Cake In A Cup

Cake In A Cup Mix

1 (16 ounce) box Angel Food cake
1 (15.25 ounce) box cake mix, any flavor

In large bowl, combine cake mixes.  

Mix well.  

Place in a re-seal-able plastic bag or a storage container. 

To Make A Cake In A Cup

3 tablespoons Cake In A Cup Mix
2 tablespoons water
Optional: Nuts or Chocolate Chips

Place cake mix and water in a coffee cup or mug.  Add nuts or chocolate chips if desired.  Mix well.

Microwave 1 minute.

I was recently in Atlanta, Georgia and a friend gave me this recipe.  The Cake In A Cup recipe that I had before called for an egg and water.  The Angle Food cake mix has an egg in it so you can eliminate the egg in this recipe.

This is a perfect quick fix when you are having a snack attack!  You can make a fresh personalized cake anytime you have a craving.  Dust it with powdered sugar, frost it, or eat it plain.  Anyway you do it, you are going to enjoy it!

Check back on Tuesday, 
for Pepper tips! 

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Tuesaday's Tips & Tricks: Microwave Tips

Writing a blog makes me use my microwave more.  It takes me forever to take photos of the finished dish.  I try this angle and that angle and still I seldom am happy with the photos.  My husband often complains about the food getting cold food as I snap photos.  I told him that is what the microwave was invented for.

Below are 10 of my favorite microwave tips. 

1. Dry fresh herbs using the microwave.  Click the link to see how:  Tip: Drying Fresh Herbs

2. Only use plastic containers that are labeled "microwave safe".  Harmful chemicals may leak into food is you use a plastic container that is not made for microwave use.

3. Salt your food after it is microwaved.  If you salt it before, it can make your food dry.

4. You can saute onions in the microwave.  Placed chopped onions to a microwave safe dish, add 1 tablespoon of water, and microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes, or until soft.  Then add the onions to your recipe without adding additional fat.

5. Clean and freshen your microwave the easy way:  In a two cup microwave safe dish, add 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.  Microwave on high 2 to 3 minutes, or until boiling.  Let set in the microwave for 5 minutes without opening the door.  After the 5 minute wait, remove the dish and wipe down the microwave with paper towel.

6. Don't toss out crystallized honey, microwave it.  Remove the lid, and microwave at 50% power for 2 minutes.

7. Soften hard packed brown sugar by placing it in a bowl with an apple slice or a slice of bread, cover with a lid, microwave on high for 30 seconds.

8. Get more juice from your oranges and lemons by microwaving them for 30 seconds before squeezing them. 

 

9. Peel tomatoes easily by boiling 2 cups of water in the microwave, add the tomatoes, microwave an additional 1 minute.  Remove tomatoes from the hot water and place in ice water.  The skin will easily peel off.

10. Put the cloves of garlic you want peeled on a microwave safe plate. Microwave for 15 seconds.  The garlic heats up and expands, causing the peel to crack.  The clove easily slips out of the peeling!

If you feel inspired to use your microwave after reading all of those tips, try my Pizza Nibblers recipe.

 

  Check back on Friday, 

for my Cake In A Cup recipe!

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Flavored Butter 3 Ways

 Chili Lime Butter

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

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 teaspoon honey

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well.

Green Chile Butter

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

2 tablespoons chopped green chile

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well.

Parmesan Cheese Butter

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

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

In medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well.

We were invited to our friends house to grill out.  I was responsible for bringing the corn on the cob.  I write cookbooks, I can't just take plain old corn on the cob.  As I pondered different ways to make grilled corn special, I decided simple is better when it comes to feeding a crowd.

We live in New Mexico, so I made two flavored butters that had a bit of a Mexican flair to them.  The Parmesan cheese butter, is a simple flavor combination that pleased even the picky eaters at the cook out.

Check back on Tuesday, 
for Microwave tips!

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks: Cake Flour Tips

Tip 1. Are you wanting to make my Malva Pudding recipe, but don't have the cake flour that the recipe calls for?  No problem.  Make your own cake flour by using the formula below.

Cake Flour Substitution: Measure 1 cup all purpose flour.  Remove 2 tablespoons of the measured flour  Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch.  Mix well.  Makes 1 cup of cake flour.

Tip 2.  Measure flour on wax paper or parchment paper.  Then if you spill some on your counter, you can catch it on the paper and pour it back into it's container.

Check back on Friday, 
for my Flavored Butter recipes! 

They are a perfect addition to your next barbeque! 

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!

Malva Pudding Recipe From South Africa

Malva Pudding

2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups cake flour, sifted
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 plus 1 tablespoons milk
pinch of salt
2 tablespoon apricot jelly
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In large bowl, cream butter and sugar. 

Add eggs. Mix well. 

Fold in cake flour.  

In small bowl, combine baking soda and milk.  Add baking soda mixture and remaining ingredients to flour mixture.  Mix well.

Pour into a greased 13x9 inch baking pan. Bake 40 minutes. 

Pour Malva Pudding Sauce over top of baked cake(recipe below).

Malva Pudding Sauce

1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
2 cups sugar
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

In large saucepan, combine evaporated milk, sugar, and warm water. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring constantly. 

Remove from heat.  Add butter and vanilla.  Mix until the butter has melted.  Pour over Malva Pudding cake.

 Serve the Malva Pudding with ice cream or the Almost Custard Sauce below.

Almost Custard Sauce

1(6 1/2 cup servings) box vanilla cook and serve pudding and pie filling
3 1/2 cups milk

Prepare according to package direction, using 3 1/2 cups of milk instead of the 3 cups of milk called for on the box.  Cool to room temperature.  Pour pudding over top of Malva Pudding.

This is my husband's new favorite dessert.  We have been to South Africa several times, and this is the first time we had this Malva Pudding.  It was love at first bite for my husband.  He tested this new love by have the Malva Pudding several more times just to be sure. 

In South Africa, they serve the Malva Pudding with custard that comes in a box.  My husband loved the custard in a box, but unfortunately I can not find it in the stores here in my little town in New Mexico.

Check back on Tuesday, 
for a tip about cake flour!

Visit my friends blogs!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!