[Foodie Friday: Carrot Cake]

Since part of my Summer To-Do List is to try 5 new recipes, I thought I start off by making a classic dessert: carrot cake. Now I think I may have made a version of carrot cake in the past, but I remember it not tasting very good. (which completely opposite from my delicious Carrot Cake Pancakes) But after trying out this fool-proof Carrot Cake (technically called "Grandma Hiers' Carrot Cake") recipe by Paula Deen, I will never go back to making any other carrot cake again! It is so moist and full of yummy flavors. Completely irresistable.

When I saw this recipe was by Paula Deen, I knew it was going to be anything but lowfat. But it's always nice to splurge, right? So here's the recipe. Enjoy! :0)

Ingredients:

Butter, for pans

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

3 cups grated carrots

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, optional

Frosting:

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature

1 stick salted butter, room temperature

1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) round pans; Line bottom of the pans with parchment paper.

• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add eggs and vegetable oil. Using a hand mixer, blend until combined. Add carrots and pecans, if using.

• Pour into pans. Bake for approximately 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove from pans, place on waxed paper and allow to cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

Add all ingredients, except nuts, into a medium bowl and beat until fluffy using a hand mixer. Stir in the nuts, if desired. Spread frosting on top of each cake layer. Stack the cakes on a serving plate and serve.

Linking this recipe up to these parties.
[Jen]

[Foodie Friday: Patriotic Eye Candy]

It's been quite a while since I blogged (sorry about that!), but I am still here reading your blogs every spare chance I get in between party planning my husband's 30th birthday party (which is in less than a month! eek!) and of course chasing around my 2 1/2 year old daughter. But I just wanted to quickly share with you some beautiful eye candy to start off your weekend. :0)

Since Memorial Day is coming up for everyone here in the U.S., I thought it would be only appropriate to share with you some food ideas to help celebrate the occasion. Bonus: these ideas could also be used for 4th of July! After searching for some yummy ideas on Pinterest, my latest obsession, I found some amazing and creative ideas to help even your desserts be a little patriotic.

• Cupcake Flag - gordongossip.blogspot.com
• Cheescake in a Jar - mybakingaddiction.com
• Red, White, & Blue Strawberries - allrecipes.com
• 3-tier Patriotic Cake - hostessblog.com

To follow me on Pinterest, click [HERE]! :0)

[Jen]

[Foodie Friday: Royal Wedding]

Well, I meant to post this last Friday but better late than never, right? If you're wondering, I did stay up to watch the wedding in the middle of the night, even though my husband thought I was crazy. I thought the Royal Wedding was a beautiful fairytale wedding. Everything went just perfectly.

[Such a gorgeous dress!]

[The sweetest kiss ever! I love how the little bridesmaid is covering her ears. So adorable!]

Anyways, last Friday I decided to do something small to celebrate the royal wedding. My daughter and I celebrated by eating this for dessert:

Just blueberries & strawberries arranged on top of whipped cream. It was supposed to look like the Union flag... Didn't quite turn out how I envisioned.

I really wanted to do this:

[via Birthday Girl]

{sigh} Maybe I make this some other time. I mean, Harry gotta get married sometime, right? :0)

And of course, while we had dessert, we had a little tea party. It was such a lovely day. :0)

[Jen]

Lucky Star - St. Patty's Day Treat

Do you make any special treats to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Well, it has sort of become a tradition at my house (you can view last year's St. Patty's Day cookies HERE). This year I decided to make green Rice Krispie treats. I originally got this idea from Mique over at Thirty Handmade Days and her super fun Rainbow Treats. This was so much fun to make with my 2 year old daughter, even though she'd rather eat it than make it. :0)

Ingredients:

• 6 cups Rice Krispie cereal
• 1 package of marshmallows
• 2 tablespoons butter
• green food coloring
• cooking spray

First, melt butter in sauce pan. Then add marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add food coloring. Pour cereal into a large bowl and stir in melted marshmallows. Spray 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray and pour in mixture. Using your hands, firmly pat down mixture into pan until even distributed. Let cool and enjoy!

Since I don't have a shamrock cookie cutter, I decided to use one of my Christmas cookie cutters (since that's all I have!). After I found the star, I immediately thought "lucky star". Okay, I know it's a bit of a stretch for St. Patty's Day, but I had to get a little creative.

YOU are my lucky star! :0) Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

[Jen]

Happy National Carrot Cake Day!

