Coming soon, a recipe from a friend on tamali sauce - pretty sure that is not the correct spelling.....

Homemade Strawberry Jam and the Floor...

The jam was smelling YUMMY, and after using the Ball instant pectin packet I knew it was a breeze.  I could then proudly proclaim that I have made strawberry jam with fresh strawberries that I picked myself. 

 Actually, after looking at my fingers from picking and dehulling (if that's not the right word, please correct me) the strawberries, it looked like a murder had been committed.

So why on earth would anyone go this trouble to make strawberry, or any other,  jam when it can be bought at the store! 

Good question. 
 

I have this burning desire, thought, stubbornness, craziness…. to be independent, and know that I can “do it myself.” 

I’d already made dill pickles and salsa (recipes coming soon) and I was on a roll, even though it was 9:30 at night, I was tired, but I wanted to (stubborn, crazy….) I also knew better.  “…But it will only take 30 minutes…” I reasoned to myself as I cut the strawberries into small pieces, measured the sugar, and poured in the Ball instant pectin. 

WOW, what a delightful smell – I had mixed it up per the directions, put it in the jar, and I was shaking the jar to mix it up properly.  My hands were wet and so was the jar, but I had a good firm grip on “my” homemade strawberry jam.

Hubby, Mr. Cooki, (did I mention I have my own Santa Baby ;)) came into the kitchen to empty the trash can which was rather overflowing thanks to me!  I thought he was going to say something about the trash being full (feeling just a little guilty here….) so I was ready with my comeback.  Furiously shaking the jar of fresh made strawberry jam, with my wet hands on a wet jar.  All the flavors are blending and…

CRASH!

All over the kitchen floor. My washed-that-day kitchen floor, was now splattered with my fresh and homemade strawberry jam.  It was EVERYWHERE.  The glass from the jar I was shaking included.  

That was my comeback to a non-existent comment.  Mr. Cooki just looked and asked me very quietly, “what happened?”  He told me not to move and quietly swept up the mess I had made.  Then he mopped the floor for me, before he burst out with laughter.  He told me I was more concerned with what he was doing than paying attention to my shaking……. Humph ;)

Yes, I was actually tempted to make it again, only this time it was 10:30 p.m.  I didn't, I went to bed and slept hard.

The jam was made the next morning and tasteted scrummy!   

Using the Ball instant pectin makes it so easy.  Next time (yeah, I know) I'll use just a smidge less sugar as it was too sweet for me.  Even though the recipe only needs 1/2 cup it was too much for me.



Donuts, who doesn’t enjoy a good donut?  Actually, who doesn’t enjoy a great donut?

Most of us do.

Nope, these is not a recipe for a donut – still working on that.   BUT, if you’re in the panhandle of Florida and have a hankering for some good company, good coffee, and a great donut.  Stop by Good Things donuts on highway 85.

Here’s a link to their facebook page with some fabulous pictures of their product.  Stop on by and stay a while. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Good-Things-Donuts/168551959827251

Recipes By Cooki: Not Another Recipe Site

Recipes By Cooki: Not Another Recipe Site: Well, yes, and no!  You see I love to cook, entertain and of course, eat the food!  In fact, as a kid growing up in England I was left to my..  .     http://bjc.hubpages.com/



OH SO GOOD DUMP CAKE

You may be thinking, "what in the world is 'Dump Cake' is this woman crazy..?"  Well, you're not the first person to have thought that and likely not the last.  BUT, you gotta try the cake before jumping to conclusions :) 

Even though I'm not a Southern gal, this is a Southern recipe that is wonderful - sort of like a cobbler but better.  I work with special needs kids in middle school and we do a lot of cooking (yes, I teach kitchen safety and hygiene).  This was a popular choice from the kids.  Leave your comments or email me and let me know what you think :)  Hugs, Cooki~

Ingredients

• 1 Can crushed pineapple
• 1 Can cherry pie filling (or other favorite type of pie filling - for ours we used half cherry and half apple - very yummitious)
• 1 yellow boxed cake mix
• 1 stick (8Tbls) margarine or butter
• 1/2 cup water
• Cool whip or vanilla ice cream

Method

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Grease a 13 X 11 pan
• Dump the crushed pineapple on the bottom of the pan and smooth out
• Dump the pie filling on top of the pineapple and smooth out

• Dump the cake mix on top of the pie filling (you getting it ;)
• Dot the butter on the top of the cake mix.

