BEST EVER SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

CRUST
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup butter (melted)

SWEET POTATO MIXTURE
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes (can use canned to save time, just drain)
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs (well beaten)
1/2 cup butter, melted (1/2 cup)

Directions:

1. Combine brown sugar, flour, nuts and butter in mixing bowl. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, cinnamon, vanilla, eggs and butter in a mixing bowl  Mix thoroughly.

4. Pour mixture into greased baking dish.

5. Sprinkle top of the sweet potato mixture  with the crust mixture.

6. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving.

Christmas Cookie Cake

       

     Cake 

            1 box Betty Crocker French Vanilla Cake Mix
           1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
           1/4 tsp. baking soda
           1/2 tsp. salt
           1 container (15 ounces) ricotta cheese, drained
           4 eggs
           1 tsp. almond extract
           1/2 cup olive oil
           3/4 cup heavy cream 
           
           Nonpareil Sprinkles
           Non stick Cooking Spray

Mix  all the wet ingredients together with a electric mixer, then add the dry ingredients.

Do not overmix  the wet with the dry, just fold the ingredients til blended .

Heat oven to 325° F. Spray a 9” springform pan with baking spray.

Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely before removing from springform pan.

Frosting Glaze

2 cups Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Milk or 1/2 and 1/2
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix ingredients well with a whisk, drizzle or frost cake while still warm, sprinkle with Nonpareils

SUPER Moist Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients

2 cups Sugar

1 cup Brown Sugar

3-⅓ cups Flour

2 teaspoons Baking Soda

½ Tablespoons Baking Powder

1-½ teaspoon Salt

2 tsp. Vanilla 

1 teaspoon Nutmeg

1 teaspoon Ground Cloves

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

4  large whole Eggs

1 can Pumpkin (15 Oz.) or fresh pureed

1/2 cup Oil

1/2 cup butter softened

1 cup Water

 Aluminum Foil

Preparation

Add wet ingredients (eggs, pumpkin, oil,butter, water) to the dry ingredients all at once.

Mix well with a mixer till smooth .

Grease 3 loaf pans (9×4) and pour equal amounts of the yummy batter into each pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour. You’ll know it’s ready when the top will start cracking and when you put a toothpick/knife in, it comes out clean.

Set out to cool for about 5 minutes.

Here’s the trick on keeping it SUPER moist.

After letting it cool for about 5 minutes, cover the bread in the pan with aluminum foil and secure very tightly. Then set aside and let it cool off while being wrapped in the foil. Repeat and do the same to the other 2 loaves.

I’m telling you. This is some good stuff. You can make this recipe your own...I have added chocolate chips, and another time walnuts and raisins...Have fun with it. You can also make a healthier version by cutting the sugar down and using applesauce in place of the butter and oil.

I like this bread glazed but you do not have to, it is decadent all on it's own...While on Cooling rack....I poked holes in top of the bread, and poured Cinnamon Sugar Butter {see below}  over holes, allowing it to seep down inside.

Ohhhhhh Yeahhhhh....

Cinnamon Sugar Butter 

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup softened butter 

• 1/4 TSP. CINNAMON

1. 
   
2. Beat butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth.

Soda Pop EASY Creamy Peach Cobbler

I love this recipe due to the fact I do not need to get a bowl or my mixer dirty..It is a quick dessert , no measuring...my kind dessert.
Some peach facts you may not know...

1. Peach is good for digestion and it has a diuretic effect - you can eat these fruits to cleanse your kidneys and bladder.
2. It has a natural soothing effect: peach can even help to calm a sour stomach.
3. It is an ideal snack between meals – eating a peach can give you the feeling of being full, so you will eat less; great for losing weight (one peach contains about 35-50 calories and not fat at all).
4. Contains many vitamins (A/B/C), magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium: so it is not only good for the digestive system, but for the well-being of muscles, the heart and bones, too.
5. Because of the above mentioned A and C vitamins in this fruit, it is a great moisturizer and a natural cure for refreshing the skin; therefore it is often used in cosmetics.
6. Peach can even have a positive effect on our scalp and it is able to reduce hair loss.
7. It is a good stress-reliever, helps to reduce anxiety – it is often referred to as the ‘Fruit of Calmness’ in Hungary.
8. Peach can be used as an aphrodisiac too.
9. According to research peach has a positive effect in preventing cancer (as it contains selenium).
10. In Roman times, people thought peach originated from Persia – its scientific latin name also reflects this: ‘Prunus persica ’. Peaches were often called as ‘Persian Apples ’.
11. In fact this fruit originates from China and they were introduced to the West through Persia.
12. In China this fruit is a symbol of good luck, protection and longevity.
13. This fruit is a member of the Rosaceae family and is a close relative of almonds.
14. August is the National Peach Month in the USA since 1982.
15. The peach tree is often considered to be the tree of life.
16. Colombus brought several peach trees to America on his second and third voyages.
17. The first peach orchard in the USA was established in Florida in 1565.
18. Georgia is also known as the Peach State, as there are many orchards, although California produces about 50% of all peaches in the USA.
19. On the world, China is the biggest producer of peaches and Italy is the second.
20. Although the peach pit contains hydrocyanic acid which is a poisonous substance in a bigger amount, an adult is safe to eat 1-2 seeds acquired from the pits of the peaches they ate before (100g a day is considered to be dangerous and one peach seed weights about 10g). But as it does not taste too good, barely any people eat these. 

