Sweet & Savory Wednesday ~~ Cool Cake For A Crowd

Try this recipe the next time you need to bake a cake. It's a guaranteed winner since it's so flavorful, moist, and the frosting is a real surprise!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cake mix, any flavor ~~ I used white cake mix
• 1 small pkg. Jello, any flavor ~~ I used strawberry
• 2 small pkgs. instant Jello pudding, any flavor ~~ I used vanilla
• 1 - 8 oz. container Cool Whip
• 1 1/2 cups milk

DIRECTIONS:

• Bake cake according to package directions.
• 2 minutes before cake is finished baking, dissolve jello using 3/4 cup boiling water and 1/2 cup cold water.
• Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack.
• Using a large fork, poke holes all over the cake while it is hot.
• Pour jello over complete surface of cake.
• Put in refrigerator to cool.
• Mix two small packages pudding and Cool Whip with the milk until pudding mixture is serving consistency.
• Spread over cake.
• Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

This recipe is one of our family favorites.  We have also dubbed it "The Earthquake Cake."  When our son was five years old, we planned a surprise birthday party for our friend, Tom.  When it came time to sing Happy Birthday and serve the cake, Matty David offered to carry the cake from the refrigerator in the garage to the dining area.  When doing so, he became so excited and distracted that he ran smack dab into the wall causing the cake pan to flip with the contents landing on the floor!  Yes, it sort of looked like the cake had barely survived a very small earthquake.  :-)

Some of my fellow bakers have used chocolate pudding instead of the vanilla and other flavors of Jello.  This is a great recipe to experiment with different flavors to determine which ones you prefer.

I prepared this cake for our family reunion this past weekend.  It received its normal raving reviews! 

When baking a cake for a crowd, what is your go to recipe?  

Please let me know if you enjoy this one.  Try it.  You'll like it!

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Sweet & Savory Thursday ~~ Breakfast Casserole

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 slices of bread, cubed with crusts removed
• 1 pound of sausage, browned and well drained
• 9 beaten eggs
• 3 cups milk (or 1 1/2 cups each of milk and half & half)
• 1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
• 3 Tbsp. dehydrated onion
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. salt, optional
• 1 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 Tbsp. Cajun Sunshine or hot sauce of your choice
• 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Paprika

DIRECTIONS:

• Place bread cubes in the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish
• Sprinkle browned sausage evenly over the bread cubes
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs well.  Add the milk (or milk and half & half) and all other ingredients.  Mix well.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate over night.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Sprinkle paprika over the top.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean
• Serves 12.

This is a great recipe to prepare for the holidays or when you are having out of town company pay you a visit.

Serve with fresh fruit and breakfast rolls.

Happy Breakfasting or Brunching!

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Sweet & Savory Thursday ~~ Sundae Pie

There are desserts, and then there are desserts. This one has been around for decades, but is still an all time family favorite.  Every now and then it's okay to set aside your calorie counter.  You will need to do that for this recipe, too!

• STEP 1:
• Mix and spread in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes:
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup butter (mix in with pastry blender or fork)

Remove from oven and place baking dish on cooling rack.  Cool to room temperature.

• STEP 2:
• Mix together and spread onto cooled crust:
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup whipped cream or cool whip  (if you whip the cream in a mixer, make sure to measure it after whipping)

• STEP 3:
• Mix together and pour over ingredients of Step 2:
• 1 large package vanilla instant pudding
• 1 large package chocolate instant pudding
• 4 cups milk

• STEP 4:
• Spread whipped cream or cool whip over the top and sprinkle with chopped pecans.

Serve with a nice cup of coffee or tea.  Enjoy!

Happy Reading & Eating.

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