Lemon Cake

My husband and I agree that my best lemon cake recipe is this one, but this one is a close second.  It is tasty and easy.

Lemon Cake
1 box vanilla cake mix
Eggs, oil, and water indicated on the cake mix
1 15 oz can lemon pie filling
1 tub lemon frosting
1 8 oz. cool whip, thawed

Preheat oven to 350
Spray a 9 x 13 pan.  Prepare cake mix as directed.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Place spoonfuls of lemon pie filling all over the cake batter.  Take a knife and swirl it around throughout the batter.  Bake at 350 for about 35-40 minutes until cake no longer jiggles in the center.  Cool completely.
Frosting
Mix together the frosting and the cool whip.  Spread over the cooled cake.

Marshmallow Brownies

These were easy to make and certainly were a hit with my family.  I never did get a great picture of them.  They disappeared too fast!

Marshmallow Brownies
1 package brownie mix (I love the Ghirardelli mix you get at Costco)
Ingredients to make the brownie mix as directed on package
Miniature marshmallows
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
4 T. cocoa powder
3 T. milk
3 T. water
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla

Prepare the brownies in a 13x9 pan according to the package (I actually always spray the pan, then line it with baking paper or parchment. Then you can just lift the paper out when they are all done and cut them.)  Bake them according to package directions.  Take them out of the oven and cover them with miniature marshmallows.  Put them back into the oven for a few mintues until the marshmallows puff up and just start to brown.  Take them out and let them cool completely.  While they are cooling, prepare the frosting:

Frosting
In a saucepan, stir together the butter, cocoa, milk and water.  Bring to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Immediately add the powdered sugar and vanilla.  Beat well.  Pour frosting over the brownies while frosting is still hot.  Allow to cool.  Cut with a plastic knife.

Instant Pot Whole Chicken

I have been making whole chicken in the crock pot for many years.  It is one our favorite meals.  I recently tried it in the instant pot.  It worked really well. I will be doing it again.  I wish I had a chicken right now!

Instant Pot or Crock pot Whole Chicken
1 whole chicken (around 6 lbs. but any size will do)
1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped (optional)
2 stalks celery, chopped (optional)
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Garlic salt to taste
1 cup chicken stock

Chop the vegetables on a cutting mat or board.  Sprinkle the poultry seasoning and salts over the veggies and toss all together with your hands.
Clean the neck and giblets out of the chicken.  Stuff the cavity of the bird with the seasoned vegetables.  Put in the instant pot and put any vegetables that didn't fit over the bird  Add the chicken stock.
Close the lid of the instant pot and close the valve.  Set the pot to poultry and 8 minutes per pound of your chicken.  Set the keep warm button and let it cook and release on its own.  Slice or shred the tender chicken.
Serving suggestion: cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, and veggie of choice.

Obviously, you do the same in a crock pot, but I usually add a bit more stock.  It smells so good cooking all day.
The chicken is so moist and delicious.  I usually put the liver in with the vegetables, too.