Strawberry Shortcake with Almond Glaze

Source: The Girl Who Ate Everything

1 yellow cake mix

1 cup sour cream

 4 eggs

1 small vanilla pudding mix

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup water

2 teaspoons almond extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all the above ingredients together for a few minutes until well combined. Pour the batter into 2 round cake pans that have been greased or lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for a few minutes and then gently remove from pans and allow to cool on a wire rack.

Almond Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tablespoons butter, melted

2 teaspoons almond extract

1-2 Tablespoons milk, if needed

Mix the glaze ingredients together while the cake cools. Once cake is still warm but has cooled slightly, prick the cake with a large fork or the back of a wooden spoon. Spoon the glaze over the two round cakes letting it sink in. Save about 1/3 or so of the glaze and set aside.

Strawberries and Cream Topping

1 pint (2 cups) heavy whipping cream

3-4 Tablespoons powdered sugar

1-2 pounds of fresh strawberries, sliced

Whip cream with 3-4 Tablespoons of powdered sugar, using a mixer. Wash dry and slice the strawberries and set aside.



Assembly:

Place one of the glazed cake rounds on a cake stand or large plate. Top with freshly whipped cream and a layer of strawberry slices. Follow with the second cake, more whipped cream and arrange more fresh sliced strawberries on top in a pretty pattern. Next drizzle the more of the almond glaze over the top and down the sides. Store in fridge until ready to serve. We like it chilled!

BBQ Beef

1 boneless beef roast (about 3-4 pounds)

I crush a couple garlic cloves and salt and pepper on the roast and put in crock pot

Beef broth (probably 1 1/2 cups water and 2 bouillon cubes)

1 large onion, chopped

3/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp. white vinegar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground mustard

1 tsp Worchestershire sauce

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp paprika (I don’t think I put this in)

3 drops hot pepper sauce

Hearty Baked Beans

1 pound ground beef

2 large onions, chopped

¾ pound sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled

4 cans (15 oz. each) pork and beans

1 bottle (18 oz) honey barbecue sauce

1 can (16 oz) kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (15-1/4 oz) lima beans, rinsed and drained (I usually use something different than lima beans)

1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained

½ cup packed brown sugar

3 Tbsp. cider vinegar

1 Tbsp. liquid smoke, optional

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

In a large skillet, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Put in 5 qt baking dish. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until heated through. 18 servings.

German Chocolate Cake Icing

1 cup sugar

1 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup margarine or butter

3 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/3 cups coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

Mix sugar, milk, butter, egg yolks, and vanilla in saucepan over medium heat until thick, about twelve minutes. Fold in coconut and pecans.

White Bean and Sausage Soup

I got this recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything

4 (15 oz) cans of white cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
2 (32 oz) cans or boxes of chicken broth
2 (28 oz) cans Italian style diced tomatoes
2 lbs mild Italian sausage (I used hot sausage. I think it makes the soup)
2 oz fresh basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook sausage in frying pan until cooked through. In large pot, add sausage and then add all other ingredients. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

served with rice (added inside individually) and rolls!

Marshmallow Blondies

I got this recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything

1 cup butterscotch chips

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups mini marshmallows

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray.

In a sauce pan over medium heat, melt the butterscotch chips and butter, stirring constantly until smooth. When melted remove from heat and transfer the contents of the pan to a mixing bowl. Don't over heat the butter and butterscotch chips or they will separate, so make sure you watch them carefully and don't cook them too long.

Cool the butterscotch and butter mixture to room temperature. In a large bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and eggs into the butter and butterscotch mixture. Make sure you blend everything together really well. The batter will be thick. Mix in the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Spread the blondie batter into the pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. The center will feel a little soft, but will firm while cooling. Let cool 2 -3 hours before cutting.

S'mores Bars

I got this recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 king-sized Hershey's milk chocolate bars (if you want a more subtle chocolate flavor use regular sized chocolate bars; enough to fit)

1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (7 1/2 oz jar)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined.

3. Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 king-sized Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly side by side, but break the chocolate (if necessary) to get it to fit in a single layer no more than 1/4 inch thick. Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff. Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff. This part can be tricky. I made little disks with the dough and formed them into a sheet on some parchment paper then transferred it over. Spread it around gently.

4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Makes 16 cookie bars.

Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares

I got this recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything

1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, slightly softened

1 cup brown sugar (lightly packed)

1 cup oats

1 can (14 ounce) sweetened condensed milk

½ cups lemon juice

zest of 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix butter and brown sugar until well combined.

Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder.

Add oats and flour to butter/sugar mixture and mix to combine.

Press half of oat crumb mixture into the bottom of an 8 x 11 inch pan. You can use a 9 x 13 pan; it will just be thinner.

Mix together condensed milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Spread onto the bottom layer of the crumb mixture. The other half of the crumb mixture mix and knead together with clean hands so that the butter that you added earlier gets incorporated then crumble on top of lemon layer but don’t press.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Allow pan to sit on counter for 30 minutes after baking. Cut into squares and refrigerate for a couple of hours or until cool.

Serve cool. Makes around one dozen.