Three Easy and Delicious Cake Bakes!

 Summer Cakes!  Easy to make and great addition to any cookout or party.  Graduation is here and a few easy cakes are always a good idea or if you want to be a do it yourself BAKE A CAKE for your graduate this a a great cake. You can easily make it in a 13x9 inch pan or larger. ** If larger you will have to double recipe. 

This cake can serve at least 12 and possibly more.  It all depends on the size of the serving.

I love Bundt cakes because they are so easy and present well.

I make this cake in a Bundt pan but it is easily made in a 13x9 inch pan too.  Baking times vary.

Before adding coconut

This cake is very moist so refrigerating it is a good idea especially if you top it with the cream cheese icing.

1 box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1 -21 oz. can pineapple pie filling
1 tsp. coconut extract
1/2 cup maraschino cherries cut in half and drained well

*****You can use this simple recipe and change the box mix to your cake mix of choice.  I did three versions and they all worked out perfectly.  

All you have to do is substitute the pie filling, extract and  topping.  The chocolate was done with a cherry pie filling and topped with chocolate icing and chopped almonds and made in a 13x9 inch pan.  The other two, one was pineapple pie filling plus some added drained and chopped maraschino cherries, coconut extract was used and the third was apple pie filling and cinnamon were used and a caramel drizzle was made for it.  Enjoy!

Coconut Cherry cake on left
Chocolate Cherry Cake front
Apple cinnamon cake top right.

Mix eggs, cake mix and pineapple together in large bowl.  Add drained cherries and carefully incorporate into cake mix.

Grease a bundt pan with cooking spray.  Pour batter into pan and bake 350 degrees for approximately 50 minutes.  Check by inserting a toothpick in center to make sure it is done.

Cool 15 minutes and remove from pan. Let cool completely and then ice.

***If using a 13x9 inch pan your timing may be less than 50 minutes.  Check after 30 minutes with toothpick in center and proceed if needed.

Icing
4 oz. cream cheese softened
2 T butter softened
approx. 2 cups confectionery sugar
1/4 +cup milk
1 cup + coconut (optional) for the ultimate coconut cake

**Beat cream cheese and butter add confectionery sugar and milk.  Slowly add milk to mixture so as to make it to the consistency you like.  Too much milk will make the icing too thin.

If using cream cheese Icing I would refrigerate cake.

Mexican Lasagna! My way!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was out and about most of the day so I put this  meal  together very quickly. All in all it was prepared and ready to serve in about 1 hour or a little more. I had bought the beef and veggies when I went to the grocery store the other day and had sour cream I wanted to use before it expired and for some unknown reason I bought the tortilla's just in case so this is my own concoction (there's a word I haven't used in forever lol) and it is definitely a meal I would make again.  Please enjoy and I am happy to say Happy Cooking :).

1 lb. ground beef
2 T canola oil
1 small leek, sliced thin (you can use a small sweet onion)
1/2  of a green pepper,diced or 1 can chillies drained
2 T. Chili Powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. red pepper (optional if you like spicy)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 +can water( thin with a little more water if needed)
1 lb. light sour cream 
1 cup baby spinach(rinsed and patted dry)
1 to 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
lettuce (shredded or sliced thin)
1 tomato seeded, cut in small pieces
oil and vinegar or salad dressing of choice
Approx. 6 to 8 Tortilla cut in 3 


p.s. If you want to save some time you can probably use 1 pkg. of taco seasoning instead of the seasonings I have posted.  Just sayin :)

In a medium size deep pan on medium heat saute meat in canola oil.  Add onion and diced pepper. Cook until meat browns and pepper and onion are slightly tender.  Add chili powder, cumin, red pepper, garlic powder  and paprika.  Stir until all meat is coated with seasonings.  Add soup and 1 + can water. Cook until mixture starts to thicken slightly.(You want mixture to be thin enough so you will be able to have enough to layer sauce with tortilla's.

In a medium size baking dish(13x9) place some of above meat mixture .  Layer 1 tortilla (cut in three strips). Use more if pan is larger.

Place several dollops of sour cream and repeat tortilla, meat mixture, spinach, sour cream, tortilla, meat mixture, spinach, sour cream etc. until you end with the with the meat mixture. Top with sharp cheddar cheese and bake 350 degrees covered for approximate 20 minutes, remove cover and bake an additional 10 minutes.  Allow to set for 5 minutes (if possible) and cut in squares. 

Top with sliced and chopped lettuce and tomato with a splash of vinaigrette dressing if desired. 

Yummmmmmmy!

10/10/13

Is anyone seeing my blog posts?

Good Morning! 

As I sit looking out my window this beautiful Sunday morning I wonder if anyone is seeing my posts?

I seldom if ever get any comments on what I have baked or cooked.  I don't know if my settings are not set correctly or if just maybe you don't like or care to post a comment.

It seems over the last few months I am getting less and less views on my blog and it is disappointing to say the least and although I can say I love doing this blog I am a little discouraged.

I know there are so many blogs now on the internet and my posts are basic everyday food recipes that the everyday person would find easy to make as well as lots I like to try and I am proud to say are all are kitchen tested.

I may be a little down today so that is probably why I am writing this short but to the point post.

I work at being positive every single day and share that on my Facebook page with words of inspiration and positivity to help each of us start our day in a positive way.

Please either email me at mjkitchenjoy@gmail.com or comment I'd love to hear from you.My email address