Frosting for Everything

Use this frosting for cakes, cupcakes, sugar cookies....everything.  But my favorite way is in the graham sandwich.  Mom used to have graham cracker frosting sandwiches waiting for us for after school snacks.  YUM!

Mix the following together:

• 1/4 c. butter, softened (not melted)
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 4 T milk
• 4 c. powder sugar

To thicken, add more sugar.  To thin, add a few drops milk at a time.

*Add cocoa, or other extracts for other flavors

Magic Cookie Bars

The Recipe:

• 1/2 C. butter
• 1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 6 oz. pkg. chocolate chips
• 1 1/3 c. flaked coconut
• 1 c. chopped pecans

1. Heat oven to 325.
2. Melt butter in 9x13 pan in the oven.
3. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over butter.  
4. Pour condensed milk over crumbs evenly.
5. Top with chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans. Press gently.
6. Bake for 25 min. until lightly browned.
7. Cool completely before cutting.

Carrot Cookies

One of Grandma Manning's specialties.... so dainty and fresh.  And hello, there are carrots in these cookies.  Healthy.  .....right?

The Recipe:

• 3/4 c. sugar
• 3/4 c. butter
• 1 egg
• 1 c. cooked, mashed carrots
• 2 c. flour
• 2 t. baking powder
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1 t. orange extract

1. Cream sugar and butter
2. Add egg and mashed carrot
3. Add sifted dry ingredients.
4. Add vanilla and orange 
5. Drop on greased cookie sheet
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes
7. Frost with your regular powdered sugar frosting (adding a bit of orange flavoring and orange food color for a kick)

Fresh Strawberry Pie

When I was little my mom had this genius idea.  She had this little tiny basket, and she filled it with little pieces of paper.  On each paper she wrote a job and drew a picture of it, and she made it a game, yes, a GAME to do chores.  I always hoped I would pick the one with the picture of the girl picking strawberries. Nice one, mom.
We've had a strawberry patch ever since I can remember.  And since I have those fun memories of picking berries I loved that Easton jumped right into the effort this summer.  Nearly every time he came over he would head out to the garden and fill an entire bowl of strawberries.  So cute.

The Recipe:

• 3T cornstarch
• 1 c. sugar
• 3 T. strawberry gelatin
• 1 c. water
• 2 T. corn syrup
• 3 T. strawberry gelatin (1- 3oz package if doubled)
• 3 drops food coloring
• 3 c. fresh strawberries

1. Combine cornstarch, water, and sugar in sauce pan.
2. Cook over low heat until thick and clear. 
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add corn syrup, gelatin, and food color.  
5. Let cool.
6. Lightly fold in berries.
7. Pour into baked 9" pie shell.
8. Chill and top with whipped cream.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Another one of Dad's favorites! We made these for Father's Day this year.  And for his birthday. And Father's Day last year........and anytime Dad needs a pick-me-up.  These will work.

The Recipe (from Hershey's):

• 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES 
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Granulated sugar

• Directions

  1.Heat oven to 375.  Remove wrappers from chocolates.
  2. Beat shortening and peanut butter in large bowl until well-blended.
  3. Add 1/3 c. sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy.
  4. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well.  Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.
  5. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  6. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
  7. Immediately press a kiss into the center of each cookie.
  
  Makes about 4 dozen

Whoopie Pies

Thanks to Aunt Mel for posting this yummy recipe.  I'll let her take it from here....

This is a traditional New England treat that was passed down to me from my mom-in-law.  I married a New Englander from New Hampshire.  The first time I had heard of a whoopie pie was when I moved to New Hampshire for a few months in my early twenties.  They are everywhere - even boxed up in grocery stores.  Josh and I made some of these together on one of our first few dates.  If you are into tasting/licking the batter, this is one of the best I've ever had.  Try it!  This is a fun recipe to make with the kids so they can put the filling in the middle.  Another New England thing is called Fluff.  It is similar to marshmallow cream, but "fluffier."  Fluff doesn't seem to be available in the western states, but you can order it online.  The consistency is just a little different if you use marshmallow cream, but still a VERY tasty treat!

