Pound Cake

I thought for sure I had posted this recipe before because I make it so often I know it by heart.  It's one of my favorites because one, it's my Mom's recipe and her favorite cake.   Also because it's a very simple cake to make.  I always forget to take pictures until it's almost gone.  Can you believe we just cut it Sunday?  But we do have a teen-age son in the house.  lol

Pound Cake
1 1/2 cups crisco (and as Mom would say don't try and save by using cheap shortning)
3 cups sugar
9 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbsps vanilla extract

Beat crisco and sugar until creamy, at least ten minutes.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.  Slowly add flour mixing well.  Then add extract.  You can't overbeat it.  The more you mix the better it rises. 
Bake at 350 for and hour and fifteen minutes.  

Key Lime Cake

Michael tasted a Key Lime cake during the Christmas holidays.  So for his birthday he decided that's what kind he wanted.  Well I wasn't sure about a recipe for it so I looked online.   Then while at Wal-mart picking up what I needed.  There was a lady in there buying 20-30 boxes of cake mix.  I was thinking I only need one box just leave me one.  I must have had a look on my face because she said don't ask.  I said okay.  But she continued to tell me what cakes she had to make over the weekend.  So I asked her had she ever made a Key Lime Cake and she said sure this is what you need.  Same as what I had found online but so I thought I would share it with ya'll.  It reminds me of lime sherbert, and maybe that's why he like it so well.  I remember eating lime sherbert with diet sprite in it while I was pregnant with him.  Guess I wanted to watch my calories better the second time around.  With Megan they told me I needed more calcium so I ate ice cream with milk in it alot.  But paid dearly, by gaining 50 lbs while I was pregnant with her.


Key Lime Cake

1 box lemon cake mix
1 box instant lemon pudding
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup cooking oil
4 egg3-4 drops green food coloring

Mix it all together,  Bake in two round pans at 350 for 20 minutes or until done.

The recipe online called for a glaze but I used a cream cheese icing so I've put the recipe for both.

Glaze:

2 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup lime juice
Mix until smooth and drizzle over cake.


Icing
1 stick butter
1 box cream cheese
1/4 cup lime juice or enough for right consistency

Beat until smooth and spread on the top and sides of the two layers.

Chicken white bean chili and a giveaway

I love finding new recipes for the crockpot.  And I also love getting stuff for free, but who doesn't?  So when blogspark offered me the chance to do a giveaway and I needed a recipe to go with it.  I came up with the great idea of letting someone else come up with the recipe. So this giveaway will feature Mary.  She has some wonderful southern recipes on her blog.  I don't remember how I found her blog but I go back often to print out some of her recipes.  So if you love southern cooking that's quick and easy go check her out.  This one also tells that it only has 3 weight watcher points per serving without the extra garnishes.  And as we all know it's a new year and most of us are looking for ways to eat healthier.
So for the recipe you must visit Mary's  blog .
Now the giveaway.   It is for ONE Old El Paso “Tackle the Taste” gift pack that includes two free cans of Green Chiles, as well as a football-shaped ceramic serving platter, two sets of football-themed plates, cocktail napkins, and a themed table runner.

It can also be used after football is over if you have a football themed birthday party.    In the meantime here is a coupon you can use towards your own purchase of  Old El Paso green chiles.

First mandatory entry, you must visit Mary's  blog and then leave me a comment with the name of one of her other recipes.

This giveaway will end Monday January 18th.

Disclosure :  I received no compensation for the giveaway other than the gift pack fro Old El Paso through Blogspark.

Chewy Bread

Don't forget 3 giveaways are ending today.  I will be drawing the winners later this evening.

Some calls it cake but to me it's more like bread.  Awesome with hot chocolate, or I guess coffee.  I don't drink coffee but it reminds me of a sweet bread.  Unfortunately no pictures, they ate it so fast.  Our pecans are beginning to fall so had to bake something with some of them.  This is another one of those recipes that is easy.  My favorite kind, other than if it has chocolate in it. 

