Black Cherry Chocolate Chobani Yogurt Cake

 

I recently received a variety of Chobani yogurts and I was looking for something to do with them besides just eating them out of the cups, so I thought chocolate cherry cake sounded pretty amazing. I like to use what items I have on hand, so I decided to use some whole wheat bread flour, and it turned out really well.

Ingredients

Chocolate Cherry Cake

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3 eggs lightly beaten, room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup Chobani Black Cherry Greek Yogurt
• 1/4 cup unsweetened Hershey’s cocoa powder
• 1 cup whole wheat bread flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• pinch of salt

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

• In a large bowl, beat butter and cocoa powder together until combined.
• Add milk and vanilla; beat until smooth.
• Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until desired consistency is achieved.

Adjust with more milk or confectioners' sugar if necessary.

Directions

Chocolate Cherry Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 315 F.
2. Lightly grease an 8x8 inch baking pan.
3. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. In a separate bowl mix eggs, vanilla extract, and yogurt, then add it to the butter mixture.
5. In another bowl sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
6. Slowly, fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir until the mixture is combined.
7. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan, smooth the surface and bake for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

1. In a large bowl, beat butter and cocoa powder together until combined.
2. Add milk and vanilla; beat until smooth.
3. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until desired consistency is achieved.

Adjust with more milk or confectioners' sugar if necessary.

Chocolate Cake 1/2 cup (113 grams) of butter room temperature 3/4 cup sugar 3 eggs lightly beaten 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/3 cup Chobani Greek Yogurt Plain Non-Fat 1/4 unsweetened (20 grams) cocoa powder 1 cup (120 grams) whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 tsp baking powder pinch of salt
Read more at http://www.roxanashomebaking.com/chocolate-yogurt-cake-recipe/#g32alqhQxSOGq0a2.99

Chocolate Cake 1/2 cup (113 grams) of butter room temperature 3/4 cup sugar 3 eggs lightly beaten 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/3 cup Chobani Greek Yogurt Plain Non-Fat 1/4 unsweetened (20 grams) cocoa powder 1 cup (120 grams) whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 tsp baking powder pinch of salt
Read more at http://www.roxanashomebaking.com/chocolate-yogurt-cake-recipe/#g32alqhQxSOGq0a2.9

Super Simple Mexican Pizza Recipe

First let me start off by saying that this is not really a review, but I came up with this recipe a while ago after I had eaten a Mexican pizza from Taco Bell, and I wanted to share it with everyone. I thought, hey, I could really come up with something like this to make at home. They turned out really well and everyone in my family raved over them, even my 12 yr old son!

Here is the recipe:

Super Simple Mexican Pizza  

Ingredients 

• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 8 small flour tortillas
• 1 cup oil for cooking
• 1 can refried beans
• 1/3 cup diced tomato
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• 2 cups shredded cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped green onion
• water (as per taco seasoning packet)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cook the ground beef and onions over medium heat until brown, then drain.
3. Return meat to pan and add taco seasoning and water.
4. Let mixture simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring often.
5. Add refried beans to meat mixture and let simmer on low heat.
6. While meat is cooking prepare flour tortillas for frying.
7. Using a fork, pierce both sides of each tortilla, making tiny holes all over the tortillas. This will prevent your tortilla from turning into an air disk while frying.
8. Heat oil in frying pan over medium-high heat.
9. When oil is hot, fry each tortilla for about 30-45 seconds per side and drain on paper towels.
10. Be sure to pop any bubbles that form when frying so that the tortilla lays flat in the oil. Tortillas should become golden brown.
11. Stack each pizza by first spreading meat mixture on. Use as much or as little meat as you like.
12. Next, sprinkle meat with cheese then add second tortilla.
13. Top the second tortilla with 2 tbsp of enchilada sauce.
14. Then, divide the tomato, cheese and onions evenly and top tortillas in that order.
15. Bake for 8-12 minutes.

Lifeway Kefir Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Recently I was picked by Influenster to try a Lifeway Kefir product, and I chose to try out the Strawberry Banana smoothie. I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster’s VoxBox program, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Their claim:
With seven to ten billion CFU’s of 10 strains of bacteria, plus ProBoost, our exclusive pair of clinically proven probiotics, Lifeway Lowfat Kefir balances your body’s ecosystem and supports digestive health and immunity – that’s 12 live and active cultures per cup. Plus, it's an excellent source of calcium, protein and it’s 99% lactose free. Lifeway Kefir is a creamy and delicious yogurt-like smoothie the whole family will enjoy. 

My Experience:
 I found the taste of this product to be very good! I thought it was a little thick to just drink, it was pretty close to yogurt you eat with a spoon. So I decided to mix some of the Lifeway Kefir in with my morning oatmeal, and also would mix it with my granola. When mixed with something like oatmeal I didn't notice the thickness and it actually was super yummy! I really liked the fact that this product is loaded with probiotics, and that it supports digestive health. 

This product is available in 8oz and 32oz sizes.

You can read more about Lifeway Kefir and their many different varieties HERE

 I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes

Avocado Night Cream by Nature’s Gate

Their Claim:
 The new Avocado Night Cream from Nature’s Gate is a rich nocturnal treatment that melts into skin upon contact to naturally hydrate and replenish dry, tired skin. Wake up to healthy, more youthful looking skin!

My Experience: 
I was really excited to get picked by Swaggable to try the Avocado Night Cream by Nature's Gate! Upon opening it tonight I was really surprised, I was hit hard with a weird scent. It smelled almost like insect repellant; I read the back and among all the ingredients listed Rosemary and Grapefruit stuck out to me. Mix that with a hint of insect repellant, and there you have your night cream! 
  
  I thought the texture was really creamy, and it absorbed really nice. However, I cannot get past the smell. Such a bummer too.

Veggie Wash

I am a member of Swaggable, and not too long ago they picked me to sample out a new product, Veggie Wash. They sent me a nice 2 oz. sized bottle that I absolutely LOVE, and plan to buy more as soon as I run out!

 I have had this sample just sitting on my counter, waiting to be used and finally the other day I got the chance to use it. To start,  I loved how simple it was to use. Just spray on the fruit or veggie, rub for a few seconds, rinse and BAM, clean veggies! Veggie Wash had managed to take all the wax off of a cucumber, and didn't leave any residual spray or wax behind. I'm impressed! I would recommend this product to anyone who wants clean veggies without all the extra chemicals.

 I will have to admit though, it does seem a little strange to spray chemicals on my veggies to remove other chemicals. Also, I must note that there is an orange scent to the spray.


Sign up with Swaggable HERE, so you too can receive awesome samples!

Mario Olives--Herb & Spice Seasoned

I love olives, and I love getting things to try for free. Recently I was picked to sample Mario Olives and I must say that I absolutely LOVED my sample of Herb & Spice seasoned Mario Olives!! I shared a couple with hubs, but ate the rest. I wish the sample was bigger, because I wanted more!

 When they arrived they were warm, but I tried one, and they had too soft of a texture and I almost spit them out. So, they went in the refrigerator (ugh, impatiently waiting) to cool down. Once they were chilled we LOVED them! The olive was nice and firm when bitten into, and had such a nice robust herb flavor. I also liked the fact that they came in a sturdy pouch, that tears open easy. Mario Olives would be great as a snack on the go, or even added to a salad. I will be buying more of these olives for sure. YUM!!
 
I recommend Mario Olives to any olive lover like myself, you can not go wrong with these! 

Sign up with Swaggable HERE, so you too can receive awesome samples!