Ingredients

2 Cups fresh diced peaches ((skin on))) *can use canned also
1 Can Cream Soda (regular or diet)
1 Package cake mix of choice( white or yellow)
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Stick Butter cut into 10 pats

Directions

Put peaches evenly in bottom of pan
Add cream soda and stir
Dump the cake mix evenly over peach mixture.
Sprinkle with Cinnamon
Add the pats of butter evenly all over the dry cake mix
Bake 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven

Serve warm with ice cream!!! ENJOY!!

HATCHIMAL CAKE DIY ~Hatchy Birthday

Ingredients Cake 1 ½ cups butter, softened 3 cups sugar 2 T vanilla extract 9 large eggs 4 ½ cups sifted flour 1 ½ tsp baking soda 1 ½ tsp salt 2 cups sour cream ~food coloring (optional) or sprinkles for Funfetti French cream Frosting: 3 cups softened butter 1 ½ tsp vanilla 7 cups powdered sugar ~food coloring ( turquoise blue and purple} Pink, lime green, black and white fondant

Directions for cake....

* Beat butter and sugar and smooth. Add the vanilla extract and eggs mixing well.
* Add in the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the sour cream and mix just until blended.
* Spoon the batter into 6 greased and floured 6” round cake pans or a Wilton bear pan( what I used and cut the bottom feet off.). Bake at 350F for 30 minutes, or until the middle springs back when touched. Cool . Make the french cream... * Beat the butter with your mixer until light and fluffy.
* Add the vanilla and the powdered sugar one cup at a time, then beat for 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy. * Dye 2 cups of frosting purple and the rest turquoise blue. * Slice the tops and bottoms off the cakes and stack with a layer of frosting in between layers.
* Carve the cake into a hatchimal shape / an hourglass shape . Frost the cake in a thin layer of blue;
* Place the purple and remaining blue buttercream into piping bags fitted with a #234 grass piping tip.

*Pipe a purple hour glass shaped fur onto the front of the hatchimal and blue fur everywhere else.
* Create the eyes, beak, horn and wings out of fondant. Stick them to the cake, using toothpicks or skewers for the beak and wings to keep from sliding .

*Light the candles, and sing HATCHY Birthday!!!!

RHUBARB CREAM CAKE

• Rhubarb Cream Cake

This creamy dreamy cake is the most delicious way you could ever enjoy rhubarb. This luscious  custard atop a buttery crust  combines the goodness of a custard pie with the unique flavor of rhubarb for a sweet treat that will wow your family and friends. 

Ingredients

• 
  
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup cold butter

• FILLING:
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 T. sour cream
• 4 large eggs, room temperature, beaten
• 3-4 cups finely chopped fresh  rhubarb
• FROSTING:
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup  powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla

• Directions

• 1. In a bowl, combine the flour and sugar; cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into a greased 9x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.
• 2. Meanwhile, for filling, combine sugar, salt and flour in a bowl. Whisk in creams, vanilla and eggs. Stir in the rhubarb. Pour over crust. Bake at 350° until filling is set, 40-45 minutes. Cool.
• 3. For topping, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add salt, sugar , vanilla ,whipped cream.Beat on high with whisk attachment until it doubles in volume. Add dollops on each piece , or frost the entire dessert. Cover and chill.  Store in the refrigerator.

Whipped cream cheese frosting so light and airy...not overly sweet.

Galaxy Cake with Planets inside!! Solar System Birthday Cake

Video here....


Today I made my little Prince a birthday cake for his 5th birthday...Oh where has the time gone...
He is absolutely obsessed with the solar system.

I used a cake mix because I was doing this with a 3 and 5 year old...and simplicity was the only thing keeping me sane.
We used our cake pop maker to make the planets.

I used disposable cups and divided the batter into 5 cups.

Red, orange, blue , green, and yellow

We used blue and green for Earth

Yellow and red for the sun...

O.K I am going to be honest we had no clue which planet these were...Neptune???

Here are all the planets...

 

 
  O.k...so now I made 2 more cake mixes and divided the batter in 3 parts ...1 black, 1 blue, and 1 plain

Add some of each color batter just to cover the bottom of your greased pan, then add the planets...

Cover the planets with enough batter just to cover them so your pans are about half full.Bake as directed on the box.

This is what your layers will look like inside.Cool the layers ..

 

These are the colors of icing I used. Black, pink,light blue and dark blue.

Base coat your cake in black

Add blue splotches

Then purple splotches

Then pink splotches

Smooth the frosting with a spatula

Now it is time to decorate...

I had to add a little Paw Patrol...

We made Saturn suckers using blow pops and Peach gummi rings

 

He absolutely loved his cake and went wild when he saw the planets inside!!!

 

"Mimi...these planets taste soooo good!"