The Recipe:

• 6 T shortening
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 c. flour
• 5 T. cocoa
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 c. milk

Mix shortening and sugar together.  Add egg and vanilla and beat.  After mixing flour, cocoa, salt, and soda add this mixture alternately with the milk.  Drop by tablespoons on ungreased cookie sheets.  Bake at 425 degree oven for 7-9 minutes. 

FILLING:

3/4 Cup shortening
3/4 Cup powdered sugar
6 TBSP marshmallow fluff  
Dash salt
Little vanilla

Beat all ingredients together.  Put in middle of Whoopie Pies and enjoy!

This doesn't make very many, so I usually double it for my family and give a few away.

BYU Mint Brownies

We have a rich BYU heritage in our family.  Ask.  Anybody. Until recently Dad has pretty much led that brigade, but our little Easton has latched right on and has become obsessed with his "BYU toogers". 

I figured this recipe would be a good one to throw in because, A: they're to-die-for delicious, and B: the BYU Creamery has this special recipe so I can tell my BYU stories.  So do you want the recipe first or the stories?

The Recipe (courtesy of TheGirlWhoAteEverything)

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 4 eggs
• 2 cup white sugar
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 12 oz. chocolate icing (Use your own icing recipe or purchase some chocolate frosting.)

MINT ICING

• 5 Tbsp. butter
• dash of salt
• 3 Tbsp. milk
• 1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
• 2 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
• 1-2 drops green food coloring

1. Melt butter and mix in cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add nuts. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool.

2. Prepare mint icing: Soften butter. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little thinner than cake frosting.

3. Spread mint icing over brownies. Place brownies in the freezer for a short time to stiffen the icing (super important- it'll keep your layers from combining!). Remove from the freezer and carefully add a layer of chocolate icing. 

THE STORIES...In order of most famousness....

Our cousin Ty Detmer played for the Cougars and won the Heisman Trophy while there.  In elementary school it was all I could do to convince the boys in my class that he really was my cousin.  Instant coolness.

Next, like I already mentioned, is Easton.  He's known the fight song since he was one, he plays cougars (you know, where you growl at each other and wrestle) with Dad and Bafa, and he sits through and enjoys those football games better than me.  He even cheers and claps at the right time.  And if you want to see something really cute, follow this link.  He picked up on this at one of the games.

And my story....This guy is the reason I got the scar on my cheek.  When I was two, the Bartletts were babysitting me and I went downstairs to get a box of Mac N' Cheese for lunch.  In the basement I found this mask of LaVell Edwards and figured the dog, Tyrone would like to play with me.  So I put that mask on and got right in its face....and next thing you know, I'm at Primary Children's getting plastic surgery.  And that is how I got the scar. (I'll work on getting a picture later)

Go Toogers!

Easter Treats and Peeps

I am well known among my peeps to be a junk lover.  I'm not denying that.  I have memories of fighting my mom because I didn't want her to throw away the toilet paper rolls.  I thought I could make something out of them (and most of the time I did, thank you very much).  So I think this may be one of the roots of that habit of mine. 

I remember making these with my grandma around Easter time.  How?  Use an old egg carton (see!  good for something), cut the bottom in half, and decorate it like a caterpillar.  Use pipe cleaners, glitter, feathers, markers, whatever!  Doesn't matter!  The point is that your kids are creating something and their wheels are turning. Collette and her friend Kristen made these ones.  Nice huh?

I also remember (like the rest of the world) making these rice krispies nest.  It's pretty self-explanatory from the picture but I'll give you the recipe for rice krispy treats in case you don't have it.

Rice Krispy Treats

• 3 Tablespoons butter
• 4 c. mini marshmallows (or about 40 big ones)
• 6 c. rice krispies

1. Melt butter in saucepan over the stove.  Add marshmallows and melt completely.  
2. Add rice krispies and thoroughly coat.
3. Press into a (greased?) pan....if you don't eat it all out of the saucepan.......

To make the nests though, just spray your hands with cooking spray, and mold it into little nests.  Sprinkle coconut flakes (colored green with food coloring) inside for grass. Use jelly beans or other egg-like candy, and then put yourself a birdy in that nest!  

