A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

My boy cherub saw this recipe on T.V. while we were staying in a hotel not too long ago. He begged me to make it. It's not hard, but there are a few "special" ingredients. When you look at the title, the word "Cannoli" conjures up a taste. That's what the frosting is like . . .cannoli filling. That's why I didn't want to make any substitutions to the ingredients. I wanted it to taste like cannoli. That's one thing my boy cherub misses since being gluten free. He dreams of eating great cannoli. Well, truth be known, he dreams of eating Krispy Kreme donuts, a honey butter chicken biscuit from Whataburger, and the cinnamon rolls I used to make. For mother's day, my girl cherub choose the entrée and my boy cherub choose the dessert. For me to make. But whatever . . . that's what moms do! This is seriously good! It's seriously easy too! Which only contributes to the good factor! Cannoli Cake 1 15-16oz...

Seriously!  My cherubs ask, "What's for dessert?"  every night! I have created a monster! Sometimes I give the look like, "Why are you asking me that?" And I point to the pack of gum on the counter! Other times I will say, "Do NOT ask what's for dessert, or there won't be any dessert!" And then I surprise them with a cake! I wish we didn't want a little dessert after dinner, but we do. I'm trying to accept it . . . embrace it  . .  . enjoy it! The Mr. and the cherubs are wanting me to perfect gluten free pie crusts. But right now, there isn't the time to wrestle with that task. So this week, while really wanting to make a pie, but not wanting to be defeated, I looked at different ingredients in the pantry and refrigerator and came up with this cake. It was super easy and the Mr. and the cherubs really liked it! This is not a "counter" cake, as the frosting will need to stay refrigerated....

The Mr. loves hummingbird cake. He always requests it for Easter and for his birthday. Since we have become gluten free, I've been avoiding this cake. In my mind, if I'm going to make this cake, I want it like it is supposed to be. But with gluten free, things aren't always like that! Sometimes gluten free baked goods are drier. Or gritty. Or disappointing. That's truth! The Mr.'s birthday was this week and when asked what he wanted for our traditional "birthday dinner," he picked two things that I've been avoiding since we've been gluten free! I'm gonna kill him! Silly me, tackled both! Here's my take-away! If there's enough time between the gluten version and the gluten-free version, your mind forgets what it is "supposed" to taste like, and then the gluten free version is very satisfying! 14 months is a good amount of time to wait!! There are lots of gluten free versions of hummingbird cake...

We hosted a dinner for lots of friends this past weekend. I had planned an easy dinner and had pre-made the desserts. All I would have to do is take the cakes from the freezer and thaw. That's it! But!  When I opened one of my cakes, it didn't look pretty. Oopsie! What to do!?!?! 25 people for dinner in just a few hours and there's no time to make a brand new dessert! Trifle! I'll make a trifle! I have never made a trifle before! I didn't really know what cream stuff to put in with it, but I'd figure that out as I went along, right? My cake was a coconut pecan cake. Yummy! I found an easy Martha Steward recipe for a coconut cream filling. I adapted it only slightly and the result was fantastic! This is one of those recipes that you'll want to keep around because it's so versatile and easily adaptable to your recipe and only your imagination is the limit to what can be done with it! I made the cream and cooled it.  Th...

  Fruit Cocktail!  What's it possibly good for?  Not much except Jell-O cups and this cake! This is an old recipe . . .been around for years! You can find it in countless church cookbooks from "back in the day!" Back when, the recipe would call for "oleo" - - which is the old way of saying "butter!"  Today, I'm not sure that you'd find it in a newly published cookbook, but that's OK -- it's still good! Matter of fact, when you make it, there will be somebody that asks for the recipe because they've never had it before and they'll think it's something new! Don't you love that? This cake throws together in a flash and is easy enough for your cherubs to jump in and help you! Fruit Cocktail Cake 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 2 eggs 1/2 cup of oil 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking soda 1 can fruit cocktail (I used "in it's own juice") Sauce 1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter 5 oz evaporated mi...

