Carrot Cake

One of my best friends shared this recipe with me. I modified it slightly.

I baked this cake for my 33rd birthday.

2 c sugar
2 c flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
7 oz shredded coconut
2 c shredded carrots
1 c chopped walnuts (I don't add because I don't like nuts in cake.)
1 1/2 c oil
3 eggs
7 oz crushed pineapple, undrained
2 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into 9x13" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 min or til tests done. (I had to bake it for 60 min.) Cool to frost.

Frosting:
5 oz cream cheese, softenend
3 Tbsp butter or margarine, softened
3 3/4 c powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 tsp milk
additional chopped walnuts (I omit.)

Mix well. Add additional powdered sugar if needed to achieve desired consistency. Sprinkle with walnuts.

French Breakfast Puffs

I made these for breakfast the morning of G's 6th birthday.

This recipe is from the Quick Cooking 2001 cookbook.

1/3 c shortening
1 c sugar, divided
1 egg
1 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c milk
1 tsp cinnamon
6 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted

In a mixing bowl, beat shortening, 1/2 c sugar, and egg til smooth. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg; add to the sugar mixture alternately with milk. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min or til a toothpick comes out clean. Meanwhile, combine cinnamon and remaining sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll the warm puffs in butter, then in cinnamon-sugar. Serve immediately. Makes 1 dozen.

Monkey Bread

1 pkg (3 1/2 oz) cook and serve butterscotch pudding mix
3/4 c sugar
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 c finely chopped pecans, optional
1/2 c butter or margarine
3 tubes (10 oz each) refrigerated biscuits

In a bowl with a tight-fitting lid or in a gallon-sized ziploc bag, combine pudding mix, sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Melt butter in a shallow bowl. Cut the biscuits into quarters. Dip several biscuit pieces in butter and put in bowl with pudding mix. Cover (or seal baggie) and shake, then put biscuit pieces in a greased 10" tube pan. Repeat with remaining biscuit pieces. If any butter or pudding mixture is left over, mix together and pour on top of biscuit pieces in pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 45-60 min. Cool in pan 30 min before inverting onto serving plate. Makes 10-12 servings.