Chewy Bread

1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped
1 stick butter, melted
1box light brown sugar
3 eggs
2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp vanilla extract

Beat together brown sugar, and butter.  Add eggs; beat well.   Slowly add flour and vanila.  Mix well.  Stir in pecans.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes in a 9x13 inch pan.

Sausage Corn Muffins

There are days that I can't think of anything to blog about, and then there's days that there is several.  Like today, there's a recipe, pics of our trip to a pumpkin patch, a couple of awards I recieved over the weekend that I need to pass on, a new giveaway, and a couple of things that are on my heart to pass along so check back everyday.  You don't want to miss a thing.   I have been so busy this weekend, and have so many blogs to catch up on.  Today is a new recipe to go along with Linda's  http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/     Fall Into Flavor. 

Sausage Corn Muffins 

1 10-ounce can creamed corn
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix
1/2 lb cooked and crumbled roll sausage


Mix corn, eggs, and milk.  Add muffin mix, then sausage.  Stir just enough to mix well.  Bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes.

It's a very simple recipe.  The recipe calls for a 1/2 lb sausage but I usually use the whole roll.

Dont' forget my giveaway of 100 custom made postcards.  I suggested Christmas cards, but the options are endless.  Birth annoucements, save the date for an upcoming wedding, thank you notes, etc.

Chicken Pot Pie

Linda over at    http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/  is having Flavorful Fall.  You might remember her from Random Dozen.  She posts questions every Tuesday to be answered and then she answers them on Wednesdays.   Okay Im rambling, Flavorful Fall,  that means is to use favorite, homespun, not necessarily healthy Fall comfort food recipes.   This week it's on Tuesday, but for the next four weeks it will be on Mondays.  She has posted an awesome Potato Soup recipe.  So go check it out.  Not to mention she's doing a giveaway of an apron.  And will do another giveaway at the end of the five weeks.  Or there about.  Mine is Chicken Pot Pie, perfect recipes to warm us up from this cooler weather.

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

1 package boneless chicken breast (I use strips for convienence)

1 pack frozen mixed veg. (corn, carrot, pea and string beans)

1 package lipton golden onion soup mix (half sleeve)

1 can campbells cream of chicken

I can campbells cream of mushroom

(don't use reduced fat or sodium it takes away from the flavor!!!)

1 can campbells chicken broth

Topping:

1 stick real butter

1 cup milk

1 pack Bisquick original biscuit mix or,  1 cup

(you can also use 1 cup self-rising flour)

Directions:

Boil chicken strips about 10 minutes or until done. Cut into bite size pieces. Boil mixed veggies about 6-8 minutes until tender. Drain.

Mix the three soups and dry soup mix... add veggies and chicken. Pour in casserole dish.

In a bowl blend (with mixer) bisquick, milk and stick of butter (melt the butter in microwave it's easier!) Pour topping on casserole.

Bake at 400 F for 45-50 mins or until golden brown!!!

Sugarless Applesauce Cake

Lisa over at  http://stopnsmellthechocolates.blogspot.com/  is having a Fall Fruits Festival.  Everyday this week is recipes with a different fruit, other than Friday.  She has declared that to be chocolate day.  Well today is apples.  So I decided to share a apple recipe that is probably a little different.  I made it for my ex-mother-in-law for her birthday every year because she was a diabetic.  It's a very simple recipe.

Also Diana over at  http://dfseason.blogspot.com/  is looking for Fall recipes for a wonderful cookbook giveaway.  So please go check both of these ladies, they are both wonderful bloggers. 
Sugarless Applesauce Cake

1 cup raisins                     

1 cup diced dried apples

2 cups water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 tsps. cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup natural applesauce
2 Tbsp liquid sweetener
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Combine raisins, apples, and water in a saucepan.  Cook uncovered until water is evaporated and fruit is soft.  Set aside.  In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.  In another bowl combine eggs, applesauce, sweetener, oil, and vanilla.  Add nuts and fruit mixture.  Stir in dry ingredients and blend thouroughly.  Pour into a 10-inch greased bundt pan.  Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until done.

