SUMMERTIME STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CAKE!

My sweet 7 year old granddaughter called and wanted to come over and bake strawberry shortcake.  She loves to bake and every time we bake together she improves her skills. Since traditional strawberry shortcake is made with whipped cream and we needed to bake something that she would take home for her family to have for dessert tonight I decided on a shortcake cake.

 We gathered our ingredients to make a simple homemade cake.

 Little helping hands.

 We selected (2) 8x8 pans to bake the cake.

Recipe

Simple Vanilla Cake

1 cup of sugar (I always bake with super fine sugar)
1 softened cube of butter
2 eggs, room temperature
1 t baking powder
1 1/2 cup AP flour (I always use King Arthur flour)
1/4 t salt
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°

Cream together the sugar and butter in your mixing bowl until nice and creamy, add the eggs one at a time and whip until incorporated, sift together the soda, salt and flour and mix into the butter/sugar mixture a little bit at a time alternating with the milk until it is all mixed.

Pour into two 8x8 pans that have either been sprayed with a product like Bakers Joy or flour and grease the pans.

Bake until toothpick comes out clean, approximately 14 minutes.  I had two different pans and one was done before the other, just keep an eye on it, you don't want to over bake.

  Topping 

1 10oz carton of Cool Whip, thawed in the fridge overnight
8oz of cream cheese, set out to soften
1/2 cup of powdered sugar

Cream together the cream cheese and powdered sugar and then add the Cool Whip until it is all incorporated, put in the fridge until ready to use.

 Strawberries

We used a large carton (Driscoll's 16oz) of strawberries, washed them in a strainer and then we sat and hulled them.  Something new for her and she told me that she did not think her mother would like her using a "real" knife.  I assured her that under adult supervision (that would be me) that her mother would approve.  She did quite well.  After hulling the cleaned berries we cut them in half and diced them.

 We simply cut each cake down the middle (after cooling) and did a creamy layer, then strawberries, then the other cake, creamy layer and strawberries. I also admit to giving the top berries a little dusting of superfine sugar.  We had two shortcake cake loaves to send home with her.

But before we sent her home with her baked goods a hard working baker needed to have a "test" piece and she declared the strawberry shortcake cake delicious and worthy for her to take home to her family!

Thank you for stopping by.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

It's time again to fly our flag,
With much respect and pride;
It is our country's birthday,
This 4th day of July!

As we enjoy the fireworks,
The picnics and parades;
Let us reflect on all the things
That make our country great:

Is it those rights we cherish,
The freedoms we enjoy;
Equality in law - that's guaranteed
To every girl and boy?

The answer's YES for most of us
Not all of that I'm sure!
For many in our country still
Much suffering they endure.

The many that are hated,
Because they don't fit in;
'cause they have different customs,
or for the color of their skin.

Yet, we are all Americans,
From every walk of life;
Claiming equal and fair treatment
Protection from all strife.

We're in this land together,
We're brothers, sisters, all;
United we'll attain great goals,
Divided we shall fall!

So, on our country's birthday,
Let's pledge, for all to see:
We'll strive to live together,
In peace and harmony!

Our future will be brighter,
God bless us, I do pray.
And, with one voice now let us sing:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA!

 Have a wonderful and safe 4th.

 

Resource

4th Clipart, The Graphics Fairy 

4th of July poem by Bob Balliet

 

 

Thank you for stopping by!

ALZHEIMER'S IDAHO SUPPORT GROUP DESSERT

If you follow this blog you know that I make the monthly dessert for the support group for Alzheimer's Idaho (local grassroots organization).  4th of July themed cupcakes and ice cream on the menu last Friday night.

Ever since I made Nigella Lawson's coffee ice cream I have been looking for other similar ice cream recipes and found one in this Caribbean Pineapple Lime ice cream.  Thought it would pair well with the pineapple cream cupcakes.

Recipe for Caribbean Pineapple-Lime ice cream

 Ingredients

• 1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple in pineapple juice, undrained
• 1 (14 oz.) cup Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon grated lime peel
• 4 to 5 drops yellow food coloring
• 1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

• COMBINE undrained pineapple, sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, lime peel, vanilla and food coloring, if desired, in large bowl; mix well.
• WHIP cream in medium bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into pineapple mixture.
• POUR into 9 x 5-inch loaf pan or 2-quart freezer-safe container. Cover; freeze until firm, about 3 hours.

 

Recipe for Pineapple Cream cupcakes

 

Ingredients

Pineapple Cake:

1 box yellow cake mix

1/3 C. melted butter, cooled

3 eggs

1 1/4 C. crushed pineapple with juice

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 C. butter, softened

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3-4 C. powdered sugar

Maraschino Cherries & flags for decoration

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with cupcake liners.

2. Sift cake mix into a small bowl and set aside.

3. In a large bowl combine butter, eggs, pineapple and vanilla extract.

4. Stir in cake mix until smooth.

5. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 17-22 minute or until and inserted knife comes out clean.

6. Let cool.

7. Frosting: Beat butter and cream cheese for 2 minutes until smooth. Add vanilla extract and slowly add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. If it becomes too thick, add milk or cream.

8. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and top with a cherry and sprinkles.

Resource

Ice cream recipe, Eaglebrand.com

Cupcake Recipe, Your Cup of Cake

Two tier stand, Tuesday Morning

Flag pennant garland decoration, Martha Stewart, Michael's

Cupcake wrappers and flag picks, Hobby Lobby

Label design on 81/2x11 full sheet label, Avery® White Full-Sheet Labels for Inkjet Printers with  TrueBlock(TM) Technology, 8-1/2 inches x 11 inches, Pack of 25 (8165)

Label design done in Corel Draw

Font used, Lobster 1.3  

Thank you for stopping by.