Rainbow Cake-1st birthday magic

This little girl doesn't know how "lucky" she is.  Her talented Mommy created this rainbow cake to celebrate her 1st birthday.  Can't believe that Grandchild number 11 is already a year old. 

Pumpkin Roll (modification)

 

 Pumpkin Roll

3 eggs, beat on high for 5 minutes.

1 c. sugar gradually added to the eggs
2/3 c. pumpkin (stir into the above mixture)
1 t. lemon juice

In another bowl mix.

3/4 c. flour                                         

1 t. baking powder                               
2 t. cinnamon                                       
1 t. ginger
½ t. nutmeg
½ t. salt
 

Stir the above together and fold into pumpkin mixture.  Spread in a greased and floured jelly roll pan. (Parchment lined then floured and greased makes it easier to roll.  Wax paper can also be used) Top with 1 c. finely chopped walnuts (optional)  Bake at 375 for 15 mins.  Turn out on tea towel, cool.  Spread filling over cake.  Roll and chill.

Filling

1 c powdered sugar               (note we do one and half of the filling recipe to make a thicker filling)

8 oz. cream cheese
4 T. butter
½ t. vanilla

Beat until smooth.

(lg can of prepared pumpkin pie filling makes five pumpkin rolls.  The pumpkin roll freezes well.  Any left over pumpkin can also be frozen, simply measure out and place in a zipper freezer  label and freeze.)

German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake

½ c. shortening

1 ½ c. sugar
3 eggs, beaten separately
pinch of salt
1 t. soda
1½ c. buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1½ squares of baker’s chocolate

Cream sugar and shortening, add egg yolks, melted chocolate and a little red food coloring

Alternate buttermilk, with soda added, with flour.  Fold in egg whites.  Bake in layer pans 30-35 minutes at 350.

German Cake Icing:

1 can evaporated milk

1 c. sugar
3 egg yolks
1 t. vanilla
¾ small package of coconut
pecans, finely chopped

Mix ingredients except the coconut and cook, about 12 minutes at a boil.  Stirring constantly not to let it scorch.  Cool and spread on cake.

(This was a recipe that Grandma Smith was well known for.  It was a treat for my sister and me to get this cake for our birthdays.  Two days before she passed away she was concerned that she had not been able to get a birthday cake made for Rosemarie. She had all of the ingredients purchased and waiting on her counter top.  We were all touched that she worried about the cake not being taken care of even as she was dying.  I love the frosting but cheat and put it on a much moister cake than the above recipe.  However, this is her true recipe.)

We love Frozen!

Like so many our family has been struck by the movie Frozen!  With five daughters the message of sisterly love touched me deeply.  At family gatherings we often turn on the music and before long all of us are singing at full volume.  The grand kids love to have the music playing out on our deck and I am sure the neighbors think we are nuts, but we have a great time, memories abound. 

For recent birthdays the love of the theme has been prevalent.  Three different cakes made for three different granddaughters by three different mothers with who are so talented. 

 

1. The most recent

 

2. Frozen in the summer time

 

     

3. The first. (several sides)

 

Love my creative and imaginative girls!!!

Cinnamon Roll Cake (updated version!!)

 

Cinnamon Roll Cake (Newer better version I found on Pinterest but added cinnamon to the cake as well.)

Cake:

3 c. flour
1/4 t salt
1 c. sugar
4 t baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 t cinnamon

Topping:

1 c. butter softened
1 c. brown sugar
2 T flour
1 T cinnamon

Glaze:

2 c. powdered sugar
5 T milk
1 t vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350. For the cake mix everything together with the exception of the butter.  Slowly stir in the butter and pour into and greased 9x13 pan.  For the topping, mix all of ingredients together well, drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife.  Bake for 30-32 mins. Let cake cool a little and then pour the glaze evenly across the top.

Birthday girl and her cake!

 Princess was the theme for this little one this year.  Jessica always makes the cutest cakes and while this one was one of the more simple ones it was still adorable and so appropriate! 

It took every effort but she blew them out on the first try!  She was so cute about everything, why do they grow out of this stage so quickly?

