Showing posts with label Cool Whip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cool Whip. Show all posts

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Strawberries and Cream filled Coconut Cake with Chocolate Ganache

I'm always experimenting with dessert recipes. Changing or adding this or that. Most times they turn out great, while other times not so good. But this time I think I have a winner. This is a very moist and somewhat dense cake, made with fresh juicy Driscoll's strawberries all folded up into rich layers of a sweet, cream cheese and white chocolate filling. Top it off with a creamy chocolate ganache and your holiday meal is complete.
I've also made this cake using fresh Driscoll's raspberries, which is the perfect ending for your family Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday meal. 
Now let's get started. 
Strawberries and Cream filled Coconut Cake with Chocolate Ganache

Ingredients
Cake
1 box white cake mix
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs (use just the egg whites of 2 or all 4 eggs for a less dense cake)
3/4 of one can of coconut milk, mixed well
2 tsp McCormick's very vanilla extract
2 tsp coconut extract


Filling
8 oz cream cheese-room temperature
4 oz white chocolate-melted
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp McCormick's very vanilla extract
2 tsp coconut extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups fresh Driscoll strawberries, chopped
Fresh strawberries with special thanks to Driscoll's
1 cup fresh Driscoll strawberries, sliced for decorating
2/3 cup shredded coconut

Ganache
1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips-melted
1 cup heavy cream

Frosting
1 12 oz tub Cool Whip, thawed

Directions
Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare three 9" cake pans with cooking spray and flour and set aside.
Empty cake mix in large mixing bowl. Add baking powder and stir together. Open and stir coconut milk until smooth. Pour 3/4 of the can into cake mix and blend at medium speed with mixer for about 3 minutes or until smooth and completely mixed. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each egg. Mix in vanilla and coconut extracts.
Pour equal parts into each of the three 9" cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until golden brown and top springs back when touched.
Set cake pans on wire racks to cool. Remove one cake layer from pan and place flat side down on cake plate. Using a knife, trim cake layer of any mound so that layer is flat on top. Remove remaining two cake layers from pans and level as well. (Be sure to eat the trimmings!)
Prepare strawberries
Clean and chop enough fresh Driscoll's strawberries to make 2 cups. Clean and slice a separate cup of fresh Driscoll strawberries to decorate top of cake. Set aside.
Prepare ganache
Pour one and a half cups of semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips into microwavable bowl. Add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream. Microwave for one minute and stir until smooth. Set aside and let cool to room temperature.
Prepare filling
Break up white chocolate into small pieces in microwavable bowl. Microwave at 30 second intervals until all chocolate is melted and smooth. Set aside, stirring periodically until cooled.
Blend cream cheese and extracts on med-high speed until fluffy. Pour in melted white chocolate and mix. Slowly add heavy cream and powdered sugar mixing at med-high speed. Continue to mix until filling thickens. Stir in chopped strawberries and optional 2/3 cup shredded coconut with large spoon or spatula. Place in refrigerator for about 15 minutes.
Remove from refrigerator and pour about half of filling onto center of prepared cake layer, spreading to half inch from edges. Place second cake layer, flat side down on filling and top with remaining filling. Place the last cake layer, flat side down on top. Frost entire cake with Cool Whip and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Remove from refrigerator and pour ganache on top of cake directly in center, allowing to flow down sides. Decorate with fresh sliced strawberries and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.
Enjoy!

Visit Driscolls.com where you'll find recipes for pies, cakes and many other desserts to serve all your holiday needs.
Thanks to Driscoll's for suppling the farm fresh strawberries.





Saturday, August 3, 2013

CAKES GALORE: Have you ever tried Piggy or Mayonnaise Cake - what about a Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble



Congratulations Karen Mincy of Shelby Township! Karen was the winner of this week’s Cookbook Giveaway and will receive The Cake Mix Doctor Returns!
Karen’s winning recipes and other submitted favorites could become one of your favorites.

