Wish I’d taken a better picture of it with some ice cream, but we were too busy eating it to take pictures…got this one later.

Triple Chocolate Mess

1 (18 1/2 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 (4 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
3/4 cup oil
1 cup water
4 eggs
1 (6 ounce) bag chocolate chips
1 pint sour cream

Spray crock pot with non-stick spray.
Mix all ingredients (by hand is fine) and place in crock pot.
Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours.
Try not to lift the lid.
Serve with ice cream.

Try it. You’ll like it! ~~Rhonda

Our guests enjoyed appetizers (mozzarella pearls, feta cheese, olives, cherry tomatoes, pickled red peppers and crackers with ranch dip) in the living room while DH shared the history of the house. Then he gave them a tour of the house while I put the finishing touches on dinner. For dinner, we served:

• Pear-Walnut Salad

I use 1/4 c. vegetable oil and 1/4 c. olive oil instead of the 1/2 c. vegetable oil called for in the above recipe.

• Marinated Pork Tenderloin
• Baby Baked Potatoes

I boiled the potatoes, then pinched them open, as described in the above recipe. I didn’t top them with sour cream. Instead, I poured a little olive oil on each potato and topped them with salt, pepper, and finely chopped fresh parsley and rosemary, then placed them in the oven until the tops were crispy and browned.

• Green Beans with Mushroom Sauce
• Glazed Carrots and Parsnips
• Homemade Rolls

I double the recipe, but use the same amount of yeast as it calls for in one recipe, then let them raise twice. Takes about two hours, start to finish.

And for dessert, White Almond Sour Cream Cake with wild berry filling and buttercream icing, garnished with almond bark snowflakes…

And Speckled Chocolate Cake with chocolate ganache filling, chocolate buttercream icing, and Christmas Mice as a garnish…

After a very busy day of preparation, with the help of DD#1 and DD#2, the evening went off without a hitch. Our guests enjoyed both the house tour and the Christmas dinner. We thank them for their generous donation to the library! It was an honor to have them in our home.

~~Rhonda