Caribbean Rum Cake

   Rum dum dum!  I enjoy cakes with a noticeable hint of rum so a good suggestion for a dessert when having company is this Rum cake.. outstanding!

 Perfect <3

HI everyone:  Just a quite note and maybe a chuckle for you.  When I made this cake I had enough left after serving that I saved at least 4 slices for my almost 93 year old mom.  

Note: The other day I received a call from her saying "could you make me maybe lol a whole cake next time you come to see me"?  I laughed for ten minutes.  She loves everything I bring in to her but her fondness for this one seems to be obvious.  Could it be the RUM? Too funny!  She keeps me laughing which is a very good thing and yes there will be a whole cake coming her way the next visit.  <3 

When I saw this recipe I knew it was going to be made this holiday.  I make so many cookies etc and pies every holiday so I knew I wanted to try a new recipe and why not today since tomorrow night we are having guests for appetizers and this cake I am sure is going to be a good choice.

I am letting it set overnight and will turn it over to serve tomorrow.  It's shiny because of the butter rum syrup.  Oh MY!!

 It calls for white or dark rum and I chose white rum.  I did cut the rum in half because it did say in the recipe it is quite potent. When I read potent I know what that means so rather than have it too much of a rum taste cutting back on the amount should be just fine.  

We'll be having a few appetizers and surprises such as Spinach Artichoke stuffed french bread , a favorite buffalo chicken ring, fresh cold shrimp, a Hawaiian pineapple pecan rolled cheese ball and a few other yums.  Nothing that takes a lot of work because we have early morning plans with some friends and I am not going to be able to fuss all day.

 

 

I managed to get most of my ingredients ready to go so it'll be easy to put the appetizers together. 

  Rum cake base

• 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup pastry cream filling mix or instant vanilla pudding mix, dry
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup white or golden rum
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon butter rum flavor (optional but excellent)
• 1/4 cup pecan or almond flour, for dusting baking pan Note:  you can make your own almond flour by pulsating 1/2 to 1 cup of almonds in your processor for several minutes to produce fine almond flour.  It's a lot cheaper than buying a whole bag.

Rum soaking syrup

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup white or golden rum(the real deal) lol
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spritz a 10 to 12 cup bundt pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle on the pecan or almond flour and turn the pan to coat evenly. Set aside.
2. Place all of the cake ingredients except the rum, vanilla and butter rum flavoring in the bowl of your stand mixer and blend on medium speed for 2 minutes. Be sure to scrape down the bowl after one minute.
3. Add the rum, vanilla and flavor if using to the batter and blend for another minute. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and spread level with a spatula.
4. Bake the cake for 50 to 55 minutes. You may smell the nut flour toasting at first, especially those not covered in cake batter. When done, the cake will test clean on a cake tester. Bundt cakes are difficult to test properly with a short toothpick. Instead try a piece of dry uncooked spaghetti or linguine.
5. Leave the cake in the pan to cool slightly while you make the soaking syrup.

12/18/15
5/11/16

adapted from:  http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2012/11/26/carribean-rum-cake-bring-the-islands-home-to-you/

Quick Chicken /Gnocchi Soup! OOH LA LA!!

This may be the answer to food overload.  Soothing soup! and hearty too.

This sure was easy!  and PERFECT for any day of the week!  I just love it when I can put something so easy and tasty together quickly. Using store bought gnocchi I made this soup an easy and fast way to make soup a fun way!  You can always add more gnocchi to the soup if you like a hearty type thick kind of soup.  Add lots of diced or sliced carrots too!

I package (16 oz.) gnocchi (cut in half and leave several whole)
1-48 oz Chicken Broth or more (**you can add 1 can cream of chicken soup to it if you like) or better yet skip the cream of chicken soup and make your own with a few T melted butter, flour and half and half)(whisking all together and when incorporated add to broth).
2 cups of water if adding cream of chicken soup 

1 + cup chicken  (I used tenders and cut them in small pieces)
1  to 2 small carrot diced or sliced
celery tops chopped
1 medium potato peeled and cubed
chopped fresh baby spinach (optional)
1/2 to 1 tsp. dried parsley

1 package dried gnocchi or frozen if desired.
Italian grated cheese (optional)

**Note:  I prefer most times all chicken broth which can be easily thickened with a roux of  equal parts of butter and flour and when bubbly adding some broth to thin it slightly then adding the mixture to your broth.

  In a large pot place chicken broth, water and **cream of chicken soup if you are using the cream of chicken soup.  

Bring to a slow boil stirring with each addition.   Add carrots, celery tops and chicken.  Cook slowly until chicken is tender..

Note:  Chicken cooks quickly as you will see.  Add gnocchi and cook until gnocchi are tender.