Four-layer Chocolate Dessert
Mix the following like a pie crust and press into 9”x 13” pan:
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1-1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3 Tbsp. sugar
Bake 15 min. at 350° and Cool
Beat together:
1 8-oz. and 1 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese
1-1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
Fold in:
1-1/2 cups Cool Whip
Spread evenly on first layer
Beat together until thick:
3 small pkgs. chocolate instant pudding
4-1/2 cups milk
Pour over cheese mixture.
Spread remainder of Cool Whip over chocolate layer.
Keep refrigerated.
Sweet N’ Sour Rotini Chicken
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts
2 cups tri-color rotini or fusilli
1 each - large green pepper and large yellow pepper
2 carrots sliced (and/or any other vegetables)
1 cup fresh pineapple
1 jar Chun’s Sweet n’ Sour Sauce
Directions
Slice chicken and thoroughly cook, slightly browning.  Cut into pieces.
Bring 3 quarts water to a boil. Add 1 tsp. salt and pasta. Simmer for approximately 8 minutes.  Drain pasta.
Place chicken and cut-up vegetables and pineapple in large bowl. Top with Chun’s Sweet n’ Sour Sauce. Mix with rotini.
Serves 3-4
(Chun’s can be purchased at Meijer’s)
Thanks to Karen Mincy for her Four-layer chocolate dessert and Sweet N’ Sour Rotini Chicken.

Jo-Ellen Lockwood of West Bloomfield has been making this cake for over 40 years. She says you can stir it up without a mixer and because it doesn't need a frosting, it is easy to transport to picnics and potlucks.Drawing cookbook winner
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cake
Ingredients
1 3/4 cup boiling water
1 cup quick oats
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter or margarine – softened
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup flour
1 Tsp. baking soda
1/2 Tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. Cocoa
1 12-oz bag chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Directions
In a large mixing bowl pour boiling water over quick oats. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir in white and brown sugars and softened butter or margarine. Add eggs, flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa and mix well. Stir in 1/2 package of chocolate chips and pour into a 9”x12” pan prepared with cooking spray. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips and chopped nuts over batter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.
Thank you, Jo-Ellen for your long-time favorite cake recipe and for entering my cookbook giveaway.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble
Ingredients
5 cups Rhubarb, cut into small pieces
1 cup sugar
1 6-oz box strawberry Jello
1 bag frozen whole strawberries
1/2 cup water
1 yellow cake mix
1 stick butter or margarine
1 cup chopped walnuts
Oatmeal
Directions
Heat rhubarb, sugar, Jello, strawberries and water in large sauce pan. Pour heated mixture into greased 9x13 baking pan.
Combine, using fork: cake mix, butter or margarine, walnuts and 2 or 3 handfuls of oatmeal. Mixture will be crumbly. Pour cake mixture over top of rhubarb mixture.
2 or 3 handfuls of oatmeal
1 cup walnuts
Mixture will be a bit crumbly
Pour cake mixture on top of rhubarb mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. ENJOY!!
Thank you, Loma Fischer for submitting this delightful recipe and entering my cookbook giveaway.
Cindi Kwit of Highland submitted this recipe and says it is a favorite cake of all the chocoholics in her family. Well Cindi, from one chocoholic family to another – I’ll put this on my to-bake list.

Mayonnaise Cake
Mix the following ingredients 
1 cup sugar                        
2 cups flour
1-1/4 Tsp. baking soda         
1/2 cup cocoa
Add
1 cup cold water              
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 Tsp. vanilla
Pour into buttered 9”x12” pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
Frosting 
1 cup sugar                     
1 cup water
3 Tbsp. cornstarch               
2 squares baking chocolate
1 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. vanilla
Blend all together in a sauce pan over medium heat.
When it starts to boil, add butter and vanilla.  Cook a little longer then spread immediately over cooled cake.  Frosting will be very glossy - and DELICIOUS!

And here’s a favorite all the way from the Sunshine State. Joanne Figurelle of Estero, Florida submitted one of her favorites and was entered in my cookbook giveaway.
Piggy Cake
Ingredients
1 yellow cake mix w/pudding in the mix
3/4 cup salad oil
4 large eggs
1 can mandarin oranges w/juice
Beat all ingredients with mixer and pour into greased 9”x12” pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
When cake is cool, mix and frost with:
1 20-oz can crushed pineapple w/juice
1 large box instant lemon pudding mix
1 8-oz tub Cool Whip
Chill and serve.

Not too early to start thinking pumpkin! Bridgetta Snider of West Bloomfield submits this quick, family recipe.
Pumpkin Pound Cake
1 yellow cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 16-oz can solid pack pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 cup water
Mix all ingredients with electric mixer for 3 minutes. Bake in floured Bundt or tube pan at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Lemon Cake Pudding
1 lemon cake mix prepared according to directions on box using an oiled and floured Bundt pan.
1 box lemon Jello instant pudding
1 small tub Cool Whip
Prepare pudding in large bowl. Mix in tub of Cool Whip. Completely cover cake on sides and top. Refrigerate.
Thank you, Julia Murray of Pontiac for sharing this recipe for all the lemon lovers out there.

