Oatmeal Coconut Cake

Well, all I can say about this cake is yum, yum, yum! I wish I could reach through your computer screen and hand you a piece, so you could taste it's carmelly goodness! This recipe is an old one and is all over the internet- there are a few variations, but it's unanimous that it is super-duper delicious. And it's a very quick cake to bake. Some versions call for cinnamon, which I did not use, some call for either walnuts or pecans. Some have you broil the topping after you put it on, I just boiled mine for a few minutes. Anyway, it's a wonderful carmel cake with a topping similar to a german choc. cake, except I even think the flavors compliment each other better with this cake rather than with a chocolate one, but you be the judge.

Here's the recipe:

Oatmeal Cake

1 cup quick oatmeal (not intstant)
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Put oatmeal and boiling water in bowl, let stand 15 minutes. Add the rest of ingredients, except combine the dry ingredients before mixing them in. Beat well. Bake in a greased 9 x13 pan at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes, till dark golden and center springs back when poked.

Topping:

6 tbsp melted margarine or butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 c. evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Mix together well and spread on warm cake (still in pan) Broil until brown on top. Cake with topping can be frozen.

(Like I said, I made the topping and boiled it for a few minutes in the microwave. Then after it and the cake cooled for awhile I spread it on top. Oh, yumminess...)

Meal Ideas

As most of you know, I am expecting soon so, in preparation for the new-baby-sleep-deprivation fog, I am freezing some dinners. Any ideas on meals that will freeze well?

White Chocolate Blueberry Cookies

This is a winning taste combination- dried blueberries and white chocolate! You can find dried blueberries in packages near the other dried fruits, and in the bulk foods section at Smith's, and at Costco where they are the best price per ounce but of course come in a larger bag. (They are also great in your oatmeal.) Recipe as follows:

Cream together:

1 c. butter

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. brown sugar

add and mix:

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients and add to dough:

2 1/4 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Add and mix in:

2 c. oatmeal

1 1/2 c. dried blueberries

1 bag white chocolate chips

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Drop tablespoon size dollops onto and ungreased cookie sheet, bake at 350º for 10 min.

Homemade Nutella

Ok, if this really works it may just change my life forever. This website says it has a recipe for homemade Nutella and I'm so curious to see if it tastes like the real thing. So, anyone want to try/review this recipe first?

Baked Salmon

Let me preface this by saying that yes, salmon is very expensive. I only bought some because I like it and it was my birthday. My kids, 6 and 4, couldn't get enough of this salmon. I got the recipe from recipezaar.

2 cloves garlic

6 TBS light olive oil (I used extra virgin. It was a little oily, but still good)

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper (I used half)

1 TBS lemon juice

1 tsp chopped fresh parsley

2 (6 oz) salmon fillets

Mix the first seven ingredients. Pour over salmon in a baking dish. Cover with foil and marinate for an hour. I turned them once. Bake at 375 25-35 minutes, until the salmon flakes with a fork. I doubled the marinade recipe and used two pounds of salmon. It was delicious with a baked potato and some asparagus.

Banana Berry Brownie Pizza

▪ 1 package fudge brownie mix (13-inch x 9-inch size)
▪ 1/3 cup boiling water
▪ 1/4 cup vegetable oil
▪ 1 egg
TOPPING:
▪ 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
▪ 1/4 cup sugar
▪ 1 egg
▪ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
▪ 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
▪ 1 to 2 medium firm bananas, sliced
▪ 1 square (1 ounce) semisweet chocolate, melted

In a bowl, combine the brownie mix, water, oil and egg until well blended. Spread into a 12-in. pizza pan lined with parchment paper (you can try using grease and flour, but it always sticks that way for me). Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.
In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla until combined. Spread over brownie crust. Bake 15 minutes longer or until topping is set. Cool on a wire rack.
Just before serving, arrange strawberries and bananas over topping; drizzle with chocolate. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 10-12 servings.

The picture above was without parchment paper and the brownie was very hard to get out. I made it last night using parchment paper and it was so much better! That also allowed me to move it to a pretty round platter for serving.