Strawberry Cake from Scratch

Haven't tried yet, but I didn't want to lose the recipe...

Ingredients
2 cups white sugar
1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs, separated (room temperature)
2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup whole milk, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup strawberry puree

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and dry strawberry gelatin until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks one at a time, mixing well after each. Sift flour and measure after sifting. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter alternately with the milk. Blend in vanilla and strawberry puree. Whip egg whites until fluffy and fold into batter. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a small knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool in their pans over a wire rack for at least 10 minutes, before tapping out to cool completely.

Notes
When assembling the layers, use a layer of fresh cut strawberries or more strawberry puree with the frosting between layers. Frost with buttercream, vanilla, or cream cheese frosting.

Super Simple Lasagne

Ingredients
1 box Barilla no-cook lasagne noodles
1 jar favorite tomato sauce
1 16-oz. container cottage cheese
1 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 cloves minced garlic (optional)
1 pound cooked ground turkey (optional)

Directions
In a 9x13 pan, line bottom with 3-4 noodles, cover with tomato sauce (1/3 jar), spread 1/2 of container of cottage cheese, and 1/3-pound of shredded mozzarella cheese. Optional - add 1/2 pound cooked ground turkey and/or 2 cloves of minced garlic between cottage cheese and shredded cheese layers. Repeat same steps for second layer. For third layer, repeat steps for noodles, sauce, and shredded cheese only.

Cover with foil and bake in oven at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until noodles are tender and cheese is melted through.

Tater Tot Casserole

Serves 6

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of mushroom soup
1 can french fried onion rings
2 to 3 cups frozen tater tots

Directions
Grease a 3-quart casserole dish. Brown meat in the microwave; drain. Stir in soup and onion rings. Cover the top with tater tots. Bake at 350 degrees until tater tots are browned, about 30 minutes.

Sweet Corn Muffins

Makes 18-20 muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup Albers® White or Yellow Corn Meal
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cups milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted

Directions
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Grease or paper-line 18 to 20 muffin cups.

COMBINE flour, sugar, corn meal, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Combine milk, eggs, vegetable oil and butter in small bowl; mix well. Add to flour mixture; stir just until blended. Pour into prepared muffin cups, filling 2/3 full.

BAKE for 18 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool slightly. Serve warm.

Tuna Casserole

Ingredients
1 (12 ounce) package egg noodles
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
1 cup frozen green peas (or corn)
2 (6 ounce) cans tuna, drained
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup bread crumbs

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
3. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix noodles, onion, 1 cup cheese, peas, tuna, and soup. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish, and top with bread crumbs and remaining 1 cup cheese.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is bubbly.

Mutha Sauce (BBQ Sauce)

from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que cookbook - page 165

Ingredients
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup minced onion
1/2 cup minced green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
pinch each of kosher salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 can (28 ounces) tomato sauce
2 cups ketchup (preferably Heinz)
1 cup water
3/4 cup Worchestershire sauce
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup cayenne pepper sauce
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon liquid smoke (optional)

Directions
Pour the oil into a large saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Toss in the onions, green peppers, and jalapenos and give them a stir. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook til soft and golden. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Dump in everything else except the liquid smoke. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat so the sauce simmers. Simmer for 10 minutes. Swirl in the liquid smoke and let the sauce cool. Pour it into a container, cover, and store in the fridge until ready to use.

Makes 6 to 7 cups

Cake Mixes from Scratch

Ingredients
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
For a Yellow Cake: Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Cut in shortening until fine crumbs are formed. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla. Beat at low speed for 1 minute, then high for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl frequently.

Pour batter into greased and floured 9x13 inch pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes.

Variation for a White Cake: Prepare as for the basic cake except use 3 egg whites for the 2 whole eggs. Whites may be beaten separately and added for a lighter cake.

Variation for a Chocolate Cake: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the basic cake mix prior to adding the milk.

Variation for a Spice Cake: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice to the basic cake mix.

Variation for a Pineapple Upside Down Cake: Melt 1/2 cup butter in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Add 2/3 cup brown sugar, stirring into the butter. Arrange pineapple slices in the pan. Top with the basic (yellow cake) mix recipe. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, cool 5 minutes, and invert to serve.