Last summer, while on vacation with our friends, we stopped at a road side park for lunch. My friend pulled out this treat for dessert. Wow!  It was so good! The parking lot was busy. The scenery was beautiful. The weather was great. We were having a fantastic time as we traveled. We complained that there wasn't enough dessert for everybody to have 2 pieces! I can't remember where she got the recipe from, but she was kind enough to share it with me. Now, I share it with you! 5 Flavored Pound Cake 2 sticks butter, softened 1/2 cup Crisco (or additional butter) 3 cups sugar 5 eggs 3 cups all purpose flour, sifted 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 cup milk 1/4 tsp. salt 1 tsp EACH of the following flavorings:  lemon, orange, coconut, butter, vanilla Glaze: Over low heat, in a small pan, dissolve 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup of water.  Remove from heat and add 1 tsp. of each of the flavorings to the syrup.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream b...

Next week, my oldest cherub finishes his last day of Middle school and my girl cherub finishes her first year of Middle school. I think back; when we moved to Texas, my oldest cherub was the age my girl cherub is now. I adore the time of life we are in. I can't imagine anything different! Those who have already launched your children; your wisdom tells me to enjoy it because time will fly! Those who have just started out; you can't imagine how quickly the day will come when you'll be counting down the end of the school days and talking about colleges and SAT preparation with your little one. I think back to the elementary days of the end of school and the hub-bub of teacher gifts! What do we get? When do we give it? Do we get each teacher something different or their own "personalized" gift? Oh, the quandary! In Middle school -- those teachers kind of get the shaft! They, too, work long hours. They, too, teach creatively. They, to...

Image from Kraft This is so easy. This is an old recipe. Those two statements have nothing in common. It's beginning to turn "Sprummer" around here. It's during "Sprummer" that I start thinking about new and different recipes. Maybe even a recipe that I haven't made in awhile. Last night, I opened some cool whip and used about 2 TBSP. Now, I have an entire container of cool whip. That bugs me. What am I going to do with all that cool whip? I have no plan. Well, I didn't have a plan. Now I do. Actually, I've executed my plan. That's why I'm posting this recipe. This is low fat, easy, cool, and no-bake. What can better than that? I'll tell you! If someone else makes it for you! And cleans up after you! And tells you you're pretty. But in case that isn't happening today around your house, you're not alone!  It's not happening here either! Chocolate Éclair Cake 1  box g...

Image from Google  I've been eating this cake since I was a little girl. Except I didn't call it "Hummingbird cake."  My papa called it "Dr. Bird Cake." His wife made it all the time and I really liked it. One time, when I went to stay with them for a week, Hap made this cake. There was one piece left and my papa said he would share it with me after dinner. Except he didn't share it with me. He hid it in the cabinet. But I didn't know that he hid it. I thought he ate it. And I cried. And cried. And cried. I wanted to go home. Right then! I had had enough. Done. I called my mom and dad. I begged them to come get me. They didn't come to get me. But when my papa pulled the plate with the slice of cake out of the cabinet, I was happy again. Almost that quick. When I got older, I found a recipe that sounded so yummy. I made it for the Mr. and instantly we loved it. Little did I know that Humming...

Cupcakes were devoure before a picture could be taken! I was out of town with my mom as she had knee replacement surgery. I came home to finish getting ready for her arrival at my house. She's recouping with my family. On my drive home, my family said, "We'll just go out when you get here.  It'll be easier." I didn't want to go out. I had been eating "out" since Tuesday  and I was kind of tired of it. When I got close to home I called to see if I could meet them someplace; it was already late and I didn't want to waste much time. My oldest cherub said, "No, just come on home." Bummer! I'm tired; I'm ready for bed; and I don't really want to go out to eat. As soon as I pulled into the garage, I knew I had been tricked!  I could smell the grill! They had cooked! Yeah, them!!! Grilled salmon, roasted brussel sprouts, and dessert. My cherubs had  made homemade cupcakes. My sweet girl cherub wen...