Spice Cake and I love my KitchenAid

My mom and dad had spice cake at their wedding.  Isn't there an ancient proverb that says something about if you serve good food at your wedding you receive good karma?  Well, apparently that's true because Mom and Dad are going on 25 years strong (see this post).  

Look at them, all happy and in love......

And here's Mom with her dad, Grandpa Anderson

I've always loved spice cake, but it's one of those that's about 100 times better with the frosting.  Not just any frosting; it has to be THIS frosting.  That being said, the real recipe for this post is the frosting, but I'll also give you my secret recipe for the cake part too.  It looks like this:

Yup.  Straight from the box.  I haven't ever manipulated the box recipe to make it tastier because lets be honest, I'm only here for the frosting anyway!  So, step 1 is to make the cake according to the directions on the box and let it cool completely.

Peneuche Frosting Recipe

(p.s. peneuche?  What the?)

•  1/2 c. butter
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1/4 c. milk
• 3 c. powdered sugar

1. Melt butter in sauce pan.
2. Stir in brown sugar and cook until bubbly.
3. Remove from heat, add milk, and beat vigorously until smooth.
4. Beat in powdered sugar.
5. Spread on top of cooled cake.
6. Pour an enormous glass of milk because it will compliment your huge piece of cake in all the right ways :)

P.S. I love my KitchenAid

For some reason, I cherish the things I have that are old.  (Ok, not like the clothes I've been wearing since high school; I mean old old.  Cool old)  For example, I've been using my grandma's old old Bernina sewing machine which I now love as my child.  Also, my blankie.  Alright, not cool to anyone else, but still a love of my life.  And last but not least, my KitchenAid.  

I'm not really sure but I think at one point it was the awesome avocado color that made it's mark in many-a-70's-kitchen.  I think it was Grandma's, and then it was Mom's, but now that they've both "upgraded" to newer versions, it's mine now.  I LOVE IT.  It has so much character, it makes my life so much easier in the kitchen . And I'd never be able to afford the new shiny kind, so avocado KitchenAid and I have become great friends.  To use a phrase from Katelin's dictionary, it's the bomb dot com.  (is that how you write it out?  I can't be hip.)

Dad's Favorite

 How to make Dad happy in just  

FIVE EASY STEPS

 We had the family over tonight for our first bi-monthly Family Home Evening tonight.  It was a good first run........and we're looking forward to many more in the future.  Dad gave us a nice lesson on the our power to choose faith and the gap of expectations.  I claimed the treat before anyone knew it was even an option. Of course.  I'd so much rather make the dessert than set up a lesson.  Anyway, this is one of Dad's favorites.  My mom has made this many-a-time so I had her send me the recipe. 

Man, I need to settle down when I finish making these recipes!  I'm always so anxious to eat that I forget to take a nice picture.  So here's this, looking all messy and not nearly as appetizing as it really is.  I promise.  I guess that just goes to show we can clean a pan, no problem.

And here's Dad's other favorite, eating his favorite.......

• 1 c. flour
• 1/2 c. (one cube) butter
• 1/2 c. chopped nuts
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1 c. powdered sugar
• Cool Whip
• 2 small pkg. butterscotch pudding
• 3 c. milk

1. Mix flour, butter, and nuts 
2. Press into a 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.  (Don't burn it!!) Let cool.
3. Whip cream cheese, pwd sugar, and at least 1 c. cool whip together and spread on top of crust.
4. Blend 2 packs of pudding and milk and spread over cream mixture.
5. Top with cool whip.

 Another spotlight:  The NUT CRUSHER!

A few months ago I was at my Grandma's and got to use her awesome nut crusher...grinder?....grater?....I like crusher.  Well she noticed how much I liked it and the next time I went up there she gave me my very own crusher.  Every time I use a recipe that calls for chopped nuts I giggle a little because I get to use the nut crusher.  Thanks, Grandma!  I still love it!

Nestle Tollhouse Cookies

I don't know why this recipe hasn't crossed my mind to 

put on the blog yet!  I guess it's because I was waiting for

a true professional to show us how. 

Thank you, Mom for taking on the job.  

Take it away....

This recipe is a staple at our house, and always has been. 

