Dream Cake

This is quite good, very light and would be an excellent summer cake. The frosting is marvelous.

Cake:

1 box yellow cake
1/2 c cooking oil
4 eggs
11 oz can mandarin oranges with juice

Mix all ingredients together. Pour into greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Bake 350/40 mins

Frosting:

1 large box instant vanilla pudding
1 20 oz can crushed pineapple with juice
8 oz Cool Whip

Mix pineapple with pudding. Let set 5 minutes. Fold in Cool Whip. Frost cooled cake. Keep refrigerated.

Mexican Chicken W/ Rice

2-3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1" cubes
1 4-oz. can diced green chilies
1 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 package taco seasoning, divided
1 can corn
1 c. cheddar cheese
rice of your choice-I used a package of yellow rice

Put half of taco seasoning mix in a plastic bag. Add chicken pieces and shake to coat. Spray pam in bottom of crock pot. In a bowl, mix rest of ingredients, except rice and cheese, with rest of taco seasoning. Pour over chicken. Cook on low 8 hours. Prepare whatever type rice you prefer. Add cheese to crockpot until melted. Serve chicken mix over rice.

America Rising

Kentucky Chocolate Pie

1 c sugar
6 T flour
2 eggs
1/2 c butter, melted
1 c pecans, chopped
6 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 t vanilla
1 c cream
1 unbaked pie shell

Combine sugar and flour. Add eggs, melted butter, peacans, chocolate chips and vanilla. Pour into 9" unbaked pie shell. Bake 325 for 60 minutes. Cool. Serve with whipped cream.

Green Chile Corn Chowder

1 15 oz can cream style corn
4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
2 T onions, chopped
1 4 oz can diced green chilies, drained
2 oz jar pimientos, chopped
1/2 c ham, cubed
3 c chicken broth
1 c milk or cream
(opt) 1 c shredded monterey jack cheese

In slow cooker, combine all ingredients except milk and cheese. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours, until potatoes are tender. Stir in milk. Reheat. Serve in individual bowls, sprinkle with cheese.

First Projects Finished 2010

It is awesome for me to have two, yes two, finished projects already for the year. Yes, I procrastinate... I love to start projects but seem to get sidetracked before they are done. Plus, weaving ends is worse than scrubbing toilets!

First is a pair of fingerless mittens for Laura. The yarn is Firenza Brushed by Lana Moro and the pattern is New Moon Inspired Fingerless Mittens by Nancy Fry which is available on Ravelry. Hopefully they will keep Laura's hands warm with her fingers free to carry her coffee...

Next is a pair of socks-just a plain jane pattern using Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Camel Heather. Love having a few pairs of HEAVY socks to keep my feet warm. These were done on size 3.25 needles, starting with a cast on of 9, increasing to 50 stitches.

Am going to try realllly hard to NOT buy yarn till at least summer. Books and yarn are my most serious temptations. Well, there is also ice cream.. but that doesn't count does it?