It's official; my short-term, long-term substitute teaching job came to an end on Friday. Sniff!  Sniff! I'm serious! It's amazing how quickly you can come to love a group of kids!  Each one is unique and each one holds a special place with me! I hope the regular teacher gets sick .  . . and calls me! Not that I want her sick; I just want to be back in her class! Understand!  My heart's in the right spot! Now that I'm not working 14 hours a day, I'm going to have a bit of time to post some recipes. My cherubs are super excited; and so is the Mr.! We haven't had anything creative since I went to work in November! Part of that is because I've barely been to the store! It's amazing what you can throw into a lunchbox and call it "healthy!" Today, I baked this chocolate cake! Sour Cream Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Pan Frosting 1 box chocolate cake mix with pudding in the mix 1 cup sour cream 3 eggs 3/4 cup ...

Image from the internet The other night, we were having a friend over to celebrate his birthday. At our house, it's our tradition that you get your favorite meal for your birthday. Whatever you want you get!  Even if it doesn't go together! So our friend requested either a chicken casserole or crab cakes, mac and cheese, wild rice, a great salad and sweet tea. He didn't get that! At his age, he can make whatever requests he wants; but he may not get it! I had some new recipes I had been wanting to try . . . . so try I did! I'll post the pasta recipe later, but I wanted to put the best recipe first! It's called Cranberry Lime cupcakes! It's from a holiday Paula Deene magazine and I was thrilled with the outcome! During the holiday season, I always purchase an extra bag or two of cranberries to use throughout the year.  I am so glad I have some left, because this is a "do again!" Cranberry Lime Cupcakes with Zesty Lime Bu...

Image from Google My cherubs had some friends over for some weekend fun! Pizza, playing, a movie  . . .and dessert! I didn't have the time or energy to make a dessert for tonight, but I remembered Ms. Kaye had given me a recipe a long time ago for "A Cup of Cake." Now with pinterest, and google, and other media in the palm of our hands, one can find this type of recipe most anywhere. But with the girls, I thought they might enjoy making their own "cup-cake!" I have to be honest;  I'm not too in love with the taste. But the concept is fun! All of the ingredients are out and the recipe is hanging on the cabinet door, and girls are gathered around the kitchen island laughing, and dumping, and stirring, and microwaving, and before you know it -- you have your own little dessert! With all the love and good times that goes into making the dessert, it kind of makes up for the slightly bland taste! A Cup of Cake 4 TBSP flour 4 TBSP suga...

 I know Christmas is over . . . but that's no reason to not have this delicious cake! If you see cranberries on sale, or have a bag (or two four) in your freezer, then this is a recipe you'll want to try! If it's cold where you live, then the smell of this cake baking and the anticipation of having a warm piece on a cold evening will send your senses soaring! I found this cake in a church cookbook several years ago. You know how good some of those recipes can be!  What caught my eye was how easy it is to make. It will whip up quickly in one bowl! But what makes this cake even more appetizing is the butter sauce you pour, serve, or drink (ummm, just kidding -- who would ever do that?!) with it! Fresh Cranberry Cake 3 cups flour 1 TBSP baking powder 3/4 tsp. salt 1 1/2 cups sugar 4 1/2 TBSP butter, melted 1 1/2 cups milk 2 1/2 cups cranberries 1 cup pecans, chopped Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl.  Add the melted butte...

My mom was coming this weekend and I wanted to have something already made that we could have for breakfast each morning.  .  . . And maybe each evening for dessert too, if we wanted! I saw this recipe and it caught my eye. Knowing that my cherubs love just about anything pumpkin, I knew they'd be great with it too! I made a couple of minor changes to the recipe that I found.  Next time, I think I'm going to put a ribbon of cream cheese in the center of it before baking -- just because!  You may want to try that too! Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 15 oz can pumpkin 3 large eggs 2 1/2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 TBSP cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp. ground cloves 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pumpkin flavoring from King Arthur Streusel Topping: 1/4 cup flour 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/2 tsp. cinnamon ...

