Angel Food Mug Cake

[SINGLE SERVING]

ANGEL FOOD MUG CAKE

Saw this on pinterest, and had to try it out! Its super easy and my kids love it!

1 box angel food cake
1 box any flavor cake [I used German Chocolate Cake Mix]

• Mix both box mixes together in a big bowl. (find a container to store it in)
• In a mug, mix 3 tablespoons of mix and 2 tablespoons of water.
• Cook in microwave for 1 minute.
• Add some chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips on top for extra treat.

FBF: Flower Icing Cake

FLASH-BACK FRIDAY

FLOWER ICING CAKE

click on image to see full post from 11/29/11

FBF: Cranberry and Apple Cake

FLASH-BACK FRIDAY

CRANBERRY AND APPLE CAKE

click on image to see full post from 10/11/2011

FBF: Blueberry- Banana Cake

FLASH-BACK FRIDAY

BLUEBERRY-BANANA CAKE

click on image to see full post from 9/22/12

O Olive Oil Recipe Review

eRecipeCards has given me an opportunity to compete in a contest from O Olive Oil. Dave, creator of eRecipeCards, designed a website where you can upload recipes, share, like other recipes, and keep it organized just like you would on your own recipe book. I'm a "blue ribbon" contributor from being there from almost the beginning, and consistently adding my recipes. The photos do not have to be professional or magazine quality either! Check them out:

I also want to thank O Olive Oil for the contest! There were so many submissions, they are going to have a hard time deciding the winners. They are giving away almost $1000 in prizes, and I'm really crossing my fingers that I would be one of them.

Here is a run-down on the recipes I've posted for O Olive Oil and their competition. Click on image to see the full recipe!

  

 

  

 

  

I hope you have enjoyed these recipes as much as I enjoyed making them! O Olive Oil now has a permanent place in my pantry. You can find them in Whole Foods, which I will be visiting next time I'm in a big city. 

Flower Icing Cake

I know everyone has seen this on Pinterest. I just HAD to try it out! My grandma had her 80th Birthday party, with a purple theme, so to accompany the sheet cake, I made this pretty flower cake! I just used box cake mix for the inside--alternating vanilla and chocolate layers. The purple icing was also in between the layers as well.

FLOWER ICING CAKE

The details!

the inside--Chocolate and Vanilla!

This was quite easy to do, a bit time-consuming, but easy! You gotta try it out...and if you make a mistake, just use a knife and scrape/spread it away! You can't go wrong!

use the 3rd row, 2nd one down (#33)

So have fun! Let me know if you try it, I would love to see other's interpretations!

Cranberry and Apple Cake

I saw Barefoot Contessa make this on the Today Show a week back, and I knew I had to make it. And it was fabulous. Its defiantly on my "to make" list for Thanksgiving!

This recipe is taken directly from Barefoot Contessa, but the images are my own.

CRANBERRY AND APPLE CAKE

• 
  
• 12 ounces fresh cranberries, rinsed and picked over for stems
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest (2 oranges)
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 1/8 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Combine the cranberries, apple, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. With the mixer on medium, add 1 cup of the granulated sugar, the butter, vanilla, and sour cream and beat just until combined. On low speed, slowly add the flour and salt.

Pour the fruit mixture evenly into a 10-inch glass pie plate. Pour the batter over the fruit, covering it completely. Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle it over the batter. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean and the fruit is bubbling around the edges. Serve warm or at room temperature.

[I discovered, since I used a deeper dish than recipe called for, that it needed more time--it was a bit dough-y in the middle. So increase your cooking time to 1-1/2 hours if you choose to cook in a similar dish]

Flash Back Friday #17: German Chocolate Cake

I know, I know. Its about time for another FBF. I went back to school *GASP* and I had finals and several projects to do this past few weeks, so there wasn't much time for my blogging. But thats over now and I got A's in both classes (yeah!) and I have 3 weeks until classes start up again. BUT ANYWAY....

FLASH-BACK-FRIDAY

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GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Click on image to see post from 1/25/11
This is all from scratch and it was AMAZING.

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Since its been 2 weeks since FBF, I'm gonna just start fresh. Link up and I'll make sure you are on my blogroll!

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Follow Cookin' for my Captain and Cookin Mimi  on GFC [Google Friend Connect] and then Link away!