  Add spinach (optional) a few minutes before serving.  ***All in all I think this meal can be completed in less than 1 hour using stove top method.

**Note: if you are not adding the cream of chicken soup and you want to make a roux you should in a separate small pan place two Tablespoons butter. When melted add Two Tablespoons flour and whisk briskly while adding a few tablespoon hot soup liquid.  Whisk until smooth and add to soup stirring until blended.

Celery, carrots and spinach make this a hearty healthy dish.  

Happy Cooking from my kitchen to yours,

updated 10-23-16
1/23/13

The day after Thanksgiving 2016

Good day! I hope today finds everyone content and happy.

I bet a lot of you may be out and about doing some Black Friday shopping. I'll pass. 

I know several of my grandchildren were out late last night at the mall! I guess it's the place to be since they've been doing it for several years.

Yesterday was perfect. We had our dinner a little later than usual and we all enjoyed it and then had some interesting conversation which is always nice.

We played with the puppies which is a riot. Prissy Sophee and frisky Stanley really had us going. They play nicely for so long but since Stanley is still a pup he finally gets to Sophee and when she's had enough "SHE HAS HAD ENOUGH". Lol So then it's time to separate them. I think a little jealousy is involved since Sophee is 4 and Stanley is 6 months.  All in all the day was relaxing and we were blessed with plenty to eat.

I hope you had a good day and were able to enjoy every mouthful whether at home or out. I'm linking a post from the blog for a few ideas with your leftover turkey. If there is any!! Also a picture or two to enjoy. ❤️ M.j.

Pot Pie Muffins

One Crust Pot Pie

Pot Pie with biscuits

From my kitchen to yours,

https://iliketobakeandcook.blogspot.com/2016/11/quick-thanksgiving-pot-pie-from-my.html?m=1

Thanksgiving 2016

 Great Family Memories last a lifetime!  Enjoy each other!! 

It's been a good day. Our blessings are plenty.  A very Happy Thanksgiving!

The day started out a little on the messy side and it wasn't just the weather.  I attempted to have my first cup of coffee as I usually do and bumped the chair I sit in and all the coffee spilled all over the table and down to the floor.  Thankfully more on the the table than floor.

When something like that happens I didn't know what way to go first so I ran to get paper towels and a garbage can. I had books and of course there was a lamp on the table so needless to say it was a real mess.  I did manage to clean it all and it was back to normal in no time.  Pouring another cup and eating some cookies was how I had intended the morning to start so I was able to get back on the right track after I cleaned it all and although it was a blunder on my part I recovered nicely. LOL

We were eating at our daughter and son in laws today and Susan really put out a great spread.  Plenty of turkey, stuffing,candied sweet potatoes, mashed sweet and regular potatoes, corn and corn pudding, carrots and cranberry sauce.  OH and warm dinner rolls.  All I needed to bring with me were a few desserts.  We actually don't really get into dessert for Thanksgiving because food comes first and by the time it's dessert time we are still full.  Our desserts for Thanksgiving aren't quite as much as Christmas.  This year I made my usual pizzelles and Italian cookies and Susan bought a pumpkin cheesecake. I have learned over the years that unless you have several hours between your meal and your dessert it is a waste of time and money having too many desserts.

Our dinner was wonderful and very peaceful with light conversation and some humor.  A little laughter is good and the boys sure know how to get us laughing.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours,

Thanksgiving 2015

Another great Thanksgiving has come and I hope yours will be one of peace and love.

I think of my many blessings often but especially at Thanksgiving.

I remember so many wonderful Thanksgiving with my grandparents.  Gosh it was so much fun!  As kids my brother and cousins would play under the dining room table, right at my parents, grandparents and friends of the family feet. It was so much fun.  Our little hideaway so we thought.  The tablecloth was just long enough to partially hide us. Giggle Giggle!!!!:)

Hopefully it is a mixture of great food, seeing friends or family.  Our family visit require driving.  Well my hubby drives.  Seeing family was so easy  back then.  Just a short drive or even a walk got us there. We visited often.  The children saw their grandparents often even when they grew up it was just a short distance from their home. People worked in the same area.  Not much highway driving at all.

Times have changed.  Children relocate to get better jobs. Grandchildren don't get the quality time like we used to. Spending time with their grandparents and even though they see them occasionally I personally think it's not enough but we don't have a choice unless we work very hard to get them to spend time with us. Making the extra effort is a job to co ordinate everyone busy schedules.  We make the extra effort to keep the family connected.  Those little remembrances I have with my grandparents I try to work in with my grandchildren when we see them but I always want more. I understand and accept it but I yearn for those days gone by when it was so simple.

You must make the effort.  It is worth it. 

Love and Blessings,