Would you like to win a great cookbook just by sending in your favorite recipe?

Here’s how to enter:
Email one of your favorite recipes to me at Vicki.Arsenault@oakpress.com or if you prefer, you can send by mail: Vicki Arsenault, The Oakland Press, 48 W. Huron St., Pontiac, MI 48342. If sending by mail, please include a contact number for questions or notifying the winner.
If you have a photo, please send that along with your recipe. 
Contact Vicki Arsenault at 248-745-4621 or email Vicki.arsenault@oakpress.com Follow me on Twitter @OCKidKorner Touting @ http://www.tout.com/u/ockidskorner

Thursday, August 1, 2013

FEATURED RECIPE: Twinkies Sweet Cream and Fruit Dessert

What better way to celebrate the "comeback" of the Twinkies than with a creamy, fruity dessert. A cream cheese blend of goodness with a saucy, fruit blend is the perfect pair with these golden cream filled sponge cake rolls.
This dessert is light but filled with pure sweetness. I recently prepared it for a family dinner and it was nothing but raves from the table. With fresh fruit at its peak, it's a perfect dessert for the season.
Twinkies Sweet Cream and Fruit Dessert
1 box Hostess Twinkies
2 8-oz pkg Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
1/2 cup confectioner sugar
1 12-oz tub Cool Whip (completely thawed)
2 individual cups of Dannon Greek Vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tsp. vanilla
1 pint blueberries
2 1/2 cups dices fresh strawberries
1 stick butter
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
Directions
Blend softened cream cheese and confectioner sugar with mixer until smooth. Add heavy cream and yogurt and continue to mix until well blended. Fold in Cool Whip and set aside.
In medium sauce pan over low heat, melt butter. Add flour and mix until smooth. Add sugar, vanilla, blueberries and strawberries. Cook over low heat until fruit creates a sauce.Strawberries will be very soft but blueberries should not be mushy.
Using trifle bowl or similar, line bottom of bowl with 3 Twinkies cut length-wise. Spread 1/3 of cream cheese mixture over Twinkies. Pour 1/3 of fruit mixture over cream cheese. Continue this process until you have three layers, ending with fruit mixture on top.
Now, you've probably noticed that you have one extra Twinkie in the box.You could treat yourself, or you could share with that little one or maybe the big one that's been hovering over your shoulder in the kitchen. Enjoy!


