St. Patrick's Day Pot of Gold Cake

This a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  The Brough family makes this cake.  You can use any cake recipe and frosting.   After putting the batter in cake pan, you randomly put coins or dollar bills which are folded up and wrapped in wax paper (I fold and wrap it small), into cake, and push it into batter.  I usually put one bigger bill in for the person who gets the biggest prize.  I decorated the cake as usual with frosting and I put chocolate gold coins on top with sprinkles and chocolate clovers.  I have even made a vanilla cake, and poked holes with fork and poured green jello (that is mixed up and dissolved) over the top, and top with whipped cream for a nice dessert.  A fun way to celebrate!  Can also do this idea with cupcakes.

One of life's interruptions :)

So it's been a while since I was able to post any recipes, I just posted the Rolo cookie recipe because my neighbor begged me after my 9 year old daughter must have sneaked the last two on the counter on the way out of the door to school and my neighbor was driving carpool, soon I got a text saying have to have this recipe!  My daughter was begging me all day yesterday to be able to take a plate to school for her teacher.  I baked two batches and froze most of them and put some on the kitchen counter only to be devoured by anyone walking into my kitchen.
Life has a way with twists and turns and I'm learning to just go along for the ride and quit planning my expectations.  Not always easy to do, but I think I'm getting the hang of it :).  My mother in law, who was taking care of my alzheimer father in law, was diagnosed with a brain tumor just before thanksgiving.  We had a wonderful dinner here with most of the family.  The Tuesday after, my family flew to Disneyland,(this was planned two months earlier).  That Friday, while we were away, my mother in law had surgery to remove the tumor.  It was discovered to be malignate, and the type of tumor that grows back, is aggressive and no cure, she will die from it.  We came home that Sunday, drove straight to the hospital to see how she was doing, which she seemed like she wasn't feeling too well, then I took the kids home so my husband could relieve his brother and brother in law, and stay with her.  That night my husband brought his dad to our house, and it's been non-stop stress.  Nothing prepares you for this, and I sure wish I had been!  We just take it one day at a time and pray we get through it.  It's funny how life can be, one minute everything seems ok, and the next, life changing!  but this too will pass and life goes on.  So far, my father in law has become worse(more than likely because he is out of his familiar environment), my mother in law is regretting the surgery, and losing the will to go on( she has two children who both died from cancer-she is anxious to be with her daughter and son on the other side), so we are hoping we still will get some time with her, and we are looking at long term care for my father in law.  I will post when I can.

Chocolate Rolo Cookies

These cookies come from a Pillsbury bake off recipe, but my very first encounter with these chewy and carmelly(my own word) cookie of goodness was when the lady I babysat for brought me a plate for Christmas.  I will admit, I thought I died and went to Heaven! Ok so I just had to have the recipe and actually found it in the Pillsbury cook off book- the rest is history, and now it's always on my Christmas must make list!  As a matter of fact, this year my 9 year old was begging me to give them to all her friends and her teacher, good thing I made a double batch, and bought the box of Rolos at Costco!  Enjoy!

                         Chocolate Rolo Cookies

2 1/2 c. Flour
3/4 c. Unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. Sugar
1 c. Brown sugar
1 c. Butter, softened
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
48 Rolos

White chocolate chips

-----Heat oven to 375 F.  In small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking soda; blend well.  In a large bowl beat butter, then add both sugars and beat until light and fluffy.  Ass vanilla and eggs; beat well.  Add flour mixture; blend well.  For each cookie, shape about an inch ball around a Rolo, covering completely, then dip one side into granulated sugar put on baking sheet about 2" apart and bake about 7 to 10 min or until set or and slightly cracked.  Cool on rack.  Melt whit chocolate chips in a Baggie and snip the end--decorate to your hearts desire!

