Lemonade Cake

Here in the town where we live the temperature raised to 103 degrees and the heat index was even higher. Boy was it hot out there while I was rummaging and when we came upon a young man selling lemonade you can believe that I took advantage of that and made that young man smile because he had earned money of his own. Then upon looking for recipes to try and share I came upon this recipe from the cooking light magazine spring of 2002. This may help quench your taste as the lemonade the young boy did mine

Cake:

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
3 tablespoons thawed lemonade concentrate
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups fat-free buttermilk
Cooking spray

Frosting:

2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
2 teaspoons thawed lemonade concentrate
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°.
To prepare cake, place first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs and egg whites, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda; stir well with a whisk. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; beat well after each addition.
Pour batter into 2 (9-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray; sharply tap pans once on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack.
To prepare frosting, place 2 tablespoons butter and the next 4 ingredients (2 tablespoons butter through cream cheese) in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, and beat at low speed just until blended (do not overbeat). Chill 1 hour.
Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Store cake loosely covered in the refrigerator.

shared at
Sunday Roundup

Baseball Cupcakes

Its heating up out there and the major stars of summer, at least in our house, are there to entertain us. The awesome baseball players, coaches are enough to make anyone stop and take notice and these baseball cupcakes are sweet enough to gain fans as well. Find the recipe here and make some for yourself.

Spectacular Cheesecake

1-1/2 cups HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Crumbs

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

1 cup strawberry jam, heated

1 pt. (2 cups) blueberries

MIX crumbs, butter and granulated sugar. Press firmly onto bottom of 13x9-inch dish.
BEAT cream cheese and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spoon over crust. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
PRESS assorted sizes of star cookie cutters lightly into top of cheesecake. Drizzle jam over surface of remaining cheesecake; spread gently to completely cover area around the stars. Carefully remove cookie cutter. Arrange blueberries around edge of cheesecake. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator. 

recipe source here   

Chewy Red White and Blue Cookies

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon light corn syrup
4 1/2 cups uncooked regular oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
1 cup (6 ounces) red, white, and blue candy-coated chocolate pieces
2 teaspoons baking soda

Beat sugars and butter at low speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and next 3 ingredients, beating until combined. Stir in oats and remaining ingredients.
Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake, in batches, at 350° for 15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

southern living july 2003

Chocolate Orange Blossom Cake

Back in the day before all the kits were available for birthday cakes there were many birthday cakes that would end up looking as special as this one. I can remember as a little girl my grandmothers and mother taking pride in their baking and showing it off by taking their little specials to parties that would be held for anything from birthdays to family reunions. I love this cake and since June 27 is a day to celebrate orange blossom cake I thought I would share it

Cake:
1 box (18.25 ounces) devil’s food cake mix
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup oil
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons orange liqueur or 1 Tbsp orange extract
1 cup mini–semisweet chocolate chips
...
Frosting:
1 pound butter, softened
16 ounces marshmallow cream (such as Marshmallow Fluff or Crème)
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup grated orange zest (from 3 to 4 oranges)
2 tablespoons orange juice
Garnish: orange slices

1. Heat oven to 350°F. You’ll need two 9 x 2-in. round cake pans coated
with nonstick spray.

2. Cake: Beat cake mix, buttermilk, oil, eggs and liqueur in a large bowl
with mixer on low speed 30 seconds or until blended. Scrape down sides
of bowl; beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour
into prepared pans.

3. Bake 28 to 32 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in centers of
cakes comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes, invert
on rack, turn right side up and cool completely.

4. Frosting: Beat butter in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed
until creamy. Beat in marshmallow cream. When well blended, beat in
confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, orange zest and juice. Increase speed
to high and beat 3 to 4 minutes until fluffy (makes 5 cups).

5. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting.
Top with remaining cake layer. Spread top and sides with remaining
frosting. Decorate with cut orange slices just before serving.

Planning Tip: Wrapped cake layers can be refrigerated up to 1 week.
Cake can be completed up to 2 days ahead. Garnish just before serving

Wow Us Wednesday

Golden Corral review

Recently both my son and my husband celebrated birthdays and to celebrate we headed over to Golden Corral for a delicious meal. Yummy!!! With the amount of food there no one should ever go home hungry. Not only the food was great but so was the atmosphere, the workers, and the place was nice and clean as well. We were greated by the lady at the door, the managers as they seemed to make sure all were treated as if they were at home and also the servers at the food stations and those that were ready to get our drink refills and quickly take away any plates that we were done with.