Saturday, June 29, 2013

Readers submit recipes; enter Cookbook Giveaway drawing

Readers shared their recipes to enter in the Cookbook Giveaway drawing.
Rho Blanchard says her Cheese Squares are fast and easy to make and light enough to make them just right after a meal.
Elegant Cheese Squares
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
3 tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup softened butter or margarine
1 8-oz pkg. cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip
Directions
Combine crumbs, 3 tbsp. sugar, 1/4 cup butter or margarine and mix well.
Press firmly into 8 inch square pan (bottom and up sides)
Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes
Beat cream cheese and blend with 1/2 cup sugar. Add milk, lemon juice and vanilla and blend. Add Cool Whip and spoon into crumb pan. Chill until set.
Garnish with lemon twist or mint leaves and enjoy.
Thank you, Rho Blanchard of West Bloomfield for your recipe.
Cherry Dessert
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 can cherry pie filling
Directions
Cut margarine into flour and sugar. Add coconut and mix gently. Pat one-half of mixture in 8x8 inch pan. Cover with one can cherry pie filling. Sprinkle with remaining flour mixture.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or lightly browned. Top with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Thank you, Robie Radford of White Lake.
Sinfully Simple Chocolate Dessert
1 pkg. devils food cake mix (baked according to directions in 9x13" pan) cut up into cubes
1 16-oz. Cool Whip ( 12 oz. can also be used without any problems)
3 small chocolate instant pudding, prepared according to directions
1 pkg. of Heath Bits
Directions
Layer in Large bowl (bigger than trifle bowl):
Cake cubes
Pudding
Cool Whip
Heath Bits
You can make either 2 or 3 layers. Serves a large amount
Refrigerate.
Thank you, Paulette Williams of Troy for your sinfully simple recipe.
Jacqueline Castine was featured in The Oakland Press many years ago with this recipe. She has this to say about her recipe: "While I was leading a senior citizen group in a game of mental health bingo, I overheard a woman tell her table mates about this dessert. I memorized it because I didn't have anything to write on at the moment. It has been featured on the front page food section of the Oakland Press and Neil Rubin's column on Easy Super Bowl recipes for guys to make at home.
Sander's Show Stopper Ice Cream Dessert
What you need
A spring form pan
A plain pound cake
1/2 gallon of butter pecan ice cream
1 small jar of Sander's milk chocolate fudge topping
4 chocolate toffee candy bars (Heath or Skor)
Directions
Crumble half of pound cake into bottom of pan and cover with half of the ice cream. Break up candy bars with a hammer and sprinkle half on top of the ice cream. Warm topping in microwave and drizzle half of fudge over layer in a lattice effect. Repeat layering ingredients.
Cover with foil or saran wrap and keep in freezer until ready to serve. Release spring form rim.
Serve this magnificent ice cream convection from the pan bottom.
Take your bows!
Note: If you have a large spring form pan, you can double the ingredients and serve 12-14.
Take your bows, Jacqueline. This sounds fantastic!
Sharon Giannangeli of Rochester Hills says this is a recipe that gets great accolades whenever she makes it. She often adds chocolate chips to the batter and eliminates the frosting. It still turns out moist and great!
Banana Cake
Preheat oven to 350
Grease and flour 1 Bundt pan or two 9" round pans.
Mix together first five ingredients and set aside.
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 cups flour
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup margarine softened
2 eggs
2-3 very ripe bananas mashed
1 cup sour cream
1 teas vanilla
1/4 - 1/2 cups chopped walnuts and/or 1 cup chocolate chips
Directions
Cream sugar and margarine together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and mix well. Add bananas, vanilla and sour cream. Stir in dry ingredients. Mix well. Fold in nuts and chocolate chips.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for approximately 45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Using potholders, place serving dish inverted on top of cake and flip over. Cool before frosting (I don't frost as it is very moist but that is your choice. You can also sprinkle with powdered sugar)
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 8-oz cream cheese, softened
3-4 tbl. softened margarine or butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Dash salt
2 cups powdered sugar
Beat cream cheese and butter. Add sugar and beat until consistency you like. Add vanilla. If too thin, add more sugar. If too thick, add a bit of milk.
Crumb Topped Cowboy Coffee Cake
1 1/4 cup sifted flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
Combine flour, salt, sugar and shortening until crumbly. Reserve 1/4 cup to sprinkle over top.
Add to above ingredients (not reserve):
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Mix thoroughly.
Add 1 egg well beaten
1/2 cup sour milk (Buttermilk)
Mix well.
Pour into waxed or parchment lined 9x9 square cake pan. Sprinkle reserved crumbs over top.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Thank you, Jeanne Morse of White Lake for your recipe.
Barbara Conti submitted her recipe for homemade lemon curd. She says, this curd is so good you can spread it over your body (So, she's been told!)
Lemon Curd
Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
Grated rind and juice of 2 fresh lemons
Directions
Melt butter in top part of a double sauce pan. Place over low heat and slowly add sugar, stirring until well blended. Gradually pour beaten eggs in the butter and sugar mixture. Continue stirring until mixture is light and creamy. Do not allow it to get very hot. Grate peel from lemons and add to the mixture. Squeeze the juice from the lemons and strain. Slowly add lemon juice while continuing to stir.
Place the pan over the lower part of the double saucepan, containing the boiling water. Over low heat, stir until the curd forms a film on the back of a spoon. Pour into clean, screw-top jars. About (3) 1/2 pint jars.
This curd can be used for cookies, tarts, cakes or pies.
Thank you, Barbara Conti of Waterford for your recipe.
Julie's 'Gourmet' noodles
Julie Walker offers up this very quick and simple spin on Ramen noodles.
1 pkg. Ramen noodles (any flavor)
Butter or margarine
Parmesan cheese
Pepper
Boil noodles according to directions, drain. Add butter or margarine to taste. Shake in pepper and Parmesan cheese of equal amounts. Mix well and enjoy.
Julie saves the flavor packets, included in the Ramen noodle package, to use in her favorite homemade noodle soups.
Thank you, Julie Walker for your recipe.
Here's how to enter:
Email one of your favorite recipes to me at Vicki.Arsenault@oakpress.com or if you prefer, you can send by mail: Vicki Arsenault, The Oakland Press, 48 W. Huron St., Pontiac, MI 48342. If sending by mail, please include a contact number for questions or notifying the winner.
If you have a photo, please send that along with your recipe.
Contact Vicki Arsenault at 248-745-4621 or email Vicki.arsenault@oakpress.com Find more of my recipes at www.theoaklandpress.com

