Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Italian Cream Cake Recipe




Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in the USA and most of you are busy preparing the meal. Rather than get into how to roast a turkey or make your special pie, I decided to post my favorite cake of all favorites. Yes, that is right--tada--Italian Cream Cake. I first had this cake last Christmas and fell madly in love with it. This says something as my mother's date and nut cake with whipped cream frosting was always the very best. It still is but now I must add another.

Anyway the picture above says it all. Not sure where I picked up the picture but that is what it should look like. It not only is delicious inside but the butter frosting adds to it. Someone told me I could order one from a bakery for $25. I believe it. I did a search on the internet and found the following sites to look over and pick one to do.





All the recipes are pretty much the same except Ree Drumond(PW) gives very detailed how-to directions and her frosting is delicious. Anyway this is what I am going to make for my guests for Christmas. Oh, I already am all set for Thanksgiving.
Have a happy Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

THANKSGIVING OR BLACK FRIDAY

Which day holds more meaning for your household? For me is it Black Friday as I am going to my friend's house for dinner with the family. Always a joy as I am not doing the main job of cooking.
I did volunteer to bring sweet potatoes as I love them with turkey. So here is a different twist on the dish. I feel like it came from BH&G but not too sure. I usually go with the mashed potato casserole but want to try something different.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil,
2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled, quartered, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup canned reduced-sodium chicken broth or water
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high.
Add sweet potatoes; cook, stirring once, until beginning to brown, 2 minutes.
Add broth, packed brown sugar, and fresh lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until crisp-tender, 10 minutes.
Uncover, and cook over medium-high until sweet potatoes are tender and liquid is syrupy, 7 to 9 minutes more (there should be only a small amount of liquid remaining).
Remove skillet from heat; add butter, and swirl skillet until melted.
Season with salt and pepper.
Really quite simple and not too much fuss. Maybe you might like to try a change.

Otherwise the rest of the meal is pretty standard with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls and veggies. Oh yes, pumpkin and apple pie.

My other adventure this year is a PUMPKIN ROLL. My friend makes/sells these each year and are yummy. I looked at a lot of sites and here are two pretty much alike.
http://www.recipesecrets.net/forums/recipe-exchange/11990-thanksgiving-recipes.html and the other is http://southernfood.about.com/od/pumpkins/r/blbb465.htm?nl=1. Anyway I am going to make one between now and Christmas, just for me.

As far as Black Friday, I am not getting up at 4a.m. but would like to check out a new TV and a laptop. I thought I would go shopping today and tomorrow to see just how big a 40" really is and would I like it in my living room.

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends.