Your Signature Dish

[Lobodeb]

I don't know if I have one special dish, but usually for every birthday party, I'm asked to bring the cake. Dirt Cake, Better Than Sex Cake and Pastel de Tres Leches (3 milk cake) tend to be my most requested. I'm the baker of the family and everyone knows it.

[lv4dogs]

I too need to get the recipe from home, be back with it next week. It's a crab dip. Beau Monday (a cold bread dip) is another dish I am often asked to make. lol

[sirrahbed]

The one dish I am sometimes asked to bring is my lasagna. It really is GOOD and easy too. I call it my "Don't Bother to Cook the Noodles Lasagna"

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

When Warren's Granny died, one of her dying wishes was that I have all her recipe books, as I am the only one in the family who enjoys cooking. Every Christmas I make Granny's Christmas cake, both as a remembrance to her (she passed away on Dec 26 1999) and also because it's so much better than any store-bought cake, although it is hard work!!

[Killearn Kitties]

So what's the recipe, Julie? How does it differ from any other Christmas cake?????

[carole]

I tend to always make a dessert, I am hoping to make this delicious chocolate Malteser cheesecake, thats if I can lay my hands on the recipe, I have had it stored in my messy cupboard for ages with intention of making it, one of these days.

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

So what's the recipe, Julie? How does it differ from any other Christmas cake?????

I don't know that it's any different from anyone elses recipe - I guess it just tastes special because it's made with love!

(Ingredients can be doubled for a larger cake)

3 Cups Flour
1/2 pound butter
1 1/2 cups Yellow Sugar
6 Eggs
1 1/2 cups Raisins
1 1/2 cups Currents
1 1/2 cups Sultanas
2 Teaspoons Mixed Spice
250 ML Brandy
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Bicarb
1 Teaspoon Pure Glycerine
2 oz Almonds
1/4 pound Glace Cherries, halved
1 dessert spoon cocoa powder
2 tablespoons treacle

METHOD
Clean fruit, soak in Brandy (Soak for 48 hours - top up as Brandy is absorbed)
Cream Butter & Sugar
add eggs one at a time & beat well
add fruit and lastly add all dry ingredients and mix well

Bake for 3 hours at 300 F


(This can then cooled and decorated with Marzipan and Plastic Icing)

Most of my family are nor fond of marzipan, so I usually cut the cake into "blocks" and give each branch of the family one for christmas lunch - we have ours with brandy-custard and lightly whipped cream.


One other thing - if you double the ingredients and make the large cake, buy a large plastic washing-up bowl to mix it in - I have yet to find a mixing bowl large enough!

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

Trev - try this - it is the BEST sandwich filling on earth!

Jalepeno Chicken Spread:

The "ratio" of ingredients is as follows:

For each chicken breast add:
1/2 onion
1 Jalepeno
1/3 Green Pepper.

Chop cooked chicken breasts in Braun Multi-mix or food processor - remove.
Chop Jalepenos, onions and green peppers. (Add Green peppers last so they dont form a puree)

Add this mixture to the Chicken.

Season to taste. Stir in mayonaise until a "spread" is formed.

Keeps well in the fridge for a few days - great on toast, sandwiches or rolls.

[Lobodeb]

When Warren's Granny died, one of her dying wishes was that I have all her recipe books, as I am the only one in the family who enjoys cooking.

What a nice gesture! When my grandmother passed away, she took all of her recipes with her. She may not have had them written down, for all I know. She was from the school of, a pinch of this and a dash of that.

[Oggyflute]

We still need some recipies.

Lobodeb, I just must have the recipie for your Better than sex cake.

[Lobodeb]

Lobodeb, I just must have the recipie for your Better than sex cake.

Sure!!!!

It's pretty easy, actually.

1 package yellow cake mix
1 (15 ounce) can crushed pineapple w/ juice
3 bananas, sliced
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla (or banana) pudding mix
1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped cream topping, thawed
16 ounces chopped walnuts
1 1/4 cups flaked coconut, toasted
1/2 cup white sugar

1. Just bake a yellow cake mix in a 13 x 9" pan according to the package directions.

2. Combine the crusted pineapple (undrained) with the white sugar and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Set aside to cool.

3. Mix instant vanilla pudding according to package directions.

4. Once cake is cool, spread the cooled pineapple mixture over the top followed by the vanilla pudding, sliced bananas and whipped topping. Sprinkle the flaked coconut and chopped nuts over the top of the cake. Let cake chill for at least 1 hour before serving.

Let me know how you like it!