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Cookbook Giveaway: One woman's Indian dessert, a flash back to the 70s and other favorites

Love dessert? How about making desserts? Bob Hildebrand and Carol Hildebrand bring you 500 5-ingredient recipes and a whole lot more in this cookbook.
Simple yet elegant, from beginners to seasoned and serious homemakers – this book offers it all.
Chapter one will take you through Pantry Basics and techniques and will lead you through 12 chapters of cakes, brownies, pies and tarts and many other delectable chapters.
This cookbook can by yours by simply sharing one of your favorite recipes. All you need to do is submit your recipe before my June 4 cookbook drawing and your name will be entered.
Here’s how to enter:
Email one of your favorite recipes to me at Vicki.Arsenault@oakpress.com or if you prefer, you can send by mail: Vicki Arsenault, The Oakland Press, 48 W. Huron St., Pontiac, MI 48342. If sending by mail, please include a contact number for questions or notifying the winner.
If you have a photo, please send that along with your recipe.
The drawing for my next cookbook, 500 5-Ingredient Desserts will be held on June 4.
Winners will be announced here and in The Oakland Press.

Bonnie suggests a breakfast of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit with these muffins for a great breakfast.
Ham and Cheese Muffins
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Spray muffin tin with cooking spray
Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup milk
2 tbl oil
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup dices fully cooked ham
3 cups Bisquick
1/2 tsp. dill weed
2 tbl maple syrup
Mix all ingredients together. Pour mixture into muffin tins. Sprinkle cheese on top of batter.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes.
Thank you, Bonnie Keding of Waterford for your recipe.

Roberta says this is a great dish for big gatherings and especially cookouts, nothing but raves whenever she makes this. She said I should make it for one of my big family gatherings, but call it Vicki’s Bean’s and wait for the raves! Well Roberta, I may just do that.
Bert’s Beans
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. bacon
1 large diced onion
2 large cans pork and beans
2 regular size cans butter beans
2 cans hot chili beans
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tsp. dry mustard
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Directions
Brown ground beef and onion together and drain. Completely cook bacon. Mix all ingredients together in slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 hours.
Thank you, Roberta Blanchard of Auburn Hills for your recipe.

Cherry Dessert
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup sugar
1 can cherry pie filling
Directions
Cut margarine into flour and sugar. Add coconut and mix gently. Pat one-half of mixture in 8x8 inch pan. Cover with one can cherry pie filling. Sprinkle with remaining flour mixture.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or lightly browned. Top with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Thank you, Robie Radford of White Lake.

Chocolate Lush
Stir together:
1 cup sifted flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 tbl cocoa
Combine and add to dry ingredients:
2 tbl melted shortening
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Mix until well blended and spread into ungreased 8x8x2 inch pan.
Combine:
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 tbl cocoa
1-3/4 cups hot water
Pour over top of batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Cut into squares and serve warm or cold.
Top the inverted squares with chocolate “lush” from bottom of pan.
Thank you, Dorothy Lookabaugh of Pontiac, this sounds luscious.

Barb’s Quickie Trifle
Over 40 years ago, Barb Bartos was the high school correspondent to The Oakland Press, reporting to Jody Headlee. Jody was a columnist for many years at The Oakland Press and loved by many. Barb went on to become editor of a chain of weekly newspapers. She says she always enjoys reading good print and shares her recipe, which she calls a light and not-too-sweet ending for any meal.
Ingredients
2 3-oz packages Ladyfingers
1 8-oz tub Philadelphia Indulgence Dark Chocolate cream cheese spread
1 cup heavy whipping cream prepared
To prepare whipping cream: Using electric hand mixer, blend whipping cream with 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla until thick, rippled consistency.
Directions
Layer Ladyfingers in bottom of small round glass bowl. Top with one-half of chocolate mixture. Layer one-half of prepared whipping cream on top. Repeat next layer in same order. Refrigerate for several hours. Scoop with a spoon into small fruit or dessert dishes to serve.
Thank you, Barbara Bartos of Clarkston.