If you have never been to Golden Corral then let me tell you that you should try to find one near you. At the golden corral website there is a locater button that should help you find a restraunt near you. They have several food stations sectioned off so that you will be able to find your favorites among those that they serve. Food stations include a hot buffet where you can find delicious items like meatloaf, sausage, ribs, and oh so much more wonderments. While I love the meatloaf and potatoes the teens enjoyed items such as taco salad and chicken. Salad Buffet where you will find a large variety of items to make your perfects salad. Veggies to fruit and salad toppings galore was oh so delicious. I always fix my self a small salad to start off with because I try to imagine being invited to a 8 course meal which normally always starts with soup and salad. Another one of our favorite food spots is the bakery and dessert. So many delicious items are located there from their delicious rolls and honey butter to the wonderfull chocolate wonderfall and cotten candy. The one and only problem that I noticed was that the cotton candy machine set empty alot that night with many wanting some but getting little.

As delicious as their food was I must also say that their hearts and patriotic spirits are as well. Supporting our military is something that Golden Corral takes to heart. One great thing that they do is to support a camp for the children of military parents. Known as the Camp Corral it is a way that the folks at Golden Corral can give back to the families that serve and protect us. If you have  a chance to stop and enjoy the good food at Golden Corral then I most heartly say you should.

I wrote this post not because I received any form of financial or other means but because I enjoyed my night out with my family and wanted to share it here with you my readers and friends

 

Welcome to Week #1 of Win This Bag sponsored by HipSwap hosted by Sidetracked Mom’s Blog

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Win A Baby Doll

As a little girl I had tons of baby dolls to play with but I had just a select few favorites. These favorites would meet me behind my moms chair in the living room where we would spend hours having fun and playing pretend. I know that my little princess is very much like this with a vocabulary to boot and she to only has a few select favorites that will have the privilage to join her in her favorite place to play. As nana I love to offer her the best and sometimes the best is not always what she likes. However, in time we will figure out our differences and go from there. Til then nana will continue to offer her what I think is the precious of all. How cute are these twin baby dolls by J.C. toys . I would love to win them for my little princess. If you want a chance to win a baby doll for your little one then head over to the blog Pink Dandy Chatter  and enter the raffle copter giveaway. This giveaway ends July 7, 2012

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Saturday 9

1. Do you ever have trouble making up your mind?

yes I do all the time I like to make the best decision and side on the side of perfect so I ask many that are involved

2. Do you think you always learn from your mistakes?

well I hope I do I have made many in my lifetime

3. Have you ever felt that you were either older or younger, for your age during a particular time?

I wish I was older during hs years as I always hanged out with the kids that were older

4. Have you had trouble losing weight?

well stayed about the same weight 20+ years

5. Who's the most "wholesome" rock artist that you like?

well not really into rock while I do think many of them like Bruce Springsteen had many wholesome goals

6. Do you like to party or are you more of a homebody?

like to party and stay at home depending on my mood but always have fun

7. Do you feel the need to share your burdens?

sometimes if we are as a group but manly keep them to myself

8. Do you know the lady next door? (yes, you can pick either side.)

yes I do know all my neighbors we have lived in this community for 10+ years

9. Do you ever feel inferior?

dont we all there are those with more knowledge at times and those with more strength at time

Thanks For Following Giveaway

 Hey guys no monkey business about this one it is a giveaway celebrating 300 followers come on over and party with the gang over at the No Monkey Business blog. You can enter the giveaway there as well and maybe win $30 amazon. I entered so should you.

Aloha Friday : The Next 30 years

Aloha Friday a day to rest and prepare for the busy weekend. A day that the blog An Island Life celebrates with this fun little meme where bloggers ask simple questions and allows other bloggers to give an easy peasy answer.

Today is my husbands birthday he has reached the mid 40s and the song the next 30 years makes me think a bit



what is it that he would like to leave with his kids and his grandkids. What is his legacy. What sort of stories does he want told about him during and after his life time.

This brings me to my Aloha Friday question which may or may not be so easy

What is it that you want to do in your next 30 years? What are your goals? your attributions?

