until sausage is broken up and browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Pour 1 1/2 cups chicken broth into sausage mixture and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add orecchiette pasta; cook and stir pasta in hot broth, adding remaining broth when liquid is absorbed, until pasta is cooked through and most of the broth is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
3. Stir arugula into pasta-sausage mixture until arugula wilts. Ladle pasta into bowls and dust with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Butternut and Apple Harvest Soup

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 large leeks (white and pale green parts only), chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large potato, peeled and cubed
• 2 cups cubed butternut squash
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)
• 1/2 cup light cream
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives

Directions

1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in leeks and onions, and cook until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes. Add potato, squash, carrots, apple, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are soft, about 20 minutes.
2. Carefully puree the soup in batches in a blender, or use a stick blender to puree the soup right in the pot. Once the soup has been pureed, return it to the pot and stir in wine and cream. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper; simmer gently for 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped chives.

Apple Cider Beef Stew

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 pounds cubed beef stew meat
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 1/2 cups apple cider
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 large bay leaf
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 3 potatoes, cubed
• 2 onions, diced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 large McIntosh apple, sliced

Directions

1. Combine flour, salt, pepper, and thyme in a bowl. Toss beef cubes in the flour mixture.
2. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brown beef cubes on all sides. Combine browned meat, apple cider, water, and cider vinegar in the pot and bring it to a boil. Add bay leaf; reduce heat to low. Simmer, partially covered, for 1 hour.
3. Stir in carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, and apple and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 1 hour more.

Slow Cooker Zucchini Soup

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds sweet Italian sausage
• 2 cups 1/2-inch pieces celery
• 2 pounds zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 2 green bell peppers, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

Directions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease. Mix celery into cooked sausage; cook and stir until celery is softened, about 10 minutes.
2. Combine sausage mixture, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, salt, sugar, oregano, Italian seasoning, basil, and garlic powder in a slow cooker.
3. Cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese.

Applesauce Pancakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups dry pancake mix
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup milk

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together pancake mix and cinnamon. Make a well in the center of the pancake mix. Add the eggs, applesauce, lemon juice and milk; stir until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.