Monday, July 26, 2010

Cinnamon Pickles


This month I had my first official canning experience. I really wanted to try canning cinnamon pickles ever since my Aunt Sue shared a jar she made last year. The process took a total of 4 days, but it was worth doing. I didn't post the recipe, but I thought it would be fun to share the experience.


Separating the pickles from the syrup.

Heating the jars in the oven.

Heating the syrup, jar lids, and rings.

I turned the jars upside down to cool and help seal the lids.

The beautiful, finished product.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting


Mandy, my old roommate, just celebrated her 29th birthday. Waiting until the last minute, Mandy and I decided we should bake a cake for the dinner party that night. After laying out by the pool, we hurried home to look through recipes at my house. I came upon a banana cake recipe my cousin passed along to me. Lucky for me, I had all the ingredients at my house, minus the sour cream. I end up running to the store and then get back to the house just in time to throw it all together, jump in the shower, and get ready for dinner! I think everyone enjoyed it!

Cake:

3 small ripe bananas or 2 large ripe bananas

4 large tablespoons sour cream

1 white cake mix

3 egg whites

2 tablespoons oil

1 1/3 c. milk

1 tsp vanilla flavoring

Frosting:

1 8 oz pkg cream cheese

1 stick butter

1/3 c. nuts of your choice (i use walnuts)

1 box of powdered sugar (4 cups)

1 tsp vanilla flavoring

Blend bananas with mixer, adding your sour cream. When mixture is well blended, not lumpy, add your cake mix, egg whites, oil, milk, flavoring together and mix. Add milk last so you will be able to judge the consistency of the cake and adjust as needed.

Once well blended, pour mixture into a greased/sprayed, 9x13 cake pan or 3 cake layers.

Bake at 350F for about 25 min. or until the cake is done. (I had to bake the cake about 20 minutes longer!!!) Cake will spring back in the center when touched if done, don't over bake! Remove cake from oven and allow to cool.

Tip: Place wax paper over cakes to capture the moisture while cooling; this adds to a really moist, delicious cake!

Mix cream cheese and butter together in a bowl. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix until you get the consistency you like.

Add a little milk to the frosting while mixing if you like it to be creamy. When icing is done, add 1/3 chopped walnuts to the icing. Crush them right out of the package with the end of a blunt object to make smaller pieces.

Stir walnuts into frosting well. After cakes have cooled, frost each layer with icing.