Monthly Archives: April 2011
Strawberry Fields
Strawberry Country Cake
Makes 2 (8-inch) cakes.
Ingredients:
•12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
•2 cups sugar
•4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
•3/4 cup sour cream, at room temperature
•1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
•1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
•1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•2 cups all-purpose flour
•1/4 cup cornstarch
•1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
•1 teaspoon baking soda
For the filling for each cake:
•1 cup (1/2 pint) heavy cream, chilled
•3 tablespoons sugar
•1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter the bottom of two 8-inch cake pans. Then line them with parchment paper and butter and flour the lined pans.
Cream the butter and sugar on high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. On medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, then the sour cream, zests, and vanilla, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix well. Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. On low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and combine just until smooth.
Pour the batter evenly into the pans, smooth the tops, and bake in the center of the oven for 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then remove to wire racks and let cool to room temperature. If using 1 cake, wrap the second well and freeze.
To make the filling for one cake, whip the cream, sugar, and vanilla in a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until firm. Slice one of the cakes in half with a long, sharp knife. Place the bottom slice of the cake on a serving platter, spread with 1/2 the whipped cream and scatter with sliced strawberries. Cover with the top slice of the cake and spread with the remaining cream. Decorate with strawberries.
Courtesy of Barefoot Contessa
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They just dont make em like they used to…
Fields of Gold
It’s that time!!
This past weekend, I broke out Pat’s World Famous B’Nanner Puddin’ recipe and whipped up a batch of this creamy, dreamy, bananay little bit of heaven.
Now…in my family we don’t exactly know who “Pat” is, if it’s a he or a she, or even if Pat’s human for that matter but Pat’s recipe has made it’s way to our picnic table countless times and will certainly stay a summertime dessert favorite for us, our family, and friends! Yum!
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1 package cream cheese, 2 for extra richness
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1 can sweetend condensed milk (14 oz), 2 for extra richness
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4 1/4 cups milk (skim ha ha), 2 1/2 cups for extra richness
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2 packages instant vanilla pudding (3 cup size)
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1 large tub Cool Whip
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about 6 large bananas, ripe not green*
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1 box Vanilla Wafers
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Soften cream cheese
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In very large mixing bowl, mix cream cheese and condensed milk
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Add the milk and mix until fairly smooth. Bits of cream cheese will still be visible.
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Fold in 80% of Cool Whip until evenly blended. Save the rest for garnish. (Lick beaters and spoons… or if your husband makes you, let him do the honors)
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Layer sliced bananas and Vanilla Wafers in large 9×13 pan or in a trifle dish.
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Layer pudding mixture over bananas/wafers. Continue layering process until all gone. (Lick mixing bowl thoroughly…or…nevermind!)
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Garnish top with remaining Cool Whip and some wafers. Chill 2 hours, call me, and serve.
A Zoo Day
This is me… nagging David! |
David’s response! |
"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt"
Humanity, optimism, dignity, and acceptance… these are just some of the words that define what
Special Olympics is all about. It is an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of those with intellectual disabilities while at the same time enriching our communities. It gives the athletes an opportunity to feel pride in their accomplishments and the volunteers an amazing experience. The doors to diversity and tolerance are opened wide and the avenues to acheivment are layed out for all who wish to walk through those doors and down those roads.
Today at Furman University, I got to watch the spring games take place on one of the most beautiful, campuses in the country. Over 1000 athletes and over 1500 volunteers took part in what was truly an awe-inspiring day! The competitors in the 18 different events pushed themselves to run faster, jump longer and throw farther than they ever have before. They were dedicated to their competitions and were outwordly thrilled to be a part of them! Their exuberance and smiles were contagious!
I applaud all the volunteers for the time, love and support they dedicate to this organization! Without them there would be no games! And, I applaud Eunice Kennedy Shriver for starting a summer day camp way back in June of 1962 at her home in Maryland. This camp was the foundation for what would become the Special Olympics.
Every person, regardless of whatever different abilities they may have, can contribute, can be a source of joy, can beam with pride and love.
–Eunice Kennedy Shriver