Caramel Apples

Next Monday is the beginning of our local fair.  I can't wait.  http://kiwanisogeecheefair.org/index.html  We've only lived here for two years, and we have yet to go to this one.  But from everything I keep hearing it's going to be alot of fun.  Monday opening day, admission is only a canned good for each person.  You can't beat that.  A cheap way to get in and a way to help others.
But as I've said in previous posts it's not the rides, its' the food.  I guess if I really learned how to make all the fair food, I would be as big as the side of a barn.  But once a year can't be too bad. 
So this week I have found a recipe for caramel apples.  They are so simple, it will be another one of those recipes that you can get the kids in the kitchen to help you with.

Caramel Apples


6 apples

1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons milk

Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet.   I haven't tried it but I would think wax paper would work just as well.
Place caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave 2 minutes, stirring once. Allow to cool briefly.
Roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until well coated. Place on prepared sheet to set.

So simple.

Corn Dog Recipe

This is the county fair corn dog recipe many know and love.

The corn dog is a food deeply associated with state and county fairs.

Corn Dogs

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. baking powder
Milk
3 tbsp. sugar
1/2 cup cornmeal
Hot dogs

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together and add just enough milk to make a thick batter.

2. Dip hot dogs into batter and deep fry until golden.

Gooey Butter Cakes

Gooey Butter Cakes

One 18 1/4 ounce package yellow cake mix

1 egg

1 stick butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine ingredients and mix well. 

Pat into a lightly greased 13x9 inch baking pan.

Prepare filling.

One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 stick butter, melted

One 16-box powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Add butter: beat.  Add powdered sugar and mix well.
Spread over cake mixture.  Bake for 40-50 minutes.  You want the center to be a little gooey, so don't overbake.

And this is how we love to enjoy it.  Vanilla ice cream melting on it.  Are ya'll hungry yet?

Fall Is In The Air

Today is the first day of Autumn/Fall. I love the crisp cool air we are beginning to feel. The leaves are starting to change. For some it's the beginning of football. But me I also love a good State Fair. We haven't went to one in a couple of years. But when I think about one. It's not only the rides, or the games. It's the food. The funnel cakes, candy apples, cotton candy, Philly cheese steak sandwiches, corn dogs, caramel corn, turkey legs, and etc.

  I didn't realize it had been so long since we had been to a Fall Festival or State Fair. These are pics from a local Fall Festival.                  

Then these are from the State Fair in Perry, GA.  We went to see my Step-Daughter in the parade.  As you can see the kids had a blast.  This was before blogging days so I didn't think to take pics of any of the food.

Makayla  had a Fall Festival at school this past Friday.  No funnel cakes but we did have cotton candy, and sno cones.

                                                Makayla's teacher in the dunking booth.

So from now until the end of October I will be featuring a recipe each week on Tuesdays for a food you would find at a State or Local Fair. So each week, please share your recipes for a food that you may have at your State Fair that we don't have down here in the south.

My first one is my very most favorite.

Funnel Cakes

2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 Cups milk
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Cups cooking oil
Powdered sugar

In small bowl, combine beaten eggs, and mik.  In large mixing bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add egg mixture to dry mixture.  Beat until smooth. 
In an 8-inch skillet, heat cooking oil to 360.  Using a finger to cover the bottom opening of a funnel with a 1/2 inch spout (inside diameter) pour about 1/2 cup of batter into the funnel.  Remove finger, and release batter into hot oil, moving funnel in a circular motion to form a spiral.
Cook about 2 1/2 minutes or until golden brown.  Using 2 wide metal spatulas, carefully turn cake over.  Cook about a minute more.  Drain on paper towels.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Repeat with remaining batter.  Makes 4-5 cakes.