• Please only link up the URL straight to a post--not just the blog site
• This is a family-friendly Blog and hop, so please be respectful
• Link back to Cookin’ for My Captain, Cookin’ Mimi or both if you’d like.
• Please only 1 or 2 entries.
• Visit and comment on the other entries. Spread some comment love.

Flash Back Friday #16: Yeasted Meringue Coffee Cake

~If you are interested in co-hosting the FBF Hop, please leave a comment and let me know!

~Also take note: if you've participated in FBF lately, you have been added to the blogroll! It might take time, but everyone will get listed (just be patient with me)

FLASH-BACK FRIDAY #17

YEASTED MERINGUE COFFEE CAKE

[Daring Bakers Challenge]

Click on image to view original post from 3/27/11

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My favorite (it was SO hard to choose!!) from last week was from Jess with Hungry Harps

Click image to see original Post

She's got some beautiful pictures as well! Now go and show her some comment love =)

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Thanks to ALL who linked up!
eRecipeCards, Year on the Grill, Adventures of a Small Town Mom, Flour me with Love, Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons, Hungry Harps, Not Your Ordinary Recipes, Happy Green Babies, Meijos Joy, The Kitchen in my Playground, The Southern Fried Bride, Social Studies Momma, Create with Joy, Cooking with Libby, Catalina Bakes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Follow Cookin' for my Captain and Cookin Mimi  on GFC [Google Friend Connect] and then Link away!

• Please only link up the URL straight to a post--not just the blog site
• This is a family-friendly Blog and hop, so please be respectful
• Link back to Cookin’ for My Captain, Cookin’ Mimi or both if you’d like.
• Please only 1 or 2 entries.
• Visit and comment on the other entries. Spread some comment love.

Pina Colada Upside-Down Cake

Today is the official PINA COLADA Day! No, really--it IS! So in honor of that, here is my....

PINA COLADA UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

1/4 cup butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 medium pineapple
1/2 cup maraschino cherries
1pkg yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1 can unsweetened coconut milk
1 tsp rum extract
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over low heat (do NOT use stainless cookware!). Brush sides of skillet with butter with a basting brush. Remove from heat; sprinkle brown sugar over butter and set aside. [I used my skillet with "straight up" sides (technical word...?) and the cake wanted to fall apart and I filled in the cracks with more coconut flakes. So make sure you use the skillet with the "curved" sides! I know, I'm really technical. But hey, I'm learning.]

Carefully, slice pineapple into rings; and then cut ring in half. Arrange slices around the outer edge of skillet; place two slices in center, creating a ring. Place one cherry in center and additional cherries around outside of ring.

Combine cake mix, eggs, coconut milk and rum extract in large bowl. Whisk until well blended. Carefully pour batter over pineapple in skillet.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool 5 minutes on wire rack.

Toast coconut in small skillet until lightly browned.

Invert cake on cake stand or platter and lightly press toasted coconut flakes around top edge and sides of cake.

Happy Pina Colada Day!

Shark Cupcakes

Last week was VBS [Vacation Bible School] for my kiddos. They had a wonderful time! I helped out in the crafts area and had a lot of fun too. Volunteers were need to bring in snacks and food and such for the volunteers. So I said I'd bring in cupcakes. Yup, another chance to express my creativity! Not to mention they were a huge hit and didn't last but and hour. That is always a great ego booster!

SHARK CUPCAKES

Again, I just used a delicious box cake mix for the cupcakes (yellow butter cake). White frosting with blue food coloring for the frosting "waves." White chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate for the "waves," "sea shell" and "shark fin." And then I used a powdered donuts (use a spoon to make the "bite" mark) for the life preserver and red food gel for the strips. Graham cracker crumbs for the "sand."

Be creative with it! I really enjoyed making these. I'm sure there is a more "professional" way to create these, but I didn't have a lot of time and it was just for fun.

Anyone notice my little detail of the colored paper cups? Blue for the water and yellow for the land! I know, crazy. But thats me!

FBF: German Chocolate Cake

~~I'm looking for some co-hosts for this linky next week. If interested, please leave comment so I can get in touch with you!~~

 

I like routine. I also like control. Have a routine, stay in control. Some people call it weird. I call it effective.

So on Fridays, I'm gonna do a "flash-back" to some of my very first posts. I know the majority of my followers are fairly recent, so I just wanna highlight a few old recipes ya'll might not have seen. (yes, I just said ya'll!)

