Pepper Steak and Chocolate Cake

I am the worst sister. I missed celebrating Ike and Maddie's birthday with them in MN. So, we celebrated for them in Iowa with some great Rollings' family food. Remember a long time ago when I said I was going to cook my way through the Rollings' family cookbook...well I am really doing it now. Last night we had some of Grandma's pepper steak and some of Jenny's chocolate cake with Grandma's rich chocolate frosting. Happy Birthday Maddie and Ike!

Grandma's Pepper Steak

1 1/2 lbs steak cut into strips 1 garlic clove - minced 2 large tomatoes skinned and chopped

4 medium green peppers cut into strips 1/4 tsp pepper 1 1/4 tsp ginger 2 tsp soy sauce

1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 tsp sugar 1 1/4 cup beef stock 2 tsp corn starch

Season steak with salt and pepper. Heat pan and brown meat quickly. Add garlic, tomatoes, and peppers, cook 1-2 minutes. Add soy sauce, pepper, sugar, ginger and 3/4 cup stock.

Cover and simmer 20 minutes until meat is tender. Blend cornstarch with remaining stock. Stir into meat mixture, bring to a boil and simmer for 2 more minutes stirring constantly. Serve over rice.

Jenny's Moist Chocolate Cake with Grandma's Rich Chocolate Frosting

Cake - 2 cups flour 1 tsp salt 1tsp baking powder 2 tsp baking soda 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa 2 cups sugar 1 cup vegatable oil 1 cup hot coffee 1 cup milk 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla

Sift together dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add oil, coffee and milk - mix at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla - beat 2 more minutes. Pour into two greased and floured cake pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cool cakes 15 minutes before removing from pans.

Rich Chocolate Frosting - 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup milk 1/3 cup cocoa 1/3 cup butter 1 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients except vanill in a small sauce pan. Boil for 1 minute. Beat until smooth and creamy.