Cherry Torte

This recipe came from a cookbook my husband bought me for Christmas.  The cookbook is one from a local restaurant in his hometown, Williston, Fl.  I made this cake for a church fellowship, and it was a HIT!  It did, however, collapse upon cutting.  So... you may want to do this as a trifle instead, or at least prepare yourself for the possibility of it falling.  


I had to tweak this recipe just a bit, so it is not as originally posted in the cookbook.  ENJOY!

Cake:
1 box butter cake mix
6 eggs
2/3 c. water
1 stick butter, softened
1 box instant vanilla pudding

Mix well and pour into 4 9" round cake pans sprayed generously with non-stick cooking spray.
Bake at 325 degrees for 13-15 minutes or until done to touch.  (Do not overcook.)
Cool layers completely.

Frosting:
1 box powdered sugar
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese (Room temperature)
1 (8 oz.) container cool whip
1 tsp. vanilla

Filling:
2 cans cherry pie filling

Beat powdered sugar, and cream cheese until smooth.  Add cool whip and vanilla.  Beat until combined. 
Spread frosting over first layer and then pour on 1/4 of the pie filling. 
Continue with each layer, making sure you end with the pie filling on top. 

Meatballs

This is a family favorite passed down from my husband's mom.  I'll always cherish this recipe as it was the first meal shared between our two families.  If you love meatloaf and ketchup, this dish is one you'll really want to try!

Meatballs

4 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 1/2 c. oatmeal
1 c. milk
1 small onion (diced)
season salt, pepper, garlic powder  (Roll desired amount into meat, and use again to sprinkle before broiling.)

Sauce: 32 oz. ketchup (fill 1/2 with water)
2 tsp. sugar
4 TBSP. vinegar

Roll ingredients into meat. Roll meat into balls about 1 1/2 in. thick. Sprinkle seasonings over meatballs.  Broil in the oven until brown on the outside, turning once. Mix sauce together in a crock pot. Place meatballs into sauce and cook on high for 4-5 hours.

Meal Suggestion:
Serve meatballs and sauce over rice
Acre peas
Biscuits

 

This is an excellent meal to prepare for a family during a time of death, sickness, or welcoming a new baby. Also a very easy covered dish!

Key Lime Cake

Cake:                                    
1 3/4 c. oil                                                           
3/4 c. orange juice
5 eggs
1 (3-oz.) pkg. lime Jello
1 box lemon flavored cake mix
1/4 c. lime juice
5-6 T. Confectioner's sugar

Combine the oil, orange juice, eggs, Jello and cake mix. Beat until smooth. Pour into three 9" cake pans, sprayed with Pam. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until done. Loosen sides and cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Carefully take cakes from pans and place on a towel. Pierce the tops of the cakes with a fork. Combine the lime juice and Confectioner's sugar. Stir until smooth. Using a basting brush, carefully paint the tops of the cake with the lime juice mixture. Cool completely.

Frosting:
1 (8-oz.) cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 box Confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chopped pecans (optional)

Mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar and butter until smooth. Add vanilla and mix until creamy. Spread between layers and on the tops and sides of the cake. Sprinkle pecans on top if desired.

Hint: Our family prefers this cake chilled. So once you put the frosting on it, stick it in the fridge for a better flavor!

Smokey BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Our family loves this delicious sandwich.  This chicken can also be done as an appetizer when cut into small, bite size pieces.  Just cut the bacon into smaller pieces as well and secure with a toothpick before dipping in the savory rub.  What a great sandwich (or appetizer) to serve to your friends this weekend!

1 package chicken breasts     
1 package bacon

Rub:
3/4 c. dark brown sugar
2 T. chili powder




In a medium size mixing bowl, blend together dark brown sugar and chili powder. 

Slice chicken breasts in half (to fit on a bun).  Wrap chicken in bacon. 

Dip bacon wrapped chicken in the Rub. 

Place on a pan lined with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until juices in the center run clear.  

Place chicken on hamburger bun, garnished as desired, and enjoy!   

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are my husband's favorite cookie.  I enjoy making these for him on his birthday, Valentine's Day, or any other special occasion.  Hope you enjoy these treats!











3/4 c. Crisco
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1/4 c. water
1 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 c. oatmeal
1 c. raisins
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves

Mix first six ingredients well and then add remaining ingredients.  Mix together and drop 1/4 c. size amounts onto baking pan lined with parchment paper.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes. 

Chili Cheese Dip

It's Super Bowl time, and that means finger foods and friends to share them with.  Here is a quick, fairly cheap dip to share with your friends.  Enjoy!

1 pkg. cream cheese (cheaper brands are okay with this dip)
1 can Hormel chili (with or without beans)
1 pkg. shredded cheese
1 pkg. chips to dip (I like the Ritz chips in the bag)

 

Put 1 package of cream cheese in 8x8 or pie dish.  Spread evenly over the bottom using a butter knife.  Pour 1 can of Hormel chili on top of cream cheese, then 1 package of shredded cheese on top of chili. Put in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

South Georgia Sweet Tea

I am not a tea drinker.  So when my husband and I were married, he showed me the way he enjoyed drinking sweet tea.  (I guess you could say this is his recipe.)  The rest of my family loves sweet tea as well, so I make it a couple of times a week. Warning:  This tea is as strong as it is sweet.  So not everyone can handle the dark, sweet flavor from this beverage. 

4 family size tea bags (I use Lipton)
2 cups of sugar



In a small size saucepan over medium heat, bring the 4 tea bags to a boil.  Simmer slowly for 1-2 minutes.

Meanwhile, pour 2 cups of sugar into a gallon size pitcher.

Using a slotted spoon, Pour water from tea over sugar; careful not to bust the tea bags or drop them into the pitcher.  Run warm water over tea bags (inside pot) and drain again.  Repeat this step 3 more times. 

Stir warm tea into sugar until dissolved.  (Your pitcher will be almost 1/2 full.)  Then turn your cold water on and run strait into pitcher.  Stirring constantly until almost full. 



Let it stand for about 30 minutes before serving as to not melt the ice.  Serve over a generous amount of ice.  Enjoy!