Buttermilk-Blueberry Breakfast Cake

1/2 c. butter, softened
2 t lemon juice
zest from one large lemon
3/4 c. plus sugar
2 T sugar
1 t vanilla
2 c. flour
2 t baking powder
1 t salt
2 c. fresh blueberries
1/2 c. buttermilk (or add 1 1/2 t vinegar to milk if you don't have buttermilk)

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream butter with lemon zest and 3/4 c. sugar plus 1 T until light and fluffy. Add the egg an vanilla mix until combines.  Toss the blueberries with 1/4 c. flour, then whisk together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt.  Grease a 9x9 baking pan with butter or nonstick spray  Spread batter into pan.  Sprinkle batter with remaining T of sugar.  Bake 35-45 mins.  check with toothpick.  Let cool before serving.

Coconut Cake

Cakes for Little Girls

Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street

Belle from Beauty and the Beast

I have made a cakes for a couple of friend's daughters this past month and have tried a new style of decorating from a picture. I prefer to cut a cake to shape it and then just cover that but this has also challenged me artistically. I still have a long way to go, especially when it comes to faces, but the cakes turned out fun and the girls liked them!



Zucchini Cake-Neighbor treat

With all of our projects going on we didn't plant nearly as much in our garden as we normally do. One of the things that we didn't get in the ground were my favorite zucchini plants. My good neighbor has been aware of this and has been sharing from her plants, since we all know how prolific they are. She does a better job monitoring the size than I do but one got away and she offered it to me to make bread or anything that I wanted to make. Because my stove was parked in the garage on a temporary basis I had to turn down the offer. The next day she showed up at our door with this yummy cake in her hand. It was too pretty not to post it. (I'm having a hard time keeping my hands off of the treats that have been presented to me the last few days, but I WILL BE STRONG!)

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Cream together:

1/2 c. shortening

1/2 c. oil

1 3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1/2 c. buttermilk

add:

2 1/2 c. flour

4 T. cocoa

1 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

2 c. grated zucchini

Pour into a greased 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle with 1 c. chocolate chips and 1/2 c. chopped nuts. Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Little Lady Bug

Well we've been noticeably absent the last little while. I've been doing some traveling and gardening and house cleaning and dieting! Actually changing some life styles that have allowed me to gain too much weight over the years as a result I have been able to lose a considerable amount of weight.!!!!! I have not been cooking as much lately because life has been so crazy but I am home for awhile and that should change.

Part of our travel was to see our "Little Lady Bug" for her first birthday. Neither she nor her parents knew we were coming so it was a fun surprise

Don't you love this sweet little face?
Her mom made the cutest cupcakes. She topped them with marshmallow flowers that were so cute and easy. She took kitchen sheers and cut through the marshmallow to make the petals.
She place them on the cupcake and then place a "lemon head" in the center;

Cydney also made this cute Lady Bug cake, this was her first attempt at decorating a cake so she kept saying it wasn't going to turn out like she envisioned it. By the end I think she was pretty pleased by it.

What's not to love about it, so cute.

What one year old wouldn't love to get her hands on that cake?

And yes I had a tiny little piece of cake to celebrate with her!

Happy Birthday Little Lady Bug!

More great cakes

More grat cakes, I just love the creatvity of my girls!

I think this is my favorite of all time. He was in a "Pirate" phase and can you imagine a cake like this?
What little girl wouldn't love this to share with her friends?
I have featured this one before but don't you love the detail in the Star Wars Cake?
This was for a family friends birthday, Tinkerbell, so cute!
This was also a masterpiece, love the detail, the 'transformer' phase.

Great cakes by a great girl (woman) for great occasions!

Mickey Mouse Cake

Our "Cake Master" is at it again. Jessica has become quite the pro at making fabulous birthday cakes for her boys. This one while as easier theme was difficult to get the face just right but she did it again!

M I C K E Y M O U S E

Star Wars for the Five Year Old

Another birthday creation made by my daughter for her sons birthday. Star Wars is new for

him this year. These cakes are too cute to cut.

Happy Birthday Sweetie

Creativity at it's best!

My daughter has become very good at making special birthday cakes for her kids. This is the most recent one, obviously a Pirate theme. I just couldn't resist showing this. I wish the pictures were a little better but with the party going and kids waiting to cut into the cake I rushed to get these taken. Guess it pays to be on time doesn't it?

Everyone including the birthday boy loved the cake. It was hard to watch them cut the masterpiece!