Can also use other toppings if so desired.  Cinnamon, and sugar, whipped crem and strawberries, chocolate syrup, etc.

Angel Sweet Cookies

Again this week Joanna over at http://thissoutherngirlsnest.blogspot.com/ is asking for you to post a cookie recipe.
I couldn't really think of one. Because the cookies I made this week was her White Chocolate Chip cookies that she posted a couple of weeks ago.
Then I remembered the journal I gave my Mom for Mother's Day and she filled it with her favorite recipes for me. So while looking through it I came across first recipe I ever made in Home Ec, so very many years ago in high school.

Angel Sweets

1 6-ounce pkg. semi-sweet chocolate pieces
2 tbsp. margarine
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 egg
2 cups mini-marshmallows
1/2 cup coconut

Melt chocolate and margarine/butter over low heat. remove, blend in sugar, marshmallows, and pecans. Shape into balls. Roll in the coconut. Chill

Chocolate Delight

Lisa over at Stop and Smell the Chocolate is featuring another Chocolate Friday.
So this week Makayla and I made Chocolate Delight. Nothing like Chocolate but better than that is when kids love to cook with you.



Chocolate Delight
2 cups self rising flour
1 stick margarine/butter, melted
1 chopped pecans
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese
2 cups confectioners sugar
3 small boxes chocolate instant pudding
4 1/2 cups milk
1 large tub Cool Whip

Beat flour, melted butter and pecans. Spread out in a 9x13 casserole dish. Bake at 350 until light brown.
It should look like this.



Let the crust cool completely before adding remaining ingredients.
Beat together the cream cheese, confectioners sugar, and 2 cups of the cool whip.

When the crust is completely cool spread cream cheese mixture on the top.



Then spread the chocolate pudding on top of it.



Lastly spread the remaining cool whip on top of the pudding. It's then ready to eat but is so much better once it's refrigerated. But as you can see some around here couldn't wait for the Cool Whip to soften for me to spread it on as the last layer.

No Bake Cookies

Every Tuesday over at http://thissoutherngirlsnest.blogspot.com/
Joanna is doing 52 weeks of cookies. This is only week 5 so you have plenty of time to join us. What a great way of finding new recipes especially now with the holidays right around the corner.
Mine for this week is one of my favorites. I remember my Mom teaching me how to make them and then every time we had unexpected company to drop in guess what I got to make. They are so quick and simple.



No Bake Cookies
2 cups sugar
2 tbsp cocoa
1 stick margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter (smooth)
3 cups quick oatmeal
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Boil sugar, cocoa, margarine, and milk. Add peanut butter, vanilla, and pecans. Remove from heat. Stir until peanut butter is melted and smooth. Stir in oatmeal. Drop by spoonfuls on waxed paper to set.

12-Layer Chocolate Cake

Lisa over at http://stopnsmellthechocolates.blogspot.com/2009/08/would-you-like-chocolate-with-that_28.html

is having Chocolate Friday.

So here's my recipe for chocolate.

12-layer chocolate cake

4 cups sugar

4 sticks butter

6 tbsp Crisco

5 cups self-rising flour

8 eggs

2 1/2 cups buttermilk

2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Combine sugar, butter, Crisco, eggs, and buttermilk, and vanilla. Cream together until smooth. Blend in flour a little at a time: mix for about two minutes. Bake very thin layers until done. I use a measuring cup and put one cup of batter in each pan. I spray my pans and put wax paper in them. The wax paper helps me to pull each layer out and put more batter into them before waiting for them to cool. Unless your fortunate enough to have 12 cake pans.

Chocolate Icing

4 cups sugar

2 sticks butter

6 tbsp. cocoa

1 cup milk

Melt butter, sugar and cocoa in saucepan. Add milk, bring to a boil. Boil for one minute. Remove from heat. Ice cake when icing begins to thicken. If it becomes to think rewarm. You want it to drizzle, syrupy, not real thick.