Whether it is just the fun of making them, eating the dough,

or enjoying the cookies- it is our favorite quick treat.

The Recipe:

(this is doubled from the original- a necessity for us)

• 2 c. shortening

• 1 1/2 c. sugar

• 1 1/2 c. brown sugar

• 4 eggs

• 2 t. vanilla

• 2 t. baking soda

• 2 t. salt

• 4 1/2 c. flour

• 2 c. Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Cream shortening and sugars (always do this first! They

   turn out much better)

   

2. Add eggs

   

3. Mix in dry ingredients 

4. Stir in chocolate chips

   

5. Put on ungreased cookie sheets (recently I started doing 

   3 across instead of 4, making them a bit bigger.)

6. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. (I use convection bake 

   at 345 so I can bake 3 sheets at once)

   

7. Enjoy!

I like to pull the cookies out at about 10 minutes when they are

lightly browned, then let them set on the cookie sheet for a few 

more minutes before I scoop them off.

THANK YOU, MOM! 

EVERYONE loves these....especially the men. There aren't many
sweets that the men can't resist eating more and more of,
but this one seems to be one! As much as I'd love to make fancy
and unique desserts, this is the only one that Dad, Danny and
Tyson all crave!

Microwave Peanut Brittle

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present a very special guest poster....

Grandma Joan Allen!

I know, you're all as excited as I am that Grandma is posting on the blog today.

So, with no further ado, let's talk about peanut brittle.

I remembered a recipe I always made at Christmas that Grampa Joe loved and could not leave alone either. I haven't made it since he left- but I have definitely made many many platefuls for the holidays over the years.

Grandma's story behind this: About 28 years ago I began demonstrating this recipe in different wards' homemaking meetings (Aunt Karen Cook Anderson also demonstrated this so it's actually connected to both sides of the family!). One night I was doing it at the old white church building on 4th Ave when someone ran in and said my daughter had been hit by a car and was at the hospital. Needless to say I did not finish the demo. I felt so guilty as Grampa was Home Teaching and I was teaching RS and a neighbor had to come to the church to let me know. And so you know that was your Mom, although at the time I thought it was Melani riding her bike. Truly, recipes do bring back memories.

The recipe:

• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. raw peanuts
• 1/2 c. white corn syrup
• 2 T butter
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanila

1. Into a 4 cup measuring cup (Grama uses a pyrex quart cup) place sugar, peanuts, and corn syrup.
2. Put in microwave and boil 4 minutes- stirring at 2 minutes.
3. Add 2 T butter
4. Cook 5-6 minutes stirring half way through
5. Remove from oven
6. Add soda and vanilla and stir.
7. Pour onto greased cookie sheet
8. Cool and break into pieces

This is delicious and not too expensive and makes a lot. If it is overcooked even a tad it is too brown and burned. It depends on your microwave. They all heat differently.

Have a great Christmas. I love you.

-Grandma

Kelsey again. I thought I should take a moment to note the "daughter got run over by a car" part of that story. I always had a sense of pride in my elementary years that I could say "oh yeah? Well my mom got run over by a car!" I don't know, things like that just give you standing on the playground. Grama sent me an email telling me about it all....

Once upon a time, a man was drunk. he left the Kimberly police station (still drunk) and headed home because the police said they wouldn't cite him if he drove straight home. My mom and her friend Melanie happened to be walking on the road he chose to drive home on. Mom was 16 and got hit by the rear view mirror and was thrown into the borrow pit and shattered her elbow. A neighbor friend, Jon Wagstaff, put her in his truck and drove her straight to the hospital.
Grandma said she freaked out when she got to the hospital, but all Mom wanted was a blessing, which Grandpa gave her. She was in surgery for 3 hours because they had to pick out all the shattered bone. She couldn't use her left arm for a while and says it's still not the same.
Want to know what happened to the truck driver? He was cited for hit and run, no insurance, no driver's license, running a stop sign, and drunk driving, and was fined a whopping $14.50 in court fees. I don't think it would have gone over the same now.
I had to literally beg for this picture. But here's the scar down her arm where they had to put a plate in for a while. I'm telling you, this story is the stuff of celebrities at school.