Cinnamon Roll Cake

In large bowl combine:
3/4 c. oil
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 t. salt

Mix well and take 3/4 c. for topping

Add to remaining mixture:
2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. white sugar
1 t. soda
1 c. sour milk (2 tbsp vinegar in milk)
1/2 t. salt
Beat well. Add 2 eggs and beat 1-2 minutes more.
Pour in 9 x 13 pan sprinkle topping over

Topping
3/4 c. first mixture
1/2 c. nuts (opt)
2 tsp. cinnamon
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Thinking of Mom

Six years ago my mom passed away. I learned to cook the "basics" from her. She was well known for her breads, casseroles, and especially her Sunday Meals. She was always willing to take meals into families who needed some help. So as I have thought about her today I thought that I would include some of her recipes that mean a lot to me.

"Mom's Stew "

2 lbs lean stew meat
2-3 carrots, sliced round
2-3 potatoes, cubed
1 onion, chopped
2 large cans tomato juice
(tomato sauce can be used)
2 T. vegetable oil

Brown meat in oil, add remaining ingredients and cook until tender. This can be simmered on a stove top, baked in the oven, or in a slow cooker. The longer and slower the better. Other herbs such as Rosemary, Bay leaves, Marjoram, or Basil can also be added for flavor. Salt and pepper to taste.

German Chocolate Cake

½ c. shortening
1 ½ c. sugar
3 eggs, beaten separately
pinch of salt
1 t. soda
1½ c. buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
1½ squares of baker’s chocolate

Cream sugar and shortening, add egg yolks, melted chocolate and a little red food coloring
Alternate buttermilk, with soda added, with flour. Fold in egg whites. Bake in layer pans 30-35 minutes at 350.

German Cake Icing:

1 can evaporated milk
1 c. sugar
3 egg yolks
1 t. vanilla
¾ small package of coconut
pecans, finely chopped

Mix ingredients except the coconut and cook, about 12 minutes at a boil. Stirring constantly not to let it scorch. Cool and spread on cake.

(This was a recipe that Mom was well known for. It was a treat for my sister and I to get this cake for our birthdays. Two days before she passed away she was concerned that she had not been able to get a birthday cake made for my sister. She had all of the ingredients purchased and waiting on her counter top. We were all touched that she worried about the cake not being taken care of even as she was dying. I love the frosting but cheat and put it on a much moister cake than the above recipe. However, this is her true recipe.)

Grandma Smith’s Two Day Potato Salad
(This is an approximation to something she made to taste each time. Only she could make her Potato Salad.)

16-18 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
1 medium onion, chopped finely
2 ½ c. Miracle Whip
1 tsp. cider vinegar
1 ½ T. sugar
1 ½ T. mustard
6-7 hard boiled eggs
paprika

Peel, cube, and boil potatoes. (Grandma always boiled the potatoes in their “jackets” and then peeled them and cut them up the day before she assembled the salad.) Boil the eggs and cool them. Chop the onion up finely. Mix the vinegar, Miracle Whip, sugar, and mustard. When the potatoes have cooled cover with the dressing and the onions and mix together well. Quarter and slice all but two of the hard boiled eggs and gently mix into the salad, thinly slice the two remaining eggs and layer across the top of the salad, sprinkle the top with paprika.

(Note the dressing for her salad was made with Miracle Whip only, mayonnaise does not give the same flavor for her “two day salad.” This salad was always requested by the family! for special occasions.)

Stroganoff

1 lb. lean ground beef, or round or sirloin steak sliced thin
½ medium onion, chopped
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 4 oz. can of sliced mushrooms, optional
1 c. sour cream
egg noodles, cooked (rice works well too.)

Brown ground beef and onions in a large frying pan. While the meat mixture is browning bring a pot of water to boil and cook the egg noodles. Add the cream of chicken soup, mix until blended and simmer two minutes. Add the cream of mushroom soup, simmer and add the mushrooms. When the pasta is al dente drain and add butter, if desired. Stir in the sour cream just before serving.


Shepherds’ Pie or Green Bean Casserole

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 15 ½ oz. can green beans, drained
1 10 ¾ oz. can of tomato soup
3-4 medium potatoes
cheddar cheese, grated

Peel potatoes and cut into smaller pieces to speed up the cooking time, add to salted boiling water. In a large frying pan brown the ground beef, add the onions when the meat is no longer pink. When the onions become translucent, stir in the green beans and tomato soup heat through. Place the meat mixture into an oven safe casserole dish and top with the mashed potatoes and cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 mins. until the cheese is bubbly on top.

(This is one of those recipes that you can make two of and freeze one for a future day.)