***  High altitude adjust flour to 2 3/4c.

My Christmas cookie platter for Christmas 2023 - 

Poppy Seed Cake

I can't remember the exact memory of when our neighbor Tammy brought this moist wonderful tasting cake over.  She was truly my idol when it came to cooking, she was the best! Everything she made was always a "slice of heaven" I was so grateful to get this recipe from her, now you get to enjoy it too!
                        Poppy Seed Cake
              (I use a Bundt pan for this)
1/2 c. vegetable oil 
1 small box instant French vanilla pudding
2 tsp. almond extract
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
1 yellow cake mix
4 eggs
1 c. Water
**Mix all ingredients and beat for 3 min.  Place in a well greased and floured Bundt pan.  Bake at 350F for 45 min. Or until done by inserting a toothpick( mine is usually done at about 35 to 40 min)
Glaze:  2c. Powder sugar,  3 Tbsp. whipping cream or evaporated milk(may need more, I use this to make it rich :)) , 1/4 c. Butter( 1/2 cube) softened, 1/2 tsp. vanilla and almond extract
Beat butter until smooth, add powder sugar, then milk and flavorings until thick but not as thick as a frosting, spread onto cake when it is cooled.   I like to decorate with sprinkles of the season. Enjoy the moans of delight! 

Ocean Spray Cranberry-orange Relish

My mother-in-law wasn't able to make this, this year and she told me I could find the recipe on the back if the cranberry bag, well when I bought the bag, there was no recipe :( thank goodness for the Internet! This is my favorite recipe for relish, maybe because it's different than the traditional.

Ocean Spray Cranberry-Orange Sauce

1 (12oz) pkg fresh cranberries
1 medium orange, cut off ends and slice into 1/4's with peel still on
3/4c. Sugar(recipe says you can use 1 cup if you want)
--put 1/2 bag of cranberries in food processor and cut orange pieces in 1/2 again and put 1/2 of orange in and process until fine, put into container and add the other 1/2 and process that and put all together and mix, now add sugar.  Wow why can't all recipes be this easy! 

Roasted Asparagus

Well it's been long enough since I last posted oh so sorry!  Its just been some crazy days! It's the holidays, need I say more? I love this time of year, good food and good people to share it with, always makes my heart glad :)
                          Roasted Asparagus
1 lb. asparagus, washed and tough ends snapped off
2 to 3 Tbsp. butter ( yes I know, but this is what makes it taste so good!)Melted
Salt and pepper to taste

---preheat oven to 425 F.
use a single layer and put asparagus in pan( I use my Corelle oval dish that has about 1 1/2" sides)
Now drizzle butter over top, season with salt and pepper, and cover with foil.  Put in hot oven, cook about 20 min.

Grilled Roasted Asparagus on the Barbeque

1 lb. asparagus, tough ends snapped off
1/2 c. Cooking oil, can use olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
--put all into a ziplock bag and let marinate for about 3 hours and put on grill, let cook
Until asparagus is tender.  We really love this in the summer!

Just a little reminiscing, when I was younger, growing up I. Wyoming, we kids would go "asparagus hunting" it grew wild , and we loved bringing it home and cooking and eating it

The Incredible Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

As promised from my last post, I'm putting on here the mashed potatoe recipe we use for Thanksgiving(and any other excuse we have to make them) I will add a warning though, they are fattening, but sooo good you don't need butter or gravy on them.  These are pictured in my last post with the prime rib and asparagus, which I will post the asparagus recipe that we use in winter and the one we use in summer, next time.  This potatoe recipe comes from Cooks Country magazine, which is known for their perfected recipes.

                                              Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
(for best flavor, buy wedges of Parmesan and Asiago cheese and grate) 
4 lb. gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
1 1/2 c. Heavy cream
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 c. Grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. Grated asiago cheese
2 tsp. salt

1.  Bring potatoes and enough water to cover by 1" to boil in large pot over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20 min.
2.  Heat cream, butter, cheeses, and salt in saucepan over medium heat, whisking until smooth, about 5 min. Keep warm.
3.  Drain potatoes and return to pot.  Stir over low heat until potatoes are thoroughly dried 1 to 2 min.  Pour cream mixture over potatoes and mash with potato masher until creamy.  Oh yes you will get moans of delight with this recipe :) enjoy!