Skoy review

We have reviewed skoy at previous times and must say that we love them. If you are looking for an easy clean up, attractive piece that does the job and a great way to help display your summer food on the buffet in style you need to check out skoy. As we have all heard sponges harbor dangerous bacteria after uses which makes re-using them hard to do. My mothers practice of doing the dishes was to use a sponge and when done withit lay it on the back of the sink til its use was needed again. When the sponge had ran out its use it then would be transferred to another place in the kitchen and its use would change from the counters and table to the floors as it became more and more wore. Many consider using papertowels in the kitchen and their use is valuable but the cost of their use can mount up. Skoy is the answer to the age old problem, the multi use cloths can do the job safer and easier.

Skoy multi-use cloths look great and work great as well. They are absorbent, biodegradable and natural made. The perfect wipes for the kitchen and bathroom and any other room that needs a bit of cleaning up. Skoy cloths can be used on most surface areas in your home or office and provide that needed little wipe wherever a mess may take place. Skoy multi use cloths are made up of natural cotton and wood based cellulose pulp and are 100% biodegradable when their use is up. The colors of the cloths are not only beautiful but chlorine free as well which means that their colors should be steadfast.  Skoy cloths are durable and can be used over the length of a month. One skoy cloth is equivalent to using 15 rolls of papertowels making the more effecient as well. If your house is like mine then you love saving every little penny you can and changing from papertowels to skoy makes an awesome change. Skoy cloths can be washed with your laundry allowing the bacteria to be washed away.

find skoy on facebook or and twitter

Can You Imagine . . . . Back In 1967

This week in history 6/20/1967 2 days before my husband was born and a bit before my time one of the greats was convicted of draft evasion. The vietnam war was action packed from the states to the battle on the fighting war line. There was no one it seemed that went untouched even the greats. The conviction was later over turned by the U.S. supreme court.

A couple of recipes that may have made it to the family table may have included:

The Classic Iceberg Wedge Salad

To make the classic wedge salad,
simply take the outer leaves off of an Iceberg or Crisphead head of lettuce, do not core, and cut in half and then in half again or as small a wedge as you like.

Top with 1/ 4 cup bleu cheese dressing,
1/ 4 cup chopped tomato and
1/4 cup crumbled bacon
garnish with 1 / 4 cup chopped green onions (optional)

The classic Ham Bone Vegetable Soup

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 3 medium onions, chopped
• 1 medium red bell peppers, chopped
• 1 large grated carrots, or small dice
• 1 meaty ham bone
• 8 black peppercorns
• 2 bay leaves, dried
• 3 quarts chicken stock ( or water)
• 4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed into 3/4 inch
• 3 cups chopped cabbage ( 1 small head)
• 1 (28 ounce) cans chopped tomatoes with juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh marjoram or 1 tablespoon oregano ( 1 tsp. dried)
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme ( 1 tsp dried)
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce ( tabasco)
• 1 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)

1. Heat oil and add onion, carrot, and bell pepper.
2. Saute until soft and beginning to colour.
3. Add ham bone, peppercorns, bay leaf and stock or water.
4. Cover bring to a boil.
5. Simmer one hour.
6. Skim off foam.
7. Add potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, partially cover.
8. Cook on simmer for one hour. 
9. Add herbs and sauce and simmer 15 minutes.
10. Add the parsley last, and serve immediately.

recipe source here

 Taylor House Serenity Saturday
Tell Me Tuesday

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ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY: We will be hosting eight consecutive weekly giveaways. Each week will feature either a brand new high-end designer handbag or one that comes directly from a celebrity's closet! The new prize for each week will be a surprise! But, I can tell you - the first week will feature a Fendi handbag from the closet of a Dancing With The Stars Celebrity! On the 8th week, we will have a grand finale of a prize with bonus entries for readers who have entered the previous giveaways in the 7 weeks leading up to this coveted bag giveaway. This will be a fantastic opportunity to drive traffic to your site for 8 full weeks! The HTML, photos and RC code will be provided to you in our Facebook Group. Please be sure to join the group so you do not miss this important information. Join our Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/259293067506307/ COST TO JOIN: This will be a free event for bloggers to join. I only ask that you post to your blog about the event and encourage other bloggers to join. This will also help drive traffic to your site and improve your odds of winning the Blogger Incentive mentioned below! BLOGGER INCENTIVE: Sign ups will only be open for a short time as the sponsor is looking to get this 8 week promotion started ASAP! So, to help expedite the process, I am offering the chance to host a "follow page" to the bloggers who refer the most sign ups for this event. Posting about this event on your blog is a great way to help ensure you win the referral prize! These giveaways will be open Internationally. The official start date will be announced within the next couple of days. OUR SPONSOR: http://www.hipswap.com/

Red White and Blue Parfaits

I love little easy desserts like this. They look attractive and taste yummy as well. The best part is that i know little hands love this type of dessert as well.

