Carne Guisada

Carne guisada is a dish I almost always have when we go to lunch at our local Taqueria. I've wanted to make it for a while and went online to see how to do it plus talked with some people at work who have made it. I have to say I think I got it pretty close. Except for the beans, rice and flour tortillas, this was a good match.

3 tablespoons oil
Approximately 2 pounds stew meat
1/2 small onion chopped
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
A shake or 2 or of cumin
2 tablespoons flour
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can beef broth

Season meat and in a large pot cook the meat and onion in the oil until no longer pink and onions are translucent. Sprinkle a couple tablespoons of flour over meat. Add tomatoes and broth. Cook over low heat with a lid for 2 hours stirring often. I added a little flour and water at the end to thicken up the gravy. This makes a rich gravy when done. Serve with rice, beans and flour tortillas for scooping up the yummy meat and gravy.

Black Magic Chocolate Cake

There are probably 100's of recipes for chocolate cake. I have several here on my blog that I've done and all were good but I think this might be one of the best according to my trusty taste-testers at work. Don't let the addition of a cup of black coffee put you off with you as it helps enhance the chocolate. I should have taken a picture of the inside, it is truly dark chocolate it's a very moist cake. I baked this in my new Nordic Ware pan that has snowflakes on it and had planned to dust it with powdered sugar but sadly that didn't work out and I had to top it with some frosting to cover up the top.

BLACK MAGIC CHOCOLATE CAKE

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup strong black coffee, cooled
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer. Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla. Beat at medium speed for two minutes. Batter will be thin. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9x13 pan or two 9 inch cake pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes for a 9x13, or 30-35 minutes for layer pans.

FROSTING
1/2 stick butter
6 tablespoons cocoa
6 tablespoons milk or cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter and cocoa and stir until smooth. Add cream and vanilla. Pour mixture over powdered sugar and mix well. Add milk if too stiff. Frost cooled cake.