Our New Year Celebration

Well, it's 2010. Hmmm . . . I don't feel any different; only amazed that an new year yawns before me. 2009 went by very quickly--it's unbelievable.

So, last night, we allowed the kids to stay up past midnight (they get such a kick out of doing that). I am pretty done with killing myself cooking, so we had a simple meal:

Grilled Chicken Sausage in Snuggles from Sprouts
French Fries with a cheese sauce from Trader Joes
Sour Cream and Onion potato chips (a request by DD)

For dessert:

Quick Yellow Cake*

2 cups flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening**
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs

Heat oven to 350º. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Add shortening, milk and vanilla. Beat on medium*** for 2 minutes. Add eggs and beat for 30 seconds more. Bake in greased 13x9 pan for 35 minutes, or until pick comes out clean.

*I halved the whole recipe and baked in an 8x8 pan.
**Replaced shortening with oil
***I didn't feel like dragging out the mixer, so I used a whisk, and I didn't beat for the allotted time.

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

1 cup cocoa
1 cup hot water
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
pinch of salt
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Place cocoa, hot water, sugar and salt in a large saucepan (allow room for stirring). Stir the ingredients until they begin to blend. Don't worry about the lumps--they'll dissolve during cooking. Then turn heat to medium and stir constantly (burns easily) and carefully. When it comes to a boil, continue cooking and stirring for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Store in the refrigerator.