Carrot Cake made with Crushed Pineapple and Coconut Flakes

Not sure if I mentioned before how much I love Semi-homemade things... GASP!!!!

Even with my baking, I love to make something special out of something ordinary. 

For instance, I LOVE the Cake Mix Doctor books. I know, I know, A cake box mix? Why not make a cake from scratch. 

My philosophy is... If it isn't broken, why try to fix it. I can just see myself attempting a cake from scratch and being distracted by one of my kid's something or other and forgetting the baking powder or baking soda? You see, I don't even know what ingredient goes into making a cake! So how can I be expected to make something great out of that.  

So, yes, I use cake mixes and I do so happily. :-D

For this little project, I wanted to make a carrot cake similar to the one my mom made when I was a kid. It was moist and had coconut in it. How great is that? 

So, I adapted a recipe from my trusty source: The Cake Mix Doctor. 
I absolutely LOVE her and have gotten raves from 9 out of 10 cakes I have made from her cookbook. 

I also wanted to use the new Bundt pan I received as a gift from my hubby for my birthday.

Here is the final product. Pretty.....

Here is the recipe with some modifications: 

Carrot Cake with Pineapple and Coconut

1 package White cake mix
1 package vanilla pudding
1 TBS vanilla extract
1 TBS ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup orange juice 
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs 
2 cups grated carrots
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained 
1/2 cup shredded coconut 
Powdered Sugar

1. Heat oven to 350F. Grease and flour Bundt pan

2. Beat cake mix, pudding mix, pineapple, juice, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger  eggs in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in carrots and coconut. Pour into pan. 

3. Bake cake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around side of pan to loosen cake; remove from pans to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Sprinkle with Powdered Sugar. 

Enjoy!!!!

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2013 Year in Review - Cakes

Well, Here I am again....

I've missed blogging so much.

Just like everything else in life that you put off, the most difficult part is starting up again. Life took over and getting settled into the new house, new community, new schools and new and much longer commute to work has been an adjustment.

The thought of Re-starting this blog has been daunting at times. 

I felt overwhelmed each time I sat down to post and I wasn't sure where I should begin.

 I have pictures of everything I made, but not much else. 

I felt guilty for having left everyone for more than a year and I wish I hadn't. 

So, to start again... 

I present my 2013 Year in Review - CAKES

Images starting from Top left and clockwise: 

Pineapple upside-down mini cakes made in a cupcake pan

Strawberry Shortcake Refrigerator Cake

"Tie-Dye" Fourth of July Cake

Monster High Cake for my Niece's Birthday

Minnie Mouse Bow Cake for a Friend's Daughter's Birthday

Oreo Cookie Brownies for my Son's 7th Birthday

"Tangled" tower cake for another Friend's Daughter's Birthday

Lemon-Blueberry Bundt Cake (In my NEW Bundt pan)

Raspberry Muffins for the Contractors that worked on our house

Mickey Mouse Cake Pops for my Nephew's First Birthday

Peach Pie for my wonderful Hubby

Mickey Clubhouse Cake for my Nephew's First Birthday

Last, but certainly not least: 

My Son's Skylander Portal of Power Birthday Cake

My Daughter's Halloween Themed Birthday Cake

Phew!!! Now that the hard part is done, I will prepare my 

2013 Year in Review - Cookie Edition 

for my next post

Thanks again for your support and patience.

       Jackie

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Banana Pecan Cake

For those of you who do not know already, my oldest son LOVES bananas. Bananas do not last long in this house and NEVER get to the ripe, brown-spotted phase. 

For this cake, I wanted to try a Banana cake vs the usual Banana bread that they love so much. I had to basically beg him to leave the bananas alone, so I could try out this recipe.

I don't know if it's me, but whenever I make a regular round cake, it just sits around. If I make it square or Bundt style, the family usually eats it quicker... I may just be making that up, but I like the way Bundt cakes look and I think they do too. :-)

This recipe stated that the cake should be made in (2) 8-inch pans, but I opted on the beautiful Bundt cake style. I love the way it turned out. 

Adapted from All Recipes:

  

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Blueberry Birthday Bundt Cake

I am forever grateful to all the wonderful Bloggers out there for their ideas and inspiration. 

After seeing a Beautiful Mother's Day Bundt cake on the site

"Bake at 350", 

I knew I had to make it because I am the biggest blueberry fan and 

I love Bundt cakes.

I love Bridget's work and am constantly inspired to think outside the box and try new things. She is a great baker and I am grateful to have found her blog. 

After reading her post, I made the cake for Mother's Day and it was a Big Hit! 

For the FULL recipe and her post,  CLICK HERE

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As mentioned in a previous post, I had a birthday cake request from my best friend's husband. He wanted something delicious, but something 'healthy' and without heavy buttercream frosting. I immediately thought of this Bundt cake and I knew he wouldn't be disappointed. I sent him the link to Bridget's post and he quickly gave it the green light. 

As I always do, I asked my husband what he thought about the Mother's Day Cake and he ranked it in his Top 5. He is the best taste tester and doesn't mind doing it at all!!!! LOL! 

I am happy to report that the family enjoyed the cake. 

Here are some pictures that they sent me from that day...

Happy Birthday D! And Many More....

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Rum Cake

I have recently gotten orders for 'non-traditional' Birthday Cakes for men.

I made a Blueberry Bundt cake for my best friend's husband (I will post that one soon, I promise). 

This week was an order for a 

Rum Cake

for my cousin's boyfriend.

I looked online for several variations of the cake, including a coconut rum a cake (Yum! I'm partial to anything coconut).

He decided on a simple yellow cake version and this is what I made for him. 

I found a highly-rated recipe on 'Food.com' called

"Almost Tortuga Rum Cake"

By Heart 'N Soul

For the full recipe, Click Here

It totally reminded me of a rum cake I once had and brought home from a trip to the Bahamas with some girlfriends. In the description, Heart 'N Soul felt the same way about the cake they ate as I did and were also disheartened when finding out that the cake was so expensive to ship. 

My husband also had a similar situation when finding a rum cake he loved at a Kiosk in a mall quite a distance from our home. Needless to say, he is in love with this Rum Cake and won't be taking the 40 minute drive to the mall anymore. 

Here is the one I made for Home

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