This week a friend of mine celebrates her birthday. She doesn't like chocolate. Other than that, she's a perfectly normal lady! She listed off all the flavors she DOES like . . .and I think I remember lime and lemon, among others. I searched for a recipe and found this one on the Duncan Hines website. It just sounded good. You know, sometimes you can read a recipe and think "this is a winner!" While I haven't tasted the cake, I did taste a bite of the batter and I liked it. I'm sending this to the office with the Mr. tomorrow, with no taste-testing!   Will the Mr. bring home an empty plate from the office or will there be cake left on the plate? We all know what the tell-tell sign of a good cake really is! Creamy Limeade Cake 1 package plain white cake mix 1 cup sour cream 1 container (12 oz.) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed; divided* 3 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature 3 eggs Glaze: confectioners sugar 1/...

Remember the Oreo Poke Cake from several weeks ago? http://karen-proverbs31.blogspot.com/2012/07/oreo-poke-cake.html That cake was so easy that it got me thinking! "What else could I combine for a great tasting cake?" Now, let me  say, that in no way am I suggesting that I'm creating something that someone else hasn't already dreamed up before me. I'm way smarter than to think that! To assume that I can think of something that nobody else did?!?! Hardly! But! Sometimes I can get fairly creative! This week, we invited friends over for Friday night, after half time of our first home game. Since there were several of us hanging out together, I decided that I would make two desserts. One chocolate something. One not chocolate something. I had subbed all week and going to the grocery store was not an option for me.  I was going to make desserts with whatever I had at home. After all, it was after 9:00 when I started this project!...

I love all of my cookbooks. Some I love more than others. Some I use more than others. One that I use alot is by the Cake Mix Doctor. What I like about the Cake Mix Doctor is she usually starts with a cake mix and goes up from there. There's a long story as to why I made this cake last week. But a hint as to why I made it:  The Mr. forgot to tell me that I needed to send some "treats" to work with him the next day. Oh yeah. Not just "treats" -- but his secretary was leaving and this was the staff good-bye. Oh yes. In a scramble, I looked through this great cake cookbook and decided to give this recipe a try. The cherubs were so glad I did -- it's delicious! Banana Buttered Rum Cake 3 medium-size ripe bananas, or 2 large ripe bananas 1 package (18.5 ounces) plain butter recipe golden cake mix 1 package (3.4 ounces) vanilla instant pudding mix ½ cup light or dark rum ½ cup water ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract...

This is all over Pinterest. It's called "Oreo Poke Cake." It's a similar concept of "Holy Cow Cake," or "Better than Sex" cake . . .or whatever you call this type of cake! Three reasons to make this cake: It's easy. It's not "heavy" -- so you can eat more of it . . .if you wanted too! It's versitile.  This is only the beginning of the possible flavor combinations! I made this over the 4th of July celebration. Not everyone ate it . . . but those who did, really liked it! You might be wondering, "Who wouldn't eat that cake?" I know, right? It looks delicious! It's moist. It's creative! It's my mom . . .she wouldn't try it.  She said, "Uhhh, that's way too much chocolate for me!" Really? Oreo Poke Cake 1 box chocolate cake mix (with listed ingredients) 2 large boxes oreo instant pudding 4 cups of cold milk oreos 1 small container cool whip Prehea...

Memorial Day is here and company is coming! This cake is so simple and so yummy, it's sure to please! I know I'm not so creative that I "invented" this recipe. I'm sure out there in "recipe world" this cake exist. I'm not claiming this as "mine" -- but what I am saying is I had an open can of sweetened condensed milk that I needed to use on something . . . so I used it on this. Now!  What I think would make this cake even gooder (yes, gooder . . . it's a word in my world!) is a layer of strawberries. Right there in between the cake and the cool whip. Just fresh, thinly sliced strawberries. I'm doing that next time. Heck, I might even try it with a piece tonight! Not adding it between the cake and cool whip, that'd be hard.  Just adding some sliced strawberries on top of the cool whip. I think I'll like it! Coconut Cake 1 box white cake mix and listed ingredients 1 can sweetened condensed milk ...