baking with cake mixes

I've hardly begun on my scathing health care article, but since it's already 2 pages in Word that's probably a bit much for a forum like Blogger, so I'll have to find somewhere else I can send it. Like the state legislature. Or the president. So instead you get this...

On Memorial Day I made THIS cake from allrecipes.com (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that site) and I wanted to share it with you. I adjusted a little, but this is basically how to make it. (By the way, FIRST time I've ever made a layered cake where you slice and put a filling in the middle and I was extremely proud, thank you very much...but it's actually super easy so you have to try it.)



1 package yellow cake mix
8 ounces cream cheese
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
2 (8 ounce) cans mandarin oranges, drained
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant coconut cream pudding mix
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

OK, first thing: Drain both the fruits and reserve juices of both, mixing them together! You can use the juice to make the cake! Just make cake according to box directions (baking in two 8 or 9 inch pans) but use half water/half fruit juice. (I also may have used applesauce instead of oil, but I honestly can't remember. Either one will work.) While it's baking, whip up the frosting. As follows:

Whip cream cheese and add confectioners sugar. Stir in drained fruits and slowly add a little of the juice. Blend in pudding mix really well, keep adding juice as necessary. Will be fairly runny. Fold in whipped topping. You can still add more juice, or if it's too runny stick it in the fridge for a few minutes while you finish with the cake. The pudding mix should make it thicken up.

Once the cakes are cooled, slice them in half horizontally (kind of hard for me but even though I am challenged by my cutting/slicing/scissor/knife abilities I still did it--and so can you!) and then start layering the cakes: cake, frosting, cake, frosting, cake, frosting, cake--then spread frosting over all. Whoa, it's a lot of frosting. Oh, yeah, save a few mandarin oranges to place decoratively on top.

But I gotta' tell you even a week later of being stored in the fridge it's still super moist and I munch on it every night. John & Michael aren't real big fans but the girls of the house love it! If you try it, let me know what you think!