Too Good To Be True

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Source: www.mealsmatter.org

When you're tired of oatmeal, cold cereal and bagels, it's time to shake things up and make a coffee cake. This recipe makes an incredibly moist coffee cake with a crunchy topping. With cream cheese and chocolate chips as important ingredients, you'll want to add some eggs or fruit to the menu to make the meal count as healthy. But it's worth it.

1 C butter, softened

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 C sugar, divided

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 C flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 C milk

6 oz semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 C chopped pecans

1 tsp cinnamon

1. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and 1 1/4 C sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
2. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Pour into a greased 9 inch spring-form pan.
4. Combine the pecans, cinnamon and remaining sugar. Sprinkle over batter.
5. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen. Remove sides of pan. Cool completely before cutting.

Chocolate Chip Cheeseball

Meal: Dessert (I could truly make a meal out of dessert most days)
Recipe Source: I have no clue.

This is as yummy as it sounds...clearly not for those watching their calorie consumption, though! I make this several times a year for Myron to take into his fellow officers. They love it, as do we. It's great for entertaining.

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter (no substitutes), softened
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 TB brown sugar
3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
Graham crackers - honey and chocolate

Beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add sugars, beat just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Then, place cream cheese mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap and shape into a ball. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, roll cheese ball in pecans. Serve with graham crackers.