Cranberry Cake

Okay, can you tell I love cooking in December? Here is another awesome dessert.

Cranberry Cake

Cake:
5 Tbs Butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
pinch of salt
1 cup milk
2 cups fresh cranberries

Cream togther butter and sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Batter will be thick. Pur into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350* for 30-45 minutes. Serve sauce!

Sauce:
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup whipping cream

Pour into a sauce pan and let dissolve on low heat stirring occasionally. Serve sauce warm.

Yummy Trifle

I love this trifle, but it is most definitely a "eat in moderation" dessert!

Raspberry, White Chocolate, and Almond Trifle

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups chilled heavy whipping cream, divided

12 ounces high-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Perugina), chopped

1 1/4 teaspoons almond extract, divided

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

7 ounces Boudoirs or Champagne biscuits (crisp ladyfinger cookies),* divided

1 cup raspberry jam, melted, divided

1 1/2 12-ounce packages frozen unsweetened raspberries, partially thawed, divided

2 6-ounce containers fresh raspberries

3/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted



Preparation

Bring 1 cup cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool to barely lukewarm, about 10 minutes. Beat 2 1/2 cups cream and 1/2 teaspoon extract in large bowl to soft peaks. Fold in white chocolate mixture.

Stir sugar and 1/2 cup water in small saucepan over medium heat until sugar melts. Mix in 3/4 teaspoon extract; remove syrup from heat. Quickly submerge 1 biscuit in syrup; shake excess back into pan. Place dipped biscuit in bottom of 14-cup trifle dish. Repeat with enough biscuits to cover bottom of dish.

Spread 1/3 of melted jam over biscuits in dish. Top with 1/3 of partially thawed berries with juices. Spread 1/3 of whipped chocolate cream over. Repeat layering with dipped biscuits, melted jam, partially thawed berries, and whipped chocolate cream 2 more times. Mound fresh berries in center of trifle. Sprinkle almonds around edge. Cover and chill at least 5 hours and up to 24 hours.

Christmas Craft

I started making these this summer to give as neighbor gifts. However, after a bout of morning sickness and a 15 week, cold, flu, sinus infection I was lagging behind. I only managed to make about 15, so now these are going to the kids teachers and a few family members. They are actually really easy to make, about a half hour per cloth and you only need an ounce of yarn for each one. Enjoy!

Janelle's Star Dishcloth
Designed by: Janelle Schlossman
Rating: Easy - Medium

Materials: worsted wt. cotton yarn; size H hook size is about 9" from point to point

Instructions:
Ch 4; work 9 dc in first st of ch. Join with sl st to form ring. Ch1, turn. Row1: In next dc work * 2hdc-ch2-2hdc; skip next dc. Repeat from * 4 more times. Join with sl st. Ch1, turn
Row 2: Skip next hdc *sc in next hdc, 2sc-ch2-2sc in next ch2 space (for point); sc in next hdc, skip next 2 hdc, repeat from * around, join with sl st. Ch1, turn.
Row 3: Skip next sc; *sc in next 2 sc, 2sc-ch2-2sc in point, sc in next 2 sc, skip next 2 sc. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st, ch1, turn.
Row 4: Hdc in same st as ch1. Hdc in next 4 sc; *2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point, hdc in next 8 sc; repeat from * 3 more times. 2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point, hdc in next 3 hdc; join with sl st. Ch2, turn.
Row 5: Sk next hdc, hdc in each of next 4 hdc, *2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point; hdc in next 5 hdc, skip 2 hdc, hdc in next 5 hdc; repeat from* Join with sl st, ch2. Do not turn.
Row 6: Hdc in next 5 hdc, *2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point; hdc in next 6 hdc, skip 2 hdc, hdc in next 6 hdc, repeat from * around. Join with sl st, ch 2. Do not turn.
Row 7: Hdc in next 6 hdc, *2hdc-ch2-2hdc in point; hdc in next 7 hdc, skip 2 hdc, hdc in next 7 hdc, repeat from * around. Join with sl st, ch 1, turn.
Row 8: Sc in next 8 hdc, * 3 sc in point, sc in next 18 sc, repeat from * around ending with 9 sc after last point. Join with sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Another reason to never move!

Living by an elementary school has a few advantages: We get to see the Halloween parade go right by our house, we never have to park to attend a school function, we get awesome valentines from cute kids in February, oh and this year I received several handmade "remember to vote" posters and flyers on my door. I love getting to see the kids and their community involvement, but today was the best gift of all.

This morning my doorbell rang. I assumed it was UPS leaving a package and was in no real hurray to answer. But when I opened the door I was surprised to see 24 children from Mrs. Lau's 3rd grade class smiling and singing to me. Amidst their happy faces, singing, and dancing I was so happy too. When they were done we were presented with the cutest handmade ornament and about 24 awesome hugs. My favorite were the kids who greeted me with a "HI DANIEL'S MOM!" I love my new title! It was a very cute and welcome surprise this morning.

Poppy Seed Bread

I love this bread, but for some reason I only make it for Christmas. We took this to our caroling party the other night and it went pretty fast. If you use mini loaf pans this makes a yummy and easy neighbor gift!

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. oil
3 Tbsp. poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 tsp. butter flavoring

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. With mixer, blend all ingredients until well mixed. Pour into greased and floured loaf pans. You can make 2 large loves or 6 mini loaves. Bake 60 minutes (less if using mini pans) or until tester is clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan.

Glaze:
1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. butter flavoring
1/2 tsp. almonds extract

Heat all ingredients until sugar melts. Prick bread with fork and pour glaze over while warm.