Sugar Cookies

Another guest post! I'm thrilled. I have been meaning to make these sugar cookies to put on this blog because they really are part of our family. We make them in heart shapes for Valentines day, pumpkins and headstones and ghosts on Halloween, and ornaments and snowmen for Christmas. Since we're getting to the end of the year I figured Christmas was the last shot I got, but with the move it just hasn't happened! (I had to be banned from cooking the past few weeks so I could actually get something done).

So, I'm just so excited that Aunt Kim made these for the blog. Take it away, Kim!

Hi! This is Kelsey's favorite aunt, Kim. I have a picky husband and three year old, so if a recipe gets their approval, it must be good. This is a perfect cookie for any time of the year.

The recipe:

Cookies:

1 c. sugar + 2 Tablespoons

3/4 cup shortening 2 eggs 1/4 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla 3 3/4 cup flour 1/2 tsp salt 3 tsp baking

powder Cream sugar and shortening, beat in eggs; add milk and vanilla. Add flour, salt and baking powder, mix well. Chill in fridge (for about an hour). Roll out using as little flour as possible. Cut out, bake on greased cookie sheet at 375 for about 10 minutes (mine take 11.5). Remove from the cookie sheet after a few minutes.

Frosting:

1 Tablespoon melted butter

1 cup powder sugar

1 Tablespoon

milk (I usually double or triple the milk)

1 tsp vanilla

Frosting is best when it is slightly runny, but not too runny that it will run right off the cookies. I add the food coloring when I put a portion in zip lock bags. I cutoff a tiny bit of the corner so I can do designs. Remember a little goes a long way (except when you re-frost your three year olds cookie, then you just need a lot). The frosting will setup in about an hour, so you can s

tore them easier. If you want to eat them immediately, just use less milk. Enjoy!!

Sorry that picture's so small, Kim, I couldn't get it to go any bigger!

Happy Halloween!

Here are some close ups of our HORROR D'EUVRES...... most of these ideas I got fromthegirlwhoateeverything.blogspot.com- her blog is grrreat! That got me thinking (googling) about other recipes and I think it all turned out pretty good in the end!

First up, the Halloweenies. Vienna sausages with crescent rolls to mumify them. Mustard eyes add the final touch!

Next time I'm using real hot dogs. I didn't know it until today, but apparently vienna sausages are disgusting.

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Puffs: Reese's peanut butter puffs cereal + scotcheroos recipe = YUM!

Witch's Hats: Fudge stripe cookies and a Hershey's kiss- so easy. The tube frosting we used was solid rock though. Made it tough. But Kennedi and Dad did a great job. Don't you agree?

Candy Corn Trifle: Yellow cake, butterscotch pudding, cream cheese/whipped cream... Collette made this all by herself. Wonderful job :)

Apple Pie

I'm so glad Aunt Mel came down this weekend and could help me make this pie! Grandma Manning is THE PIE MAKER in our family. Every Thanksgiving since the beginning of time she has made pies that everyone looks forward to. So, we used her recipe (Mel's done it a time or two) and baked ourselves an apple pie today. (Yes, I did feel like Snow White the whole time)

The crust:

• 1/3 c. shortening
• 1 c. flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 c. water (or less)

1. Cut shortening into flour+salt mixture
2. Mix until crumbly
3. Add water, as little as possible (1/4 c should be ok- too much water will make it tough!)
4. roll out on floured counter, big enough to more than cover the pie tin.

**You'll want to make two crusts for apple pie (top and bottom)

The filling:

• 7-8 fresh apples (tart is best),
• 1 c. sugar
• 3 T flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 egg ( or a little milk)
• Sugar

1. Peel and slice apples, making about 4-5 cups.
2. Sprinkle flour over top
3. Mix in sugar and cinnamon enough to coat the apples
4. Pour the apple mixture into the crust
5. Lay the second crust on top
6. Pinch the edges together all the way around.
7. Cut holes in the top (as decorative as you want)
8. Brush crust with a beaten egg (or milk)
   
9. Sprinkle a good amount of sugar over top to give the crust a crunchy texture

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes until it's golden brownWhala! Enjoy with some of your favorite people! Thanks for your help Mel!

