I’ve loved Texas Sheet Cake since my mother introduced it to me in the 70’s.  It’s a family favorite, we’ve tried all kinds of different variations, including peanut butter, and Coca-Cola sheet cake, but we always come back to this recipe.  It’s just the best, moist, gooey, delicious, decadent dessert.  What could be better… ~ Jan

For the Cake:

For the Frosting:

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) of unsalted butter
• 6 tablespoons of milk
• 4 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa
• 1 (1 pound) box of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup of chopped pecans, toasted,optional
• 1 cup coconut, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with Pam.  Some recipes call for making this in a jelly roll pan, but our family likes thick cake, so I always make it in a 9x13.

In a measuring cup, measure out 1/2 cup of buttermilk. Add 2 eggs to that and beat until well blended; set aside. Whisk together in a large bowl, 2 cups sugar, 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, combine the 2 sticks of butter, the 2 tablespoons oil and 1 cup of water and bring to a near boil. Remove pot from the heat and whisk in 6 tablespoons of cocoa, until smooth. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla and add this mixture to the sugar and flour mixture; stir until well blended. Slowly add in the buttermilk and egg mixture and stir well.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees until the center is set, about 20 to 25 minutes for a sheet cake, about 35 to 40 minutes for a regular 9 x 13 inch pan. While the cake is cooking, toast the pecans in a dry pan, tossing regularly until fragrant, about 5 minutes, set aside to cool.

When cake is about 5 minutes from being done, prepare the frosting. Do not do the frosting ahead of time because it will quickly stiffen. Heat the stick of butter and 6 tablespoons of milk in a saucepan just until it comes to a boil. It will need to be very hot. Remove from the heat and whisk in the remaining 4 tablespoons of cocoa. Mixture will thicken. Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla and quickly beat with a wooden spoon until smooth, returning to a low burner if mixture thickens too quickly. Immediately stir in coconut and nuts if desired and pour the frosting all over the cake. Working quickly, use a spatula to gently push the frosting out to the edges and to cover the cake evenly. Sprinkle top evenly with the additional toasted pecans, if desired. Set entire pan aside on a wire rack and allow the cake to cool completely before slicing.

Cook's Notes: When the cake comes out of the oven, quickly poke holes all over it and then pour the icing on top.

Tips: This will be a very moist cake, so you aren't looking for a dry surface when it is done. As always, take care to not overcook your cake. If you shake the pan and the cake doesn't jiggle, it's done! Frosting will set fast, so ya gotta move fast! If your frosting stiffens too quickly, you can also thin it with a little additional milk if needed, and return it to a low heat.  This cake is better after it sits overnight, even better after it ages a couple of days, but who can wait that long!

Ingredients

• 6 cups sliced strawberries
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (optional)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
• 1/4 cup frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lemon zest
• 2/3 cup whipping cream
• 1 8 - ounce carton mascarpone cheese or tub-style cream cheese
• 3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• Lemon zest (optional)

Directions

1. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together strawberries and, if desired, the granulated sugar. Set aside.
2. For the shortcake: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center; add the buttermilk, lemonade concentrate and the 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest all at once. Stir just until dough clings together.
3. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently for 10 to 12 strokes. Pat dough into an 8-inch circle on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a 400 degrees oven for 16 to 18 minutes or until golden. Cool slightly.
4. Meanwhile, for Lemon Mascarpone Cream: In a medium mixing bowl beat the whipping cream with an electric mixer on low speed just until soft peaks form. Add the mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon zest; beat until fluffy (mixture will thicken as it is beaten).
5. Using a large serrated knife, gently split warm shortcake horizontally into 2 layers. Using a wide spatula to help support the layers as you move them, place bottom layer on serving platter. Spread with about two-thirds of the mascarpone cheese mixture. Spoon some of the strawberries onto mascarpone cheese layer. Again using a spatula to help support the layer, add shortcake top. Spread with the remaining mascarpone cheese mixture and top with more of the strawberries. Sprinkle top with additional lemon zest, if desired. Pass any remaining strawberries. Serve immediately, cutting into wedges and passing any remaining strawberries.

Tie on an apron, put on a Patsy Cline record, and create a masterpiece...

Ingredients

Monster Cookies have always been a family favorite.  This adapted recipe from Bakerella would really simplify the process.  It’s on our “must try” list.  ~ Jan

Monster Cookie Bars
Makes 20

2⅔ cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
⅔ cup butter, softened
1½ cups light brown sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup white chocolate morsels
1 cup M&M’s
½ cup dried cranberries, raisins or cherries
½ cup sweetened shredded coconut

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.

2. In a medium bowl, use a wire whisk to mix flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

3. Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar together until blended. Add eggs one at a time and mix until incorporated. Then add vanilla and mix.

4. Slowly add the flour and mix until combined. Stir in dark and white chocolate morsels, M&M’s, dried cranberries and coconut.

5. Spread into prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes until done. If the top starts to get too brown, you can cover the top with a sheet of aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.

6. Once cool, cut into 20 bars.

How easy is this.  Just put the cinnamon rolls in a waffle iron, then spread with the frosting that comes in the can when they’re finished.  A little maple syrup on top, maybe some fresh strawberries or blueberries, and you’ve got a great breakfast with no work!

Watch them closely, they can burn quickly once they’ve cooked!

Is there anything better than Hummingbird Cake in the springtime?  It’s Southern Living’s most requested recipe, and a favorite of mine for years.  It’s truly wonderful  ~  Jan

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained 
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 cups chopped bananas
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• ————————————————————————————
• Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; add eggs and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not beat.) Stir in vanilla, pineapple, 1 cup pecans, and bananas.
• Pour batter into three greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
• Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake; sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans on top. Store in refrigerator
• ————————————————————————————
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 
• 1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extractBeat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla
  .

Lemon is one of life’s greatest pleasures.  Pair lemon and waffles and you have a great spring brunch!

Cooking Classy has this amazing recipe, complete with marshmallow fluff, you have to check it out.

Grab it here...

Everything that goes around comes around.  Congealed salads are the latest darling of the food world, they were always on Mother’s table in the 50’s a nd 60’s and now they’re back in a big way.

My all time favorite is Perfection Salad, made the way mother did with pineapple, carrots and cabbage in lime or lemon Jello, it’s a oldie but goodie.

Lucy’s Perfection Salad

2 (3 oz.) pkgs. lemon or lime Jello

1/4 head cabbage, chopped

2 carrots, chopped or grated

1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple

Dissolve Jello in 2 cups boiling water; stir well. Add 1 1/2 cups cold water. Add vegetables and pineapple with juice.

Put in jello mold and chill several hours.