~the recipe

Italian Cream Cake

from: The Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook



For the Cake

5 eggs

1/2 cup butter

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup shortening

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup buttermilk or sour milk

1 cup flaked coconut

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Separate eggs. Allow egg yolks, egg whites, and butter to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Grease and flour three 8 inch or 9 inch cake pans; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl combine flour and baking soda; set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In an extra-large mixing bowl (or electric mixer) beat butter and shortening on medium speed for about 30 seconds. Add sugar; beat until well combined. Add the egg yolks and vanilla; beat on medium speed until well combined. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to butter mixture, beating on low after each addition just until combined. Fold in coconut and pecans.

Thoroughly wash the beater[s]. In a medium bowl (or your electric mixer, just pour the batter into another bowl) beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold about one-third of the egg whites into the cake batter. Fold in remaining egg whites. Spread batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake about 25 minutes for 9 inch pans, about 35 minutes for 8 inch pans, or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake layers in pans on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Remove cake layers from pans. Cool thoroughly on wire racks.


For the Frosting
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 1/2 - 6 cups powdered sugar

In a large mixing bowl (or electric mixer) beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar to reach spreading consistency.

Lay the first cake layer on your cake stand or plate. Spread about 1/2 cup frosting, then sprinkle 1/4 chopped pecans. Add another cake layer, spread with 1/2 cup frosting, sprinkle with 1/4 nuts. Add the last cake layer. Frost the top and sides of cake. Sprinkle additional pecans on top if desired.

Eat!

Chocolate Cake

I made the Pioneer Woman's Best Ever Chocolate Sheet Cake earlier. This cake is beyond description. It's so good. Go make it for yourself. And you will find out. Trust me. Go make it. Now.



Okay, so you don't have to make it now, or ever, I just thought you might like it. Because it's so good. And because the cake + frosting contains almost one pound of butter.

a baking kind of day

We didn't have everything I needed to primer my room, so that got put off till tomorrow.
But I did bake two things today. The first is...

Frosted Pan Hermits
from Heirloom Baking with the Brass Sisters

For Hermits:
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 cup raisins (I used Cranraisins)
1 cup chopped walnuts (I used pecans)

For Frosting:
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons butter (about 1/2 a tablespoon)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 to 3 teaspoons milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with foil, shiny side up. Grease the foil with butter or vegetable spray.
To make the hermits: sift together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, salt, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Cream butter and brown sugar in electric mixer. Add the egg. Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk. Mix the remaining 2 tablespoons flour with nuts and dried fruit and fold into batter. Pour into pan and spread evenly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until a tester inserted in middle comes out clean.
To make frosting: sift powdered sugar and salt into a bowl. Add butter and whisk until combined. Add vanilla and milk. Whisk. Pour frosting onto warm hermits and spread. Allow to set. When completely cool, cut into squares and eat!

Next I mixed up this yummy Chocolate Cake. It's in the oven now, and smells oh. so. good. And let me tell ya, the batter is delicious.

Have you been baking anything recently? What do bake during Christmas time? I would love to know! Leave a comment, even if you don't bake. I love hearing from my readers!

I guess I'll call it...

Chili Mac. This is what I made for lunch on Wednesday. It is super yummy, and quick! This recipe makes a full 9x13 pan.
Gather your in ingredients.
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion
1 can diced tomatoes (drain some of the juice out.)
1 large can spaghetti sauce
2 lbs. macaroni
about 2 cups shredded cheese
spices of your choice

Boil water in a pot for the macaroni. Heat a skillet to cook the ground beef and onion in. Pour a tablespoon or so of olive oil in the skillet.

Chop the onion.

Add onion to skillet and saute until transparent. Add ground beef and cook thoroughly. Once meat is cooked, you may add whatever spices you like. I put in garlic powder, a bit of taco seasoning, and cumin.

Boil pasta, and drain.

Pour the sauce, tomatoes, meat, and pasta in the pot.

Stir until combined.

Pour into a lightly greased 9x13 pan, and sprinkle cheese over the top, if desired. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the pasta is heated through.

Apple Pie

Yesterday morning I was cleaning the kitchen and living room, and getting the twins to clean the bathroom, and watching Sam (Mom and Jake had an appointment). Then I got the craving for apple pie. So, I whipped up some pie crust in our handy dandy food processor, had the twins go pick some apples, and made Pie! It was so good. We ate it for dessert last night, and Jake, Joe, and I had it for breakfast this morning. I am not a crust person, but this recipe was so good. It was sweet, not at all like store bought. It tasted almost like cookie dough. I had to stop eating it, or else there wouldn't have been enough for the top crust! :-) I will post the recipe later. Right now I better get back to my sewing!

Chocolate Cake, High Heels, and Cleaning

No, I was not eating cake while cleaning and wearing high heels. But I could. :) This week has been busy. We are preparing to have a house guest and homeschooling meetings today and tomorrow.

Last week I made This Yummy Sour Cream Chocolate Cake with Fudgy Frosting. As if the cake part was. not. enough. Seriously, it was awesome. Then two weeks ago Mom and I went to Target, and I bought a pair of cute black heels. *squeal* Sorry, no picture. The Internet is being fussy.
What a beautiful morning! The sky is just starting to turn a lovely lavender blue peach color. I just love sunrises! A chilly breeze is winding enchantingly through the open windows. The birds are beginning to sing their songs, unlike the roosters who have been at it for hours! May God bless your weekend.

Dinner[s]

On Monday I made this for dinner. It was really good. I didn't put cilantro in it, but I did add a couple spoonfuls of diced green chilies, the kind in a can. Also, I used black beans, a regular sized can. And I didn't put peas in it, I just did all corn.

Then on Tuesday I made this noodles with Italian Sausage and Peppers in sauce. Andi made it on Sunday night, and we all loved it. So we decided to make it at home. She makes awesome food on Sundays. That sounded weird. I am sure she make awesome food on other days too. First you cook the sausage and bell peppers, and then add sauce (either homemade or canned) and simmer. Then cook some pasta and put it in your bowl, and pour sauce over it. Yummy, and super easy! Just make as little or as much as you need.




Cook the sausage and peppers.


Add your sauce.

Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the pasta before we ate it.

Most-Addicting-Dessert

These "brownies" are the best ever! When I need to take dessert somewhere, I will take these, as they are always a hit.

Blondies
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup butter - melted and cooled
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, nuts in a bowl and set aside.
In separate bowl, mix butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and chocolate chips.
Slowly add in the dry mixture, mixing well with each addition. Pour batter into a lightly greased, 13x9x2 pan. Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Yummy!