One of my husband and I's favorite all-time dessert.

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Click on picture to see full post

I know everyone has old posts that not many have seen, including me! So please join the party and link up your old posts! I'm so looking forward to this!
~Please only 1 or 2 entries.
~Link directly to your old post, not just your blog
~Hop around and check out everyone's old post, comment too!

Cowboy Cake

A friend of mine's son is turning 6 and she was worried about the cake--I told her to relax, and let me do it--it took a load of her shoulder immediately! So I got free-reign on this cake. This is how it came out...

COWBOY CAKE

I like it just plain....but the lettering needed to be added

Its still adorable...and Micah LOVED it. Huge hit!

For a little surprise, I made these cookies. I had left over icing, sugar cookies, and a few pieces of candy.

She thought they were hilarious and perfect for the parents =)

I had such a blast doing this--I'm not a baker, but I love designing! My friend insisted on paying me--but I insisted not (and I'm more stubborn). I did this for fun and it helped her out. I don't mind doing this--as long as its not money out of my pocket.

Funny part was when my son saw this, he thought it was for him--he had a party a week ago, and thought he was gettin another one. HAHA Poor guy--I guess I should make a few to have around the house to make my family happy!

Angry Bird Birthday

My son turned 5 this month! (how times flies!) And the joy of technology has finally reached the birthday party zone for us. My son wanted an "Angry Bird" birthday party. And this isn't some easy decoration theme I can pick up at walmart--not at all! So I spent all week working on this.

I'll show some of the details!

THE CAKE

 

I used the "Pampered Chef Cake-in-a-bowl" method for the big red bird. I have no idea how to use fondant--so everything is icing/candy. All the beaks are starbursts, eyes are M&Ms, pig noses and crowns are laffy taffy, red birds eyebrows are twizzlers, and the tail are feathers (the only non-edible thing)

DECORATIONS

I never got a great shot of all the balloons--but they all have angry bird faces or the pigs faces. They were SO funny--and easy! I just used construction paper and 2-sided tape. Make sure the balloons are pretty big, otherwise the weight of the paper will keep them from floating.

ACTIVITIES

I had these setting out for the kids to do as soon as they arrived. That way they'll be dry by the time they leave. They are craft visors, large googly eyes, and a package of craft feathers (all colors) and adhere them with elmer's glue.

These visors make for really cute photos!

We also did a "Play Angry Birds!" area. I made the birds and pigs out of pom-poms and foam paper. This took me all day! Then I got regular plastic drinking cups, stack up in fun ways with pigs around them, and the kids get to throw the birds at the cup to knock them over! Talk about funny....the adults wanted to play too! And when you were done, you got an "golden egg" (Easter egg with candy in it!)

Pom-Pom BIRDS/PIGS

For the "Party favors" I made bags with 3 colorful cups, 4 birds (different colors) and 1 pig, 2 mini eggs with candy and a few pieces of candy floating around in the bag. I wrote a "Thank You" note on the cups inside. This way all the kids could play when they got home!

I hoped this gives you plenty of details to throw you own "Angry Bird" party! If anyone want more details about one specific thing, let me know!

DARING BAKERS CHALLENGE: YEASTED MERINGUE COFFEE CAKE

The March 2011 Daring Baker’s Challenge was hosted by Ria of Ria’s Collection and Jamie of Life’s a Feast. Ria and Jamie challenged The Daring Bakers to bake a yeasted Meringue Coffee Cake.

YEASTED MERINGUE COFFEE CAKE
Mets la main à la pâte!

What an interesting challenge--and get this....I strayed from the recipe!! Whoooo hoooo! Well, kinda. I made the whole recipe, and followed the filling for one, then had fun with the 2nd. Maaaaannnnnn they are good! I need to find someone to give to so all my running won't go to shame.

1st cake--chocolate chips, pecans, cinnamon-sugar
2nd cake-- Cafe' Vienna instant coffee, chocolate chips

I did realize after pulling them out of the oven that I totally forgot to put an egg wash over tops before baking! ooops! And I'm just now seeing the confectioners sugar topping. I can see where this would throw it over the top, but it defiantly didn't NEED it. So it might not look as pretty, but the taste is incredible!!!

Thanks Ria and Jamie for the yummy challenge! [my butt is not thanking you, however ;) ]