• 

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• Pour the water over the mixture
• Bake for 40 - 50 minutes until golden brown or toothpick comes out clean

Let cool before putting cool whip on the top as it turns out sort of weird - kinda soft and flat.

As you can see it looks a lovely golden brown color. 

To make cool whip using whipped cream.  Pour the cream into a bowl and mix for 2-3 minutes until stiff.  It's much better than cool whip. 

ENJOY.

Remember, to keep the comments coming - they make me feel good - Hugs - Cooki~

Gooey Cake

This recipe is an easy and yummy dessert.

Warning, when you take it out of the oven it will look as though it's not done as the middle will be runny. Just let it sit for a few minutes and it will harden. Hence the name GOOEY :)

There are two layers to the cake. The top is crunchy with a soft and gooey inside - delicious!!

Heat oven to 300°F

Ingredients for first layer

1 Duncan Hines Yellow cake mix

1 egg

1 stick softened butter

1 tablespoon butter

Method

Mix all the ingredients well and pour into a lightly greased 9 X 13 cake pan.

Ingredients for second layer

18 oz softened cream cheese

3 eggs

1 box confectioner's sugar (16 oz)

1 tsp vanilla flavoring

Method

Mix cream cheese adding 1 egg at a time. Slowly blend in powered sugar. Add extract. Pour over first layer and bake for 45 minutes for 45 minutes.

Cake will be lightly browned on the top - if you want a darker brown just leave it in the oven for a few minutes only.

Better Than Sex Cake

This is a wonderful dessert that is served well with a light dinner due to it being a more condensed type of cake. A very delicious cake that can be made with many variations - I have tried it with a lemon cake mix but it does not taste as good to me as the lemon flavor overrules - which is good if we're wanting a lemon flavored cake.

Try the recipe and keep me posted with the ingredient variations that you may want to try.

Yes, the name is a conversation starter and breaks the ice at many parties and social gatherings. Is it better than, well, you know.......? I'll let you make that decision :)

Enjoy

Better Than Sex Cake

1 Box Yellow cake mix

8 oz chocolate chips

1 box instant French vanilla pudding

8 oz chopped pecans

1 stick softened butter

8 oz sour cream

½ cup cooking oil

½ cup milk

4 eggs

Method:

Mix ingredients

Bake at 350° for 1 hour.

Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese

1 box confectioners sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla.

Method:

Cream together. Add nuts of choice and coconut. Frost cake

Not Another Recipe Site

Well, yes, and no!  You see I love to cook, entertain and of course, eat the food!  In fact, as a kid growing up in England I was left to my devices (that alone is scary) and I tinkered in the kitchen concocting a variety of substances I called food.  My dad is no longer alive to tell his side of the story ;) 

Thankfully my husband enjoys cooking and eating my concoctions - he really does.

Many people through the years have asked for my recipes and, I, in turn, have collected recipes from some fabulous people I've met.  Credit is given to them for their contribution, so if they see it in print - YAY - contact me!!  All of them have all been taste-tested by me and mine through the years and I have made some modifications to my taste. 

Recipes will include desserts, hints, meats, meals etc.  I hope to share stories with the recipes (I have quite a few...) - food is more than just eating to sustain ourselves.  We eat to celebrate, to mourn, to honor, to hang out with friends, to gain weight, to lose weight, just because it tastes good, and many other reasons and occasions.

Comments are all welcome so come join me as we cook together :)

Check out the Better Than Sex Cake on the next page - I didn't say it was better ;)