Did you know there was such a thing as National Carrot Cake Day? Well, to celebrate this momentous occasion, I thought I would make my delicious Carrot Cake Pancake. This is always a big hit at our house! We enjoy having them for dinner (why is it that having breakfast for dinner is usually better than having it first thing in the morning?). Here's the recipe so that you can enjoy this yummy goodness as well:

Carrot Cake Pancakes

• 2 and 1/4 cups buttermilk pancake mix or Bisquick baking mix

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1 and 1/2 cups milk

• 1 cup finely shredded carrots (about 2 medium carrots)

• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

• softened cream cheese (optional)

In a large bowl, sift together the pancake mix and spices. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. Let the batter set 5 minutes before using.

Heat a griddle or large frying pan to medium high heat and coat generously with cooking spray.

Pour batter in 1/4 amounts to make each pancake. Cook until edges look dry and the top surface is covered with bubbles. Flip and cook until other side is golden brown.

Serve warm with butter and syrup. Or for the full carrot cake experience, spread with cream cheese. Serves 4.

The pancake mix I use for this recipe is a just-add-water-or-milk type. If your mix calls for oil and/or eggs, I'd suggest that you add those ingredients according to the directions on the package.

Source: Mr. Breakfast

Happy National Carrot Cake Day! :0)

Linking this recipe up to [these] parties!

[Jen]

Happy National Chocolate Cake Day! [Cake Recipe]

Who knew there was a national holiday for all the chocolate cake lovers out there! And there's only one way to celebrate this momentous occasion...by baking a delicious chocolate cake!

Here's a recipe that has been passed on from my grandmother, to my mom, and now to me (and hopefully one day to my daughter):

Chocolate Fudge Cake

1 c. Wesson oil
½ c. cocoa

½ c. water

2 c. sugar

1 ½ c. flour

1 t. soda

1 c. buttermilk

3 eggs

1 t. vanilla

½ t. salt

Directions:

Measure oil, cocoa, water and sugar in medium saucepan over medium high heat.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.  Cook until bubbles begin to form on side of mixture.  Take off stove and let cool.  In mixing bowl, sift flour and salt together.  In pan of cooled mixture add eggs, one at a time.  Add flour mixture and buttermilk (mixed with soda) alternately.  Mix well.  Add vanilla.  Mixture will be thin and may have lumps. Pour mixture into 9-inch round cake pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until toothpick stuck in the middle of the cake comes out clean.

This cake is delicious unfrosted. But if you would like to add some more sweetness, store-bought or even homemade chocolate frosting is the way to go! I have made this several times, and it is always a hit. :0)

Happy National Chocolate Cake Day! How will you celebrate?

Sharing this recipe with [these] linky parties.

[Jen]

Mother's Day Survival Kit

Here's a fun gift idea to give as a last-minute "extra" to any special mom you know. It's a nice little pick-me-upper. :0)

Each item has its corresponding "candygram" (or little reminders) that you can write/print out to help make up the survival kit.

These items include:

Penny for your thoughts.

Mirror to remind you that you are important too!

Marbles to replace the ones you will lose.

Rubberband to remind you to remain flexible.

Lifesavers to save you from one of those days.

Eraser to remind you that every MOM makes mistakes.

Puzzle Piece because you are an important piece in your child's journey through life.

Starburst for energy.

Fabric Square for all the times you will have to use your imagination for the last minute costumes and outfits.

Hershey Kiss for when you've given all yours away and you need some back.

Just wrap up these items along with this note in a bag with pretty ribbon, and you've got yourself a fun last-minute gift!

Isn't that just adorable?! I know any mom out there would love to receive something like this on Mother's Day. It might even make their day! :0)

Featured on: Frugal Friday

Foodie Friday: LINKY PARTY!!

Recipe of the Day: Spinach Pizza

Ingredients:
1 frozen cheese pizza
2 cups frozen chopped spinach (thawed)
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 400 F (or according to package directions). Place spinach on top of frozen pizza. Then sprinkle cheese to cover the pizza. Cook in oven for about 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Clearly, I am not a good cook. Especially when I am taking some frozen products and calling it a "meal". (Although being a busy mom, sometimes there's just not enough time to create a meal from scratch. A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do!) So I would love to hear all of your tasty recipes that I know you are just dying to share!

Okay ladies! It's time to party! This is a first here at Frame Fanatic. I am going to try using this cool Linky thingy, and I desperately need your help. I would love to see how many of you would participate in this. And please, tell your friends to join in! The more the yummier!

Today's linky party is going to be about linking up your favorite RECIPES. I know you all have 'em, so let's here what's cooking in your kitchen!

(Show the love. If you link up, be sure to visit other links and leave a friendly comment. Why? Because it might just make someone's day!)