Shopping, Cooking, Cleaning!

The rest of my week is scheduled-out like this: Trips to three grocery stores today and pack it all away, then some cleaning; tomorrow is baking/cook-ahead day with some last minute details thrown in. Saturday and Sunday are kick-back-and-enjoy-the- family days (except for fixing a Ham Dinner with all the trimmings, of coarse!

I hope that each one of you enjoys the blessings of Spring. Happy Easter from our house to yours! **Marcia**



Easy Easter Tip: Make your pudding in the microwave; much faster and less mess (I always cover my glass bowl with a paper plate or paper coffee filter to prevent splatters).

Easy Easter Tip: Sister Schubert Yeast Rolls are a life-saver for holiday meals.

I'll be at these swaps today:

LifeasMom
Joyofdesserts

Easy Easter: Twinkie Delight (and GB Casserole tip)

Every Easter since I can remember, our family has had a Green Bean Casserole on the table, you know, the one with Durkee Fried Onions on top! If you are limited on time and/or oven space...make it in your crock pot.

Just make the casserole according to the usual directions, only add a little additional milk and soy sauce to the celery soup (or whatever liquids your particular recipe calls for); spray the crock with cooking spray and put the casserole mixture in. Save those Durkee Fried Onions and just put them on a cookie sheet to brown in the oven; throw them on top at the last minute. Bam! You're done!

Need a dessert that looks fancy, but is really easy and...you can make it ahead of time?! Here you go:

Twinkie Delight

Cut a box of Twinkie snack cakes in half and line a 9x13" casserole dish. Make a large box of vanilla instant pudding for the next layer. Cover with fresh, sliced strawberries mixed in glaze (produce section). Top with Cool Whip when serving.

I will be at these swaps today:

WeareThatFamily
DiningwithDebbie
Krazykitchen

Easy Easter: Mountain Dew Cake

I have been on a road trip to The University of Tulsa with son #2; what an absolutely beautiful campus! He's looking over the graduate program there. It was fun, but I'm glad to be home.

Under my new theme, "Easy Easter" I will be giving recipes this week to help you have something great on the table for the holidays that didn't take all day to make!
Here's the Mountain Dew Cake recipe that I promised. There are different versions of Mountain Dew desserts out there (in fact,I have an apple turnover recipe that uses the famous soda), but this particular recipe is one from Mama Dip's book that I reviewed on Friday of last week. Good luck with your Easter prep/Passover activities this week!


Mountain Dew Cake Page 204
Mildred Council from Mama Dip's Family Cook Book

1 box orange cake mix
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 C vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 C Mountain Dew

Icing:

1 stick butter or margarine
1 1/2 C sugar
3 TBSP cornstarch
1 1/2 C flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat on low until mixed, about 1 minute, then turn the mixer to high and beat for 4 minutes. Pour into 3 greased and floured 9" cake pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

To make the icing, cook all the ingredients over medium heat until thickened. Spread over cooled layers. Serves 8.


I will be at these great swaps today:

BlessedwithGrace
Gypsy'scorner
BeautyandBedlam.com
Raising4Godlymen
Allthesmallstuff