Baking!

I was on a baking spree last Wednesday...I had a party that I was in charge of the desserts. Very yummy. It took me all day to do it so I had to brag!!

Pineapple Mandarin Orange Cake

1 yellow cake mix

1 small can of mandarin oranges undrained

1 cup of vegetable oil

3 eggs

Mix together and cook in two 8" round pans for 30-35 minutes. at 350 degrees. Let cool

1 14oz. can crushed pineapple

1 large box instant vanilla pudding

1 small cool whip

Take 1/4 of the can pineapple and 1/4 of the package of pudding and mix together and make a thin paste. Spread into the middle of the two layers. Mix all the other ingredients together and frost the cake. (Optional- garnish: Take an orange and cut in half and slice a very thin piece and cut one side half way through and twist it. )

Almond Bars

Base: 1/2 c. soft butter

1 c. flour

2 Tbs. water

Mix ingredients into a round ball with a fork. Divide in half. On an ungreased cookie sheet pat each half into a strip, 12x3" don't touch the strips on the pan.

Topping: 1/2 cup butter

1 c. water

1 tsp. almond extract

1 c. flour

3 eggs

In a pan heat butter and water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and quickly stir in extract and flour. stir very fast until mixture forms a ball. Beat in the eggs all at the same time until smooth. Divide in half and spread over the strips that are already on the pan.Bake for 60 min, or until the topping is crisp and light brown. Cool.

Glaze: 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 Tbs. butter

1 tsp. almond extract

1 1/2 Tbs. warm water

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almond slices

Mix together until smooth and spread over the bars. Then sprinkle chopped walnuts or sliced almonds. (walnuts are my favorite) Then cut into finger size strips and serve.

~

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

This is so easy to do-

2 pints of strawberries

stems still on, washed, and put out to dry on a paper towel. The strawberries must be dry for the chocolate to stick to them.

1 package of Wilton light cocoa candy melts

(you can get these at Wal-mart or Micheals-in the cake decorating area)

Melt the chocolate in a small plastic microwave safe bowl. Do not use a glass or ceramic dish since it does heat unevenly and will scorch the chocolate. About 1 min. I use about half the bag at a time to melt. Then dip the strawberries in the chocolate (I hold the strawberry by the stem and hold the leaves up)and take off a little of the chocolate on the sides so it is not too thick, but still covering the strawberry. Put on wax paper to cool and put in fridge. Then serve.

Sweet Tarts

4 cups of flour

1 lb. butter

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Melt butter completely, then mix flour and sugar together with it. Roll into quarter size balls and put into miniature muffin tin pans and press the dough with a tart press making a pie shape to fill later with the filling. Cook for 8-10 min. at 350 until light brown.

3-8 oz pkgs. cream cheese

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 c. lemon juice

Beat cream cheese until smooth, then add milk and lemon juice until smooth. Fill a pastry bag and pipe into the cooled pastry tar. Then top with a slice of strawberry.

Victorian Sandwich Cake

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
cream butter and sugar together, then add

3 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbs. lemon Juice
mix and then add

1 1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. baking soda
2 Tbs. poppy seeds

I like to put this in a bundt pan. Lightly spray with Pam and add mixture. Put in an oven of 325 degrees and cook for 45 min. Test cake with a toothpick or cake tester to see if it comes out clean. Flip onto a plate and drizzle with frosting or leave plain.

Frosting
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. lemon juice or extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 Tbs. butter soft
2 Tbs. milk
Drizzle over top

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch

1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 sticks butter
2 cups peanut butter
3 cups rice cereal
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups powdered sugar


Line a 9 X 13 pan with parchment paper. In a sauce pan melt half of the chocolate chips and 1 Tbs. of the butter on low heat. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of the peanut butter and 2 cups of the rice cereal. Spread evenly in the bottom of the pan. With the back of the spoon, press it down so it is firm, but not smashed. Put in the fridge to cool.


In another saucepan add the rest of the remaining butter and salt, melt. Remove from heat and the other cup of peanut butter and then the powdered sugar. Stir. Then spread half of the mixture on top of the the other layer of chocolate rice cereal. Lightly top with the last cup of rice cereal and press down lightly.


In a small bowl microwave the remaining chocolate chips and stir into the remaining peanut butter mixture you saved. Spread evenly and put in fridge for about 45 min. When cool take parchment paper with fudge out of the pan and cut into even squares.
You can cut these into very small squares because it is so rich.

Rocky Road Brownies

Rocky Road Brownies- From the Tates Kitchen~

3 boxes of fudge brownie mix

Follow instructions on the box and then add to a jelly roll pan (lg cookie sheet), then when they are done, you cover the top with mini marshmellows, heat another 3-5 minutes until they are gooey, about to turn brown. Then pour this yummy frosting over the top and let them sit for an hour if possible to set before cutting into them! If you like nuts... sprinkle over the top, but that's optional!

Chocolate sauce


In a small sauce pan, bring
1 cube butter
5 T. milk to boil.
Then lower heat and add
4 T. cocoa powder
1 box powdered sugar, and stir well.
If it's still really really thick, you can add 1 t. milk. Then add 1 t. vanilla last. The mixture should be just thin enough to pour over the top of the marshmellows!

Muffins

Muffins

1 3/4 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
(2 Tbs. extra sugar if you add any fruit or jam)
2 tsp. baking powder
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. salt
Mix all together and then add what ever else you want to jazz it up. ( raisins, cranberries, nuts, cinnamon, rasberry jam, chocolate chips, ect..) Put into greased muffin tin. No liners. The chocolate chip ones I added 2 Tbs. milk and 2 Tbs. cocoa. Bake at 400 for about 20 min. Makes 10-12