Italian Cream Cake

I finally made this cake. I have been wanting to make it for awhile. When I suggested it, my daughter said sure but my two guys were not interested. I didn't want to make a cake for only two people. Then we went to the store. The store had samples of different cakes to sample. I had my guys try this cake. They both liked it. Then I told them the name. So, they agreed I should make the cake. They told me that my cake was better than the one they had tried at the store. I love my guys. They say the sweetest thing to me. My daughter like it a lot too. The recipe calls for coconut but you can't taste it. I crushed the pecans small for my husband. He isn't the biggest fan of nuts. Also, I limited the pecan decorations on the cake so he could take them off and give them to me. If you want a taller cake, then I would double the batter but this size was perfect for us. I used 2 pans instead of 3 since I didn't want to rotate pans during baking it. 

Italian Cream Cake
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease and flour two 9 inch baking pans. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until fluffy.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well before adding the next egg.
5. Add the vanilla and combine.
6. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. 
7. Add a little of the flour mixture then alternating with the buttermilk. Combine well.
8. Fold in the pecans and the coconut.
9. Evenly distribute the batter between the two pans.
10. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
11. Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pans before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting
12 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powder sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:

1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy. 
2. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. 
3. Beat until smooth. 

Recipe and frosting adapted from Taste of Home. 

One year ago...........................I made Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Two years ago.........................I made Sausage Wonton.
Four years ago.........................I made Burgundy Mushrooms. 

Did you already know........................
-Italian Cream Cake is a Southern Cake.
-Italian Cream Cake was published in the early 1900s.
-Italian Cream Cake tends to be three layers with a cream cheese frosting.

Next week: I'm posting Angel Food Cake!

Mexican Chicken Casserole

So, I received a calendar with recipes. I decided to hang it up in the kitchen. Well, my son saw it and asked if I would make the January recipe. So, I did. I had to adapt it since I couldn't find one of the ingredients. Plus I omitted the beans. We liked the dish. Anytime I make a dish with rice, it normally is a success. We will make this dish again.

Mexican Chicken Casserole
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup (8 oz.) corn drained from a can
2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
1 can (10 oz.) Enchilada sauce
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped fine
2 cups Mexican style cheese blend
Toppings: lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, green onions, etc. 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Spray a 9 inch pie pan with nonstick baking spray. Set aside. 
3. In a large bowl, mix the rice, corn, chicken breast, and enchilada sauce.
4. Mix in the green onions, bell pepper, and 1 cup of the cheese blend. 
5. Spoon the mixture into the pie pan.
6. Bake the mixture for 30 minutes.
7. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the mixture.
8. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
9. Serve with desired toppings.

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker.

One year ago.....................................I made Steak Fajita Quesadillas.
Two years ago...................................I made Winter Savory Chicken.
Three years ago.................................I made Bran Banana Muffins.
Four years ago...................................I made Lemon Frosted Cupcakes.

Did you already know..................
-Another name for corn is maize.
-An individual kernel of corn is a seed and the cob is the flower.
-The rows of corn on the cob should always be normal if grown in a normal environment.

New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday. We did. We stayed home and relaxed. One of the things I noticed several blogs have started is posting a weekly menu. For the most part, I tend to compose a menu. Did you like how I wrote composed? Why? Because we never stick with it. 

Here was my menu for last week: 
Sunday: Meatloaf (My husband and I made it.)
Monday: Cheesy, Corn, and Kielbasa Chowder (I made it.)
Tuesday: Taco Bake (My husband did not make it so leftovers.)
Wednesday: Sandwich of choice (I made a BLT.)
Thursday: Breakfast for Dinner (We had takeout which was not breakfast.)
Friday: Chicken Dish (I made Mexican Chicken Casserole which I'll post later.)
Saturday: Spaghetti (I made it.)

Cheesy, Corn, and Kielbasa Chowder

As you can see, we start the week successful then it changes. We go grocery shopping every other day so it really is no big deal to change. Just some nights, we are tired and really don't want to cook. My husband is suppose to cook Monday through Thursday. Then I cook Friday through Sunday. I plan the meals on my days and my husband plans his meals. If you make a menu, do you stick to it? If so, what is your strategy so you make sure to follow it?