Friday, June 19, 2009

The Betty Crocker Baking Clinic

Since my Kitchenaid and I have been best friends this week, I figured that I would share some recipes that seem to have been repeatedly baked during our time of funeral treat dispensing. Pull out your bundt pans!

Mom's Apple Cake
1 1/4 c vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
1 (1/2) t vanilla (I always use more than a recipe calls for.)
Mix these things together first.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 1/2 t baking SODA
1/2 t baking POWDER
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
3 cups flour
Mix these things in next.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3 cups cut up apples (2-3 apples- I leave the skins on. Older apples are fine.)
1 cup nuts (Mom uses walnuts, I used raw slivered almonds that I toasted in a pan.)
1 cup raisins (Mom always uses raisins, I would love to use craisins. Raisins are cheaper, though.)
Fold these things in last.

This is a VERY FINICKY cake. You must bake it in the center of the oven at 350 F. (Don't bake with anything else. It loves to be an only child.) Grease the pan with Pam GENEROUSLY. I had it stick. This will be crusty. Check with a toothpick. Should not be doughy, but not come out completely clean. My mom said that this is a very difficult cake to get done. She suggests that if it isn't done after repeated attempts of doneness, turn the oven off and leave it to bake through the time that it takes to cool the oven down. Whenever that blessed event of doneness occurs, make a little drizzly glaze for the top.

Cheater Pound Cake
1 pkg cake mix (I've used Chocolate or Lemon. Vanilla DOES NOT work well with this recipe.)
1 pkg (3.4 oz box) instant pudding in the same flavor as your cake mix
4 large eggs
1 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Mix together, plunk in a bundt pan sprayed with Pam and bake at 350 F for 50-60 minutes. After 5 minutes or so, invert cake onto a serving plate, drizzle a glaze over top and you are done!
Enjoy!

Smiles in my day:
- I had success with the second apple cake.
- My aunt racing K- up and down our street while riding on her mobility scooter.
- K- having saved enough of her own money to go and buy the Barbie Beach Car that she has been wanting for a few months. She stood at the register and, with help, counted the money to the cashier. (The cashier had much patience.)
- Out of the blue, K- telling me "Oh yes, I hear a 'b' in that word." (Or another letter.) She is initiating Phonemic Awareness games with me! Those classes are working!
- Lightning bugs starting their lightning game last night. We've been waiting!

3 comments:

Julie Bagamary said...

I'm curious how well the pound cake came close to the "real thing."

Bailey's Leaf said...

It doesn't come close to the real thing I suppose, but that is what the side of the cake box says. (Not as heavy.) Everytime we make it (recipe from mom, but printed on the side of many cake boxes), everyone loves it. Easy to make and a crowd pleaser!

Anonymous said...

The apple cake was splendid. Though, I only tasted the one you baked...my attempt may not be as good. Thanks by the way. In case I was too distracted to thank you before. :)
-ak

PS: the last time I left a comment, my verification word was "peepee" and now its "cans out"..blogspots word verification choice sure are strange!! :)