#197_Kiddie KupKakes

CUPCAKES FOR THE FUNDRAISING TOMORROW

I hope there will be lots of kids to show up at the Luncheon
and Bake Sale so they can enjoy these cupcakes.

#163_Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

The title already describes what this dessert is.
Yes, these are chocolate cupcakes from
my aunt Betty's (Crocker) cake mix,
iced with buttercream frosting with
finely chopped strawberries.
Each cupcake is then topped with
whipped cream-filled strawberry, which is optional.


This is truly easy and simple to make dessert,
ideal for bridal shower, kids' birthday parties or girls' "PJ" parties.
Actually I made these for two birthdays today,
and it didn't take me very long to do 24 of them.
They are YUMMY!

For the Buttercream Icing:
(for 24 cupcakes or two layer round cake or a flat cake)

Beat (about) 3/4 of a bag of confectioner's sugar
and a stick of softened butter together until fluffy.
Sorry, I don't really measure my ingredients unless I have to.
I just like to eyeball most of the time.
Can add about half a stick of softened cream cheese.
(this is optional but is a great idea)

Fold in about half a cup of chopped strawberries.
Careful not to put too much strawberries because
strawberries "weep" (for lack of term)
when chopped and then makes the frosting runny.

That's exactly what happened with these ones I made here.
The frosting turned out a little thin because
I put in a little too much chopped strawberries.
This is what happens when you don't measure,
good thing I didn't put in waaaay to much.

In a way, I kind of like the effect of the frosting draping down
the sides of the cupcakes, don't you?
It's a good justification!

If you have extra frosting save it for DIPS for fresh strawberries....
Mmmmm! Even YUMMY-ER!!

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#110_Easter Dinner

Bunny Rolls


My husband said they look more like pigs than bunnies.
Maybe he is right, but the G'kids thought they are bunnies.
Maybe it is because I had told them that
I made them "bunny rolls" before they saw them, ha-ha!!

So if my husband really thinks these look like pigs
then I might as well call them lechon rolls. LOL!!
Translation of lechon in English? Roast pig.
Oink-oink!!

Dinner Rolls baked in muffin pans

I used the Potato Dinner Rolls recipe
Click here for the recipe


Chocolate Cupcakes
with cream cheese frosting
garnished with dyed coconut flakes and jelly beans

Amy, our daughter usually makes these cupcakes
and since she worked all night last night
and will be working again tonight as a nurse,
I don't think she will be making them for today.
So I attempted to make them myself.
I didn't do as good of a job as she does but I want
to have something Easter-y for the Gkids.

G'daughter Lindsey taking a bite off a cakeball

Vegetable Casserole with Alfredo sauce,
topped with cheese, (posting recipe later)

Angela made this cake and she got the recipe online.
It is a very good cake except I don't like its name.
It's one of those better than s_ _
kind of cake. I think she changed the name to
"Better-than-Brad Pitt Cake" though.

Amy made some of her signature sugar cookies
which was a hit today as always.
She also brought some green salad and spiral ham, both not pictured.

I made some Banana Cream Pie, not pictured,
and Sally brought some pumpkin cookies, not pictured either.
It was hard to keep up with all the food.

This is Potatoes 'N Cream
The recipe is in my former company's cookbook.
(not my company...I meant, the company I used to work for)
I will post the recipe later.

Charlie and Nikki brought some Scalloped Potatoes, not pictured
It was really good!

Roast Beef

7 1/2 pounds of rump roast,
4 hrs in the oven and finished cooking it in the crockpot
for 2 more hours for moist and tender roast.

We had a nice Easter dinner as always,
hope you did too!

#83_Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut-Pecan Frosting

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Using the Coconut Pecan Frosting

(click here for German Chocolate Cake recipe)

I wanted to make a cake to take to my friend Rose for her birthday luncheon. Considering that she is 70 years old, I wanted to do something that wouldn't look like a kiddy cake. It was 10:00 at night and I couldn't think of anything easier to make and would be presentable more than this recipe. Instead of doing a flat cake which is messy from cutting and serving, I thought that making cupcakes would eliminate this problem.

I used a box of Devil's Food Cake mix to make 24 cupcakes, and the Coconut-Pecan Frosting.

If you have a question regarding this post, you can e-mail me at melypresto@gmail.com

#36_German Chocolate Cake

German Chocolate Cake with Coconut-Pecan Frosting

Another simple and easy cake to make would be German chocolate cake with coconut-pecan frosting because you can use boxed cake mix, and the frosting can be made from scratch. It might not look as good as the picture shows because I fouled up with one of the ingredients. I put in the whole can of evaporated milk by mistake, instead of just 1 cup so it took me awhile to cook the frosting down. I had to add a tablespoon of corn syrup so it woudn't be too runny. As you can see, the top is still a little thinner than it is supposed to be, but the taste wasn't affected at all. Still yummy!


Here's the recipe:


1 German chocolate cake mix, bake according to directions on the box
1 recipe for coconut pecan frosting:

Recipe for coconut pecan frosting:

1 cup evaporated milk
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 cup white sugar
1 stick butter
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

1)In a deep pan, or pot, preferably non-stick, combine the milk, egg yolks, sugar and butter. Cook stirring over medium heat until thick, (about 15 minutes or til it reaches the consistency of pudding)
2) Turn down heat to medium low, and add the coconut, pecans, powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir for 2 more minutes. Turn off heat. (it might be a little runny at this point but when you spread it on the cake, the frosting settles quickly)
3) Spread frosting on the cake immediately. (it is easier to spread the frosting on the cake while the frosting is warm).
4) Chill in fridge before slicing.


NOTES:
1)This frosting recipe is good for two 8-inch layers, one 9x13 cake and 24 cupcakes.

2)You can use any kind of chocolate cake recipe, i.e. devil's food, milk chocolate, and other chocolate flavors