Sweet Sentiments - Confetti White Cake Recipe

My birthday was this past Wednesday, April 28th , right in the middle of the week – perfect for a week-long celebration! In our Burlington, Vermont office, the April Cornell team enjoyed a wonderful birthday lunch in our kitchen / dining room overlooking beautiful Lake Champlain in springtime. Our big natural wood dining table was set with the calm blue of our Shannon Patchwork tablecloth surrounded by an eclectic set of mix ‘n match chairs. Sitting or standing, fresh fruits, salads, a selection of Vermont cheeses and baguette breads were shared as glasses clinked in celebration. Following all this was a beautiful traditional confetti white cake with ambrosia orange frosting!! I call this “The Birthday Cake of Dreams”!!! Three tiers of perfectly layered cake is covered with smooth frosting and decorated with paintings of my flowers and birds, rendered in food coloring “paint”! This moist and decadent cake was made all the more delicious served surrounded by smiles and songs of ‘Happy Birthday’.

Spread sweet sentiments at your next birthday event and whip up this fabulous cake!

The Cake was made by doubling this recipe:

Ingredients

· 1 cup white sugar

· 1/2 cup butter

· 2 eggs

· 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

· 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

· 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

· 1/2 cup milk

· 1/4 cup rainbow jimmies

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.

2. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Add the rainbow jimmies and fold slightly to spread them through the mix. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.

3. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

The frosting was made by doubling this recipe:

Ingredients

· 1 bag powdered sugar

· 1/2 cup Crisco

· 2 tablespoon orange extract

· 3/4 cup milk (add milk until desired consistency is achieved)

Directions

1. Combine powdered sugar, Crisco, orange extract, 1/2 cup milk. Mix with mixer on medium speed. Add milk in small doses until desired consistency is achieved.

NOTE for frosting cake the consistency should be light and fluffy. For piping and decoration the consistency should be stiff enough to hold shape.

To get a smooth surface after frosted, dip knife in hot water to warm blade and smooth over surface.

To paint – use bright vivid food colors and a fine paint brush. To give a water color effect, swirl brush in water before dipping in food color to soften the effect.

Enjoy!

April

Feel Beautiful, Be Beautiful, Live Beautiful

Part of

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The Fruits of a New Season, Peach Ginger Crisp

Warm breezes are hinting at the bright sunshine to come. As we plant the seeds of spring and look forward to tomorrow’s summer gardens, what better way to enjoy the promise of the warm season than with a fabulous summer dessert? Here’s a favorite – Peach Ginger Crisp! Using fresh ingredients makes this recipe simply irresistible – sweet and juicy peaches marry beautifully with the pungent flavor of grated ginger (the heady aromas you’ll enjoy while preparing this dessert are testimony enough!) and the hardy crunch of sliced almonds, oats and brown sugar will have everyone coming back for more. Since this dish is inspired by the anticipation of fresh fruits from a summer orchard, it’s featured on our delicious Chelsea tablecloth in pale yellow with lots of coordinating Essential napkins for those lip-smacking moments!

Enjoy this easy country recipe with ice cream or whipped cream and savor spring and summer flavor all year long!

~April

Yield: 5 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Ingredients

• 1/2 c quick-oats

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/8 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 / 4 c melted butter

• 3 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted

• 6 cups sliced peeled peaches (about 3 pounds)

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

• 2 teaspoons cornstarch

• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger

1 teaspoon allspice

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine the flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and butter in a bowl mix until crumbly. Stir in almonds.

Combine peaches and remaining ingredients in a bowl. Spoon peach mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish. Sprinkle with flour mixture. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.

Quick Hostess Tips:

Hand-written recipe cards are a great way to make a lasting impression on your guests.

After serving up a scrumptious dessert, write the recipe on a pretty printed card

so your friends can make and enjoy it again and again!

Try including a recipe card with a basket of fresh peaches, lined with printed napkins

and tied with a pretty ribbon for an outstanding gift!

Foodie Friday

Sausage & Pepper Pizza Recipe

Last weekend I had a few friends over for a casual get-together. Just wanting to enjoy the time with my company - I opted for a quick and fresh dinner! When a fancy dinner just won’t do, pizza is the perfect way to have fun, be creative and get everyone involved in the cooking. Your guests can bring a favorite topping, or a salad item.

Basic Pizza Dough

Makes three 12 inch pizzas

3 ½ cups flour, sifted

1 tbs. evoo (extra virgin olive oil)

1 tbs. salt

1 ½ cups warm water

1 tbs. active dry yeast

• In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast in the warm water, and stir to dissolve it. Set aside until the yeast starts forming bubbles in about 5 minutes

• Sift the flour. Pour the flour into a large bowl or on a work surface. Mold the flour in a mound shape with a hole in the center

• In the center pour the yeast mix, olive oil, and a pinch of salt

• Then mix with your hands to form a dough ball

• On a floured work surface knead the dough briefly with your hands pushing and folding. Knead just long enough for the dough to take in a little more flour, and until it no longer sticking to your hands

• Coat a bowl with evoo and transfer dough into bowl

• Cover the bowl with a tea towel, and set the bowl aside for approximately 1½ – 2 hours until the dough doubles in volume. The time required for rising will depend on the strength of the yeast and the temperature of the room

• When the dough is double its original size, punch it down to eliminate the air bubbles.

• Separate the dough into three even pieces

• Using a rolling pin or your hands work the dough into the shape of your baking sheet

Pizza

4 tablespoons pizza sauce, I tried Casa Visco

1/2 a medium bell pepper julienned

1/2 white button mushrooms, chopped

3 hot sausages, casing removed

1 cup shredded 2% mozzarella

1/3 cup kalamata olives

• Pre-heat oven to 450-475 degrees

• Julienne pepper, chop mushroom, and de-pit olives

• Remove casing from sausage and break a part with fingers

• In a non stick skillet pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil

• Brown the meat and continue to break apart with a spatula

• Roll out dough on a lightly flowered surface

• Remove sausage and drain on a plate lined with paper towel

• Put together pizza- start with sauce, then meat, veggies and finish with cheese

• Bake for 7-8 minutes

• Let rest for 3 minutes before cutting

Serve with a garden salad in pretty bowl, like our new colored bamboo bowls! Add a crisp white wine to the mix- and sit back and enjoy the warm breezes and friendly conversation.

April

Feel Beautiful Live Beautiful Be Beautiful

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Golden Spice Cupcakes Recipe

A tasty sweet treat that you'll be thinking of long after you've devoured them!

Golden Spice Cupcake Recipe:
2 1/4 tsp baking soda
2 cups sifted cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 cinnamon
1/4 nutmeg
1/2 c. butter or other shortening
1 c. sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1 tbsp molasses

Mix all ingredients together well. Pop in oven set at 350-degrees for 20 minutes. Check every 4-5 minutes - until top springs back.


Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 - 16oz block of cream cheese - chilled
2 tbsp vanilla
1/2 c. butter – room temperature
3 c. powder sugar

Cream together cream cheese, vanilla and butter. Add powder sugar until you reach desired consistency.

Hope you enjoy!
April

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