Scotcheroos

This IS a family recipe. I defend this stance all the time with Danny....every time we go to a ward activity, or any other potluck-style dinner. Scotcheroos are always there. And I swear, the recipe we use in my family IS BETTER than the recipe everyone else uses. Other people may bring chocolate covered rice krispy squares, but I hold the one and only perfect scotcheroo recipe.

The Recipe:

• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. karo syrup
• 1 c. peanut butter
• 6 c. rice krispies
• 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 c. butterscotch chips

1. Bring sugar and karo syrup to a boil. Remove from heat.
2. Add peanut butter and mix
   
3. Stir in rice krispies and get them well coated.
4. Press mixture into 9 x 13 pan (don't press it down too hard; it'll make them too dense)
5. In the microwave, melt chocolate and butterscotch chips together. Start with 1 minute and then increase with about 20 second intervals until you can stir it smooth. **burning the chocolate will ruin the whole shebang. So, microwave as short a time as possible to get them melted.
6. Spread chocolate mixture over top of rice krispies mixture and let set a few hours
7. That's all folks!
   

Some of My Own

I'm going to include some of the things I make here on this little blog too. So here we go...

CUPCAKES :)

Basketball cupcakes for Danny's birthday- no real special ingredients, just fun frosting.



Penguin cupcakes for Collette's birthday-

Penguins:
-Using thick frosting as glue, stack a mini doughnut (cut in half lengthwise so you have a flat bottom), and then a doughnut hole. Put those in the freezer to set.
-Put a few drops of black food coloring into a tub of chocolate frosting. Microwave it so it's runny.
-Dip the cupcakes into the frosting so the whole doughnut stack is coated.
-Take two Oreos (I got the oval shaped "dipper" kind), take out the cream and place them on the body for wings.
-Cut marshmallows up and stick on for the tummy.
-Let that set up in the freezer for a few minutes (not too long, because you have more to stick on)
-Use half a starburst to form the mouth
-Put a dot of white frosting for eyes and place a mini chocolate chip for the black part of they eye
-Freeze it like their life depends on it! We made ours on a hot day and our poor penguins' faces melted off

Icebergs
-Frost the remaining cupcakes with white frosting.
-Sprinkle with coconut
-Add rock candy, pop rocks, and Swedish fish however you like!

Toy Story Alien Cupcakes for Katelin's surprise Disney goodbye/birthday party


-Most grocery stores sell neon food color- use the neon green to color a tub of frosting.
-Frost all your cupcakes with the green.
-Place 3 mint mentos for eyes, and add the black dots with dots of black frosting.
-Use green apple sour straws for the antennae
-Cut green apple sour tape (or whatever you can find that's big enough) into ears. (I thought "leaves" when I cut mine and they turned out right
-Put a dot of black frosting for the mouth so they look like they're saying "oooooh"
-That's IT!

Birchcreek Cattle Drive Applesauce Cake

I wish I could take a picture of the way this cake smells! It's divine. My family has a ranch in Idaho called Birchcreek. For years now, my Manning relatives have kept cattle there. When my Grandma Joan was young, they would have a cattle drive every year. Applesauce cake was always on the menu, made by my Great-Grandma Frieda. This past June we had a Manning family reunion and this cake was dessert one night. We got to hear all about the cattle drive and other Birchcreek traditions. So fun!

The Recipe:

1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. melted butter or shortening
1 c. raisins (optional- I'm not a fan myself)
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. soda in spec of cold water
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c applesauce
1 egg, unbeaten

Bake in "slow oven" in an 8x8 pan**. I greased it with shortening and lightly floured it, just for good measure.

No directions! What the heck is a "slow oven?" And how do I measure soda in a "spec" of cold water? I suppose the good news is there's room for fudging around a little bit, ovens will vary and your "spec" might be my "morsel." I determined "slow" would be 325 degrees for about 25 minutes.

My mom says the only way to eat this is with chocolate frosting on top, so I whipped some of that up (the normal, cocoa, pwd sugar, butter, vanilla) and spread it on top. If you're a health nut, forgo the frosting- but in our family that's not an option!

**I prefer this in a sheet cake form, so if you want to do that, double the recipe and use a jelly-roll pan and you'll be set.