Simple Selections

Layered Cakes

2010-07-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

For those who have never layered a cake before, here are a few tips:

*I bought a Wilton's pan that's 2 inches deep...that way I only have to make 1 round cake, instead of two.

*Cut top off of the cake using a cake leveler (they are about $3) and then cut through the cake so you have 2 layers

*Put filling on top of the bottom layer. (don't fill all the way to the edge of the cake, or it will ooze out when you put the top on) Put the top on and Voila! You've got a layered cake to decorate!

Here's an easy and delicious filling recipe I found:

EASY BAVARIAN CREME FILLING
(note: this can be used for cakes, and also for cream puffs and eclairs.)

Ingredients:
8 oz. cream cheese
2 (3.5) pkg. instant pudding mix (any flavor...I used vanilla and it was great!)
3/4 C. Milk
12 oz. cool whip, thawed

Directions
1. Mix together cream cheese and dry pudding mix on medium speed
2. Add milk and beat on medium a minute or two or until smooth.
3. Fold in cool whip
4. Chill a couple of hours before using

**this filling is pretty stiff...if you need it a little bit more runny, add some more milk.

New Cakes Tab!

2010-06-19T23:20:00.000-07:00

Hello Readers! Did you notice there is a new tab on this blog?!?

I recently have gotten into cake decorating and though it would be a fun tab to add! My cakes are nowhere NEAR professional quality...but I'm hoping that one day, with lots of practice, I might get there! As I learn things in my cake classes and discover things on my own, I will be sharing pictures and cake-making secrets that I find!

I made my FIRST CAKE for my class this last week. Instead of just making a regular cake-mix cake, I decided to try something a little different. I tried a recipe called the ENHANCED cake mix. It turned out really well. The cake was moist and tasted much more like a homemade cake than cake out of the box!

Here's the recipe if you'd like to try...

Cake Mix (any kind will work!)
Cake mix ingredients on the back of the box
1 C. flour
1 C. sugar
1 C. sour cream
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

And here's a picture of my cake! :)

Pizza Sandwiches

2010-06-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

My husband LOVES LOVES LOVES these!

INGREDIENTS:
Bread
pizza sauce
mozzarella cheese
pizza toppings

DIRECTIONS:
1. spread pizza sauce on bread.
2. Sprinkle on mozzarella cheese and other desired pizza toppings (pepperoni, ham, olives, etc.). Put other slice of bread on top.
3. Cook on sandwich cooker. You can also use a skillet...but I HIGHLY recommend investing in a sandwich cooker....they are so easy!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (Reeses Bars)

2010-06-13T14:23:00.001-07:00

INGREDIENTS:
1 C. peanut butter
2 cubes butter, softened
1 pkg. graham cracker crumbs
powdered sugar
1 pkg. chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
1. mix all ingredients except choc. chips in a mixing bowl. Use just enough powdered sugar to stiffen and not be sticky. You want it stiff enough so that you can form it into a pan.
2. pat into a 9x13 pan
3. sprinkle chocolate chips over
4. place in warm oven for a few minutes.
5. Using a knife, spread melted chocolate chips.
6. Put in refrigerator to cool and harden.

Cornflake Treats

2010-06-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:
8 C. Cornflakes
1 C. peanut butter
1 C. Sugar
1 C. corn syrup

DIRECTIONS:
1. heat sugar and corn syrup until boil.
2. Add 1 c. peanut butter
3. Pour over cereal. Mix and press into a buttered dish.

***variation: For cornflake treat Christmas wreaths or holly, add food coloring and red hots and mold it into desired shape.

Nutty Putty........food you can play with!!

2010-06-07T09:20:00.000-07:00

This is great for kids! They can shape animals, flowers, etc. while they eat it! (with clean hands of course)

INGREDIENTS
3-1/2 C. peanut butter
4 C. powdered sugar
3-1/2 C. corn syrup or honey
4 cup dried milk powder
1 8 oz. choc chips (optional)

DIRECTIONS
1. Mix peanut butter, powdered sugar, corn syrup and dry milk.
2. Divide into 10-15 portions. Tip into melted chocolate pieces.
3. Enjoy!!

**You can store extra portions in plastic bags in the fridge or freezer.

Sour Cream Chicken

2010-06-07T09:14:00.001-07:00

INGREDIENTS
sour cream
chicken breasts (defrosted)
Ritz crackers (smashed)

DIRECTIONS
1. Spoon sour cream into a sandwich bag
2. Put chicken in the bag and move it around until it is covered in sour cream.
3. Dip the chicken in a bowl of smashed Ritz crackers until it is covered.
4. Put chicken in a baking dish
5. Cook on 375 until chicken is done

Ants on a Log

2010-06-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS
celery
peanut butter
raisins

DIRECTIONS
Put peanut butter in celery and line raisins along the top

Fluffy Fruit

2010-06-07T08:50:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS
1 small box orange jello
1 box tapioca pudding
1 small tub cool whip
1 small box vanilla (cook) pudding
2 cans mandarin oranges

DIRECTIONS
1. Mix jello and pudding in 3 cups boiling water. Boil for 5 minutes
2. Refrigerate for 5 hours.
3. Mix oranges and cool whip in. (I personally don't use the entire tub of cool whip...mix it in according to taste)

**Serve in bowl.
**I reserve some of the mandarin oranges to make a pretty decoration on top :)

Chicken Roll Ups

2010-06-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS
3 chicken breasts
3 ounces cream cheese (room temp.)
1 can crescent rolls

DIRECTIONS
1. Cook chicken and cut. Mix with cream cheese.
2. Put 1 large spoonful on crescent roll dough.
3. Wrap dough around chicken. Pinch seams together.
4. Bake at 375 until light brown

**I serve it with gravy on top

Teriyaki Chicken

2010-06-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS
1/3 C. brown sugar
1/3+ C. soy sauce
1 tbs. honey
1 lb. chicken breast

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Cut chicken into thin strips.
2. Put all ingredients into skillet.
3. Cook on high heat until chicken is done.
4. Serve with rice.

Angel Chicken (Crock Pot)

2010-06-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS
6 chicken breasts (defrosted)
1/4 C. butter
1 pkg. Italian salad dressing mix
1 can cream of celery (or cream of chicken) soup
1/2 C. grape juice
4 oz. cream cheese

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Place chicken in crock pot.
2. In sauce pan, melt butter. Stir in dressing mix, juice, soup, and cream cheese.
3. pour over chicken.
4. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

**I have some extra sauce when I make this. I cook noodles and put the sauce on top as a side dish with the meal.

Barbecue Muffins

2010-05-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:
1 can bisquits (buttermilk)
1 lb. ground beef
1 C. shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 C. bbq sauce (or ketchup. I prefer the bbq)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cook beef on stove. Put bbq sauce in. Flatten biscuits into 5 inch circles and pressed into a greased muffin tin. Put beef and cheese into each. Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.