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