{ Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cake }

Another requested recipe! This is a super easy, super tasty favorite my mom used to make all the time when we were kids.  Enjoy =)

Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cake

1 pkg chocolate fudge cake mix
1 lg pkg chocolate fudge instant pudding mix
1-12oz pkg chocolate chips
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup oil
powdered sugar

In a large bowl, beat all ingredients except powdered sugar together.  Pour into greased and floured bundt pan [I just usually use Pam].  Bake at 350* for 45-50 minutes.  Let cool 10 minutes in pan.  Invert on platter and dust with powdered sugar.

{ Banana Bread }

Mmmmmmmmmm....banana bread.  Here is my great grandma's banana bread recipe as requested!

1/2 cup butter (or margarine)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup nuts (pecans are my favorite to add)

Cream butter & sugar.  Add eggs and beat.  Add bananas.  Then add flour sifted with soda and salt.  Stir in nuts.  Pour into 2 loaf pans and bake at 350* for about 1 hour.  {I like to bake it all in one loaf pan to yield one big loaf instead of two smaller loaves.}  Remove from pans after about 10 minutes and let cool on rack.

Slice and enjoy!  I love to smear cream cheese on top =)

{ Congratulations! }

Benny and Kimmy were down over the weekend for a long overdue visit.  It was so great to see them!  Now that we're both grown-up(ish) Ben and I really get along well.  He is so fun to hang out with and I always appreciate his sense of humor.  I'm so glad he's my big brother :-)

Our family and Kim's parents all got together for dinner on Saturday night to celebrate Ben and Kim's engagement.  It was great - good food, good laughs, and a fantastic reason to celebrate.  Ben and Kim are so great together and I couldn't have asked for a better girl for my brother to marry.  I know they will be very happy for a very long time.  Here's to the happy couple!

{Success}

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{Under Construction}

In the spirit of being a better blogger I thought the ol' blog could use some freshening up.  Pardon any weird layout issues over the next few days while I try to work out some kinks.