This recipe won Pat Jackson a “Gold” in the “Golden Age Games” with the Waterford Parks and Recreation in August of 2012.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie
Ingredients
1 8-oz pkg cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup raspberry jam
2 cup whipped topping
1 regular pie crust – prebaked according to directions
A few fresh raspberries to scatter on top of pie
Directions
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and peanut butter until smooth. Spread in prepared pie crust. In separate bowl, stir jam well. Mix whipped topping into jam until completely mixed. Spread over top of peanut butter mixture. Scatter fresh raspberries on top.
Thank you, Pat Jackson of Waterford for sharing the “Gold”!

Di’s Taco Salad
3 lbs hamburger – cooked and drained
1 1/2 heads lettuce – chopped
1 bunch green onions cut up in rings
2 tomatoes cut up
1 can black olives, large or jumbo cut up in rings
1 8-oz pkg shredded cheddar cheese
1 16-oz bottle of Catalina or Western salad dressing
2 pkg taco seasoning
Dash of chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together with lots of love and enjoy.
Diana Deneen of Waterford says her family and friends all really like this recipe. Thank you for sharing your recipe Diana.

Aditi Jasra of Calgary, Canada submitted her favorite dessert, although she said she’s more of a “spice girl.”
Aditi says this is a very simple coconut burfi recipe made from only a few ingredients: condensed milk, coconut, and cardamom powder and dry fruits of choice. This is a really yummy and quick dessert to satisfy your sweet cravings after a good Indian meal. One of my favorite Indian Mithai.
Coconut Burfi
Heat a pan and add tbsp of butter. Let it melt. Add 14-oz can of condensed milk and 14-oz pack of sweet coconut flakes. Combine the ingredients in the pan. Add cardamom powder and let everything cook for 5-6 minutes.
Add dry fruit and then transfer on to a pan greased with butter/ghee. Spread evenly and cut in equal portions. Place in the fridge and let it set for about 2 hours.
Serve when completely set to your friends and family.
You can also find many of Aditi’s great Indian recipes with videos On Youtube

Barbara Peckham of Burton and the winner of the 2500 Recipes Cookbook, submitted a little “flash from the past” with this Jell-O recipe.
Barbara says this is the "original" recipe for Knox Blox. Back in the 70's Jell-O offered a copper 7x10" pan to make Knox Blox. When the blox had set-up you would cut them into the squares and the bottom (which became the top) had impressions like actual wooden toy blocks. She says she still has the one she purchased all those years ago for her daughters.
KNOX BLOX
4 unflavored Knox gelatin packets
4 cups boiling water
3 small pkgs. of Jell-O (your choice of flavors)
Mix well until all the gelatin and Jell-O are blended. Pour into pan. Chill until firm, cut, and enjoy.
Thank you Barbara Peckham of Burton, for a step back to the 70s!




Sharon Giannangeli says this is a recipe that gets great accolades whenever she makes it.  She often adds chocolate chips to the batter and eliminates the frosting. It still turns out moist and great! 

Monday, April 29, 2013

2500 Recipes Cookbook Giveaway: Hidden Pear Gelatin Salad


Sharon Reinhardt of West Bloomfield submitted this recipe and is now entered in my 2500 Recipes Cookbook Giveaway.
She says even the men in her family love this recipe and she usually doubles it.

Hidden Pear Gelatin Salad

1 16-oz. can pear halves
1 3-oz. box Jello. (Sharon uses orange)
1 Cup or 1/2 of an 8 oz. tub of Cool Whip
2 Tbl milk
1 8-oz. pkg cream cheese

Directions
Drain pears reserving juice.
Place juice in a small saucepan, bring to a boil. Remove from heat and dissolve dry box of jello into juice. Stir until dissolved.
Cool slightly.
In a medium bowl mash pears with a potato masher. Mix in cream cheese and milk. Beat with an electric mixer till smooth.
Add jello and juice mixture into above and mix again with beater.
Fold in cool whip and refrigerate.

Thank you for sharing your recipe Sharon Reinhardt of West Bloomfield!

Want to be entered in the drawing to win this cookbook, it's simple. Here's how:

To Enter:
Email one of your favorite recipes to me at Vicki.Arsenault@oakpress.com or if you prefer, you can send by mail: Vicki Arsenault, The Oakland Press, 48 W. Huron St., Pontiac, MI 48342.  If sending by mail, please include a contact number for questions or notifying the winner.
If you have a photo, please send that along with your recipe.
The drawing will be held on May 14.The winning recipe will be posted here, on the Oakland Press website and in print.