Tag: whipped cream

Cakes · Family Favorites

Dirt Cake

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Making pies and cakes from real dirt was part of my childhood. I gave that up years ago, but this Dirt Cake, made by daughter, Megan, was a real treat. A kid of any age loves this cake. Megan made with real whipped cream–delicious!

Dirt Cake

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
  • 2 (3.5 ounce packages instant vanilla pudding mix)
  • 3.5 cups milk
  • 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed OR 12 ounces freshly whipped cream (1.5 cups heavy cream, 1T. powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla whipped to stiff peaks)
  • family size package OREOs
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Chop cookies very find in food processor. The white cream will disappear.
  2. Mix butter, cream cheese and sugar.
  3. In a large bowl mix milk, pudding and whipped topping (or whipped cream) together.
  4. Combine pudding mixture and cream mixture together.
  5. Layer in 9×13″ dish or use clean flower pots, starting with cookies, then cream mixture. Repeat. Top with layer of crushed cookies.
  6. Chill until set and ready to serve.
  7. Optional: Add gummy worms on top for fun!

Recipe from All Recipes

Family · Family Favorites · Home · My Roots

Oatmeal Cake just like Mom used to make

cathysmaha1 Comment

Oatmeal cake with broiled topping is truly a walk down memory lane. My Mother didn’t make this cake often, but when she did, it was a treat.

This time I decided to bake the cake in two 9×9″ pans and freeze one for later…or so I thought. While the cakes and topping were cooling and while I was trying to settle grandson, Evan, into his afternoon nap, the dogs decided to sample one of the cakes. I was so unhappy, I didn’t take the time to snap one of those naughty dog photos!

Luckily one cake remained and it was delicious! The cake is moist and the crunch topping is so yummy.  Top with a dallop of whipped cream.

Thanks, Mom for a great recipe.  And to the dogs…I’ll choose to say nothing.

OATMEAL CAKE

1 cup quick oatmeal
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 1/2 cups flour plus 2 tablespoons flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9×13″ (or two 9×9″) cake pans.
  • Mix together oatmeal and boiling water. Let stand 20 minutes and cool.
  • Mix flour, brown sugar, white sugar, shortening, eggs, salt, cinnamon and soda. Add cooled oatmeal.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes. Prepare topping while the cake is baking.

TOPPING:
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup coconut

  • Bring all ingredients to a boil. Spread topping over cake while cake and topping are hot.

  • Put cake and topping under broiler and let topping brown.

Serve warm with whipped cream.

Family Favorites · Holidays

Dutch Apple Pie

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Autumn inspires me to bake, especially the traditional Apple Pie. Don’t get me wrong, I love traditional, 2 crust apple pie but I LOVE a Dutch Apple pie with its delectable crunchy topping. This recipe, from McCall’s Cook Book 1963 has been in my recipe box for a L-O-N-G time and always a winner. It’s a crowd-pleaser and the aroma of the baking pie fills the house with baked love!

DUTCH APPLE PIE

9 inch unbaked pie shell

TOPPING:
2/3 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/3 cup butter

FILLING:
1 pound tart cooking apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup sugar
dash salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • Prepare pie shell; refrigerate until used.
  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Make Topping: Combine flour and sugar in medium-sized bowl. Cut in butter, with pastry blender or 2 knives, until mixture is consistency of coarse cornmeal. Refrigerate.
  • Make Filling: Core apples, and pare; thinly slice into large bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Combine flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon,mixing well. Toss lightly with apples.
  • Turn filling into unbaked pie shell, spreading evenly. Cover with topping.
  • Bake 40-45 minutes or until apples are tender.
  • Serve warm.  Options:  top with whipped cream or ice cream

Czech Heritage and Dishes · Family · Family Favorites · My Roots

Strawberry Shortcake…sweet summer delight!

cathysmaha1 Comment

Strawberry season is here.  Bring on the shortcake!  This recipe is from an old Czech cookbook that I’ve cherished for years.  The cake is yummy enough to eat by itself, but topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream is to die for.

My girls love the cake more than the strawberries…I’m partial to the entire package.  I have been know to drown the cake and berries in milk, something I picked up from some elderly Norwegian friends back in Iowa.

However you like it, try it.  It’s strawberry time!

