Pound Cake

When I was growing up, my best friend had the neatest Grandmother.

Now, let me just say...I had the world's best Grandmother.  I would put my Grandma up against anybody's anyday...I miss her greatly.

But my friend had the next best Grandmother.

She always made me feel so welcome in her home.

And, she could cook.

I will always think of her as trying new things first.

It was at her house that I ate pizza for the first time...homemade.

It was at her house that I ate tacos for the first time.  I thought those tacos were the best thing I had ever tasted.

When I got married...almost 25 years ago, her daughter gave me a recipe box that contained some of Ms. Vesta's recipes.  Although I have used most of these recipes several times, there was one that I had never tried that was for a pound cake.

I decided to try it this week.

While I was mixing up the cake, I became concerned that there were no eggs, no baking soda or baking powder in this cake...I was doubting the cake.

I continued to doubt after it was done...because, as you can see in the picture, it did not rise very much.

I cut up the cake into pieces and put it in a tupperware container thinking it would never be eaten.

The next day...I noticed over half the cake was missing.  I soon learned my son was the culprit. 

He proclaimed this cake as one of the best he had ever eaten.  How could I have doubted Ms. Vesta???

The cake is now gone, and I continue to crave another piece.

You will need:

2 sticks butter or oleo (butter is recommended)

1/4 cup Crisco

3 cups sugar

3 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sweet milk

1 Tablespoon vanilla (or 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1 teaspoon almond)

Let the butter or oleo soften and then beat well.

Beat in the sugar.

Add the liquids alternating with the flour, beating well...end with flour.

Pour into a well greased and floured bundt pan and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until done.

Enjoy!!!

House Cleaning

How do you motivate yourself to clean house???

I spent Saturday at home alone...a rare occasion.

So, I spent the day cleaning house.

I knew I would need some motivation, so

 I convinced myself that once the cleaning was done, I would decorate the screened porch with daffodils.

Nothing feels better than a clean house.

And, the porch filled with daffodils certainly makes the world a little brighter.

Happy Valentine's Day

Candle...Everything's A Dollar

Outer Vase...Everthing's A Dollar

Sweet Tart Hearts placed between the two.

Pretty when lit...

Buttercups

It is cold today in Tennessee!!!

I have picked most of my buttercups and brought them indoors. 

Such a lovely bouquet.

Some of the flowers were just buds, but they quickly opened once inside with the warmer temperatures.

Daffodils

There are no daffodils blooming outside my kitchen window...so,

I decided to try putting an arrangement of flowers in a fruit jar and hanging that jar from an iron hook.

It is strategically placed outside, so that I can see it when I am washing dishes at the sink.

I have been surprised by how long it has stayed...almost a week and the flowers are still pretty.  I am afraid I will need to bring the jar in tomorrow, because temperatures here are predicted to be in the teens.  I will probably pick all of my flowers that are blooming and bring them indoors.

Spring is coming...but winter is still around.

Frozen Strawberry Dessert

This past weekend has been using whatever I could find in the kitchen to make whatever I could come up with.

In other words, I did not want to go to the grocery store.

I don't know why I bought this strawberry pie filling.  (I probably had a coupon.)

When I saw the crushed pineapple, I had a thought.

Would it be possible to make my peach and blueberry frozen dessert using strawberry pie filling?

YES...it is delicious!!!

Just four ingredients:

crushed pineapple

strawberry pie filling

eagle brand milk

cool whip

Drain the pineapple.

Stir the four ingredients together.

I used about 12 ounces of cool whip.

Place in a square dish that is safe for the freezer.

I decided to top my dessert with cool whip.

Cover with aluminum foil and place in the freezer.

Now, you just have to be patient and give it time to freeze.

Enjoy!!!

Primroses

Another primrose...

this one is brightening up my kitchen.