2 cups boiling water

1 pkg. (6 oz.) or 2 pkg. (3 oz. each) JELL-O Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin

2 cups cold water

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1 cup fresh strawberries, halved 

ADD boiling water to gelatin mix in large bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water. Pour into 9 parfait or dessert glasses.
REFRIGERATE 4 hours or until firm.
SPOON 2 cups COOL WHIP over desserts; top with berries and remaining COOL WHIP

recipe source : Kraft

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made u look
Tatertot & Jello
Meatless Monday @ sweet and savory

One Project at a Time
Tackling Tuesday

Flank Steak with Grilled Mango and Mellon Chutney

Steak:

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 (1 1/2-pound) flank steak, trimmed

Cooking spray

Chutney:

2 peeled ripe mangoes, each cut into quarters (about 1 pound)

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 cup thinly vertically sliced onion

• 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
• 1/3 cup cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 2 cups finely diced seedless watermelon (about 3/4 pound)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• Mint sprigs (optional)
• Lime wedges (optional)

Prepare grill.
To prepare steak, combine first 4 ingredients. Sprinkle steak evenly with sugar mixture. Place steak on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill for 8 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut steak diagonally across grain into thin slices.
To prepare chutney, place mango on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 4 minutes on each side. Cool and chop. Set aside.
Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 4 minutes. Add ginger; sauté 1 minute. Add vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar, juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper; cook 5 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Stir in mango; cook 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in watermelon, cilantro, and mint. Add mint sprigs and lime wedges, if desired

Cooking Light
JULY 2006

mealtime monday

Be A Champ At Small Business : Spark and Hustle book review

In this day and age when the goal of finding a job is becoming one tough goal my mind (and maybe yours as well) has began thinking about starting my own small business. Years ago starting my own business may have been something that would not have crossed my mind but now days it seemed like a possibility that would work well. Many others have dreams of starting their own dream business and that may be the very reason that will spark your interest. In fact recently I was able to join in a blog campaign and read the book Spark and Hustle by Tory Johnson.

At first her name Tory Johnson may not ring a bell. However Tory has been around for a while now working for national T.V. news til she was let go. It was after she was fired that she decided to start her own business networking companies with women who were looking for work theirselves. Tory led a Spark & Hustle series of conferances to help those women that were looking to start their own businesses. You may have also noticed Tory Johnson on the Good Morning America show  as well as uccess magazine.

The cover of the book reminded me of a series of books that my father may have read on how to subjects when I was a kid. Reading the book I thought at first may be dull and uncreative as many how to books are. There are many other businesses within the pages that share their own testimonies and stories and  makes this book a bit different than a how to but rather seems like a how we did it book. Seeing how others have done it and following along Johnsons guides and worksheet I can see how it can be done and have become very excited for a change of pace.

If you are a person who has a spark of interest in getting your own business together then you may want to get your hustle over and check out the book Spark and Hustle on amazon.

Crab hushpuppies

1 cup self-rising white cornmeal mix
1/2 cup self-rising flour
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1 tablespoon sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces fresh lump crabmeat, picked
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup beer
• Vegetable oil

Stir together cornmeal mix, flour, green onions, bell pepper, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in crabmeat, egg, and beer until just moistened. Let stand 10 minutes. Pour oil to depth of 2 inches into a Dutch oven; heat to 360°. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls into hot oil, and fry, in batches, 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Serve with your favorite rémoulade or cocktail sauce.

Southern Living
APRIL 2012

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Success U Wednesday
Somewhat Simple
Pin'Inspirational Thursday

Great Time For Grilling : June Is Burger Month

June is burger month have you had a chance to try any new burgers? Don't get in a burger rut and just to help make sure you don't I wanted to share this very interesting burger recipe with you. It is a Mexican Veggie Burger that looks very pretty and tasty.

Do you have an great burger recipes? Would love to hear about your recipes as well