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

2 eggs, beaten
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all ingredients together and bake in 9×9″ baking pan for 45 minutes or until baked through.
  • Cut into squares and top with fresh sliced strawberries and whipped cream.

New Favorite

Pear Cake…seasonal delight!

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Pear Cake made with seasonal pears is a true treat.  This recipe, from http://www.usapear.com was a great find and delicious as a morning coffee treat or as a seasonal dessert.

PEAR CAKE

10 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 pears, peeled, cored and wedged
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease a round baking pan with 2 tablespoons of butter.  Sprinkle with brown sugar.
  • Brush the pear wedges with lemon juice and arrange in the bottom of the baking pan.
  • Combine flour with baking powder, salt and cinnamon, Set aside.
  • Using a mixer, beat the remaining butter with sugar until fluffy.  Stir in eggs and vanilla.
  • Add flour mixture and milk alternating the ingredients slowly.  Continue to beat on low-speed after each addition.
  • Spoon batter evenly over pears in pan.
  • Bake for 30 minutes OR until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.  (My oven required a longer baking time.)
  • Cool before inverting onto serving platter.  Decorate with walnuts or serve with whipped cream as coffee cake or dessert.

Recipe adapted from http://www.usapears.com; Starkrimson Pear Cinnamon Cake

Family Favorites · My Roots

Southern Pecan Pie…worthy decadence!

cathysmaha2 Comments

Pecan Pie is a favorite but I haven’t made one in 10+ years.  Recently a friend made one for a gathering and it was so wonderful, daughter Sarah and I decided to make one.  This recipe is from my trusted Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook (1972) and it did not disappoint.  However…note to self…

1) Use a deep pie pan to avoid the pie filling bubbling over in the oven and causing you to open all windows in the house while you are serenaded by the fire alarm and choking family.
2) Put aluminum foil in the bottom of the oven to avoid last-minute oven cleaning.
3) Put aluminum foil over the edges of the crust to avoid the crust burning.               (I remembered this one)
4) Put the above issues aside when savoring the decadent wonder of a slice of slightly warm pecan pie with fresh whipped cream.

SOUTHERN PECAN PIE

Unbaked 9″ pie shell
1 cup pecan halves
3 eggs
1 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon flour

  • Arrange nuts in pie shell.

  • Beat eggs; add and blend corn syrup, butter and vanilla.
  • Combine sugar and flour. Blend with egg mixture and pour over nuts in pie shell.
  • Let stand until nuts rise, so they’ll get a nice glaze during baking.
  • Bake in moderate oven, 375 degrees 40-50 minute or until filling is set. Cool.
  • Slice and serve with whipped cream.

 

Family Favorites

Pound Cake…with strawberries for me!

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Pound cake is one of the recipes I make ‘once in a blue moon’ but enjoy it as long as it is dense and moist. No dry pound cake will match up!

Poundcake and strawberries (2)

As you probably can see, cakes are often the base pedestal for the fruit I really want. Once again, strawberries and whipped cream top this cake. I truly didn’t realize until I started this food blog, that almost every cake I make MUST have syrup or fruit on top. Hmmm…this blog may turn into a self-realization confessional.

Poundcake and strawberries (1)

POUND CAKE

3/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 grated lemon peel
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Cream butter & peel; gradually add sugar, creaming till light, about 6 minutes at medium speed on electric mixer.
  • Add vanilla, then eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
  • Sift dry ingredients together; stir together with egg mixture.
  • Grease bottom only of 9x5x8 inch pan; turn in batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or till done. Cool in pan. Optional:  Sift confectioner’s sugar lightly on top.
  • Mandatory for me:  Fruit on top!
Family Favorites · My Roots

Apple Crisp

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Apples were plentiful in the Iowa countryside growing up.  My Mother would also can or freeze apples for use during the year.  This is a simple, country Apple Crisp that is easy to make any time of year.  Dollop with a little whipped cream and enjoy.

APPLE CRISP

4 to 6 medium cooking apples
1/3 cup sifted all purpose flour
1 cup oats, uncooked (quick or old fashioned)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup melted margarine
1/2-3/4 cup water

  • Peel, core and slice apples. Place in greased baking dish with a bit of water. Combine dry ingredients, add melted margarine, mixing until crumbly; sprinkle on top of apples.
  • Bake in preheated moderate oven (375 degrees) for 30 minutes or until apples are tender.
  • Serve warm or cold with your favorite ice cream or topping.