Mrs. Ophelia's Icing

Top of cake

The finished product (with my apprentice looking on)

Recipe
1 c. shortening
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. almond extract
4 1/2 c. powdered sugar
3-4 Tbsp. milk

Beat shortening, vanilla, and almond on medium speed for 30 seconds.
Add 1/2 of the sugar, 2 Tbsp. milk. Blend together.
Gradually add the rest of the sugar and milk until you get to the desired consistency.
This will cover the same amount of cake as the regular tubs of frosting,
but it tastes so much better.

You will end up with deliciously white icing which can be dyed to any color.
For G's cake, I used Wilton's food gel in the little pots. I also doubled the recipe.
I find the colors are brighter than with the regular food coloring.

This icing is also good on sugar cookies.

Leaning Tower of Pickett

Okay, I obviously didn't put enough support dowels in my cake!
Luckily, it didn't affect the taste. :)

Zucchini Brownies

All I can say is, "YUM!!!" Hope you enjoy them, too.


2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 c. grated zucchini
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chocolate chips (optional, but not really)
1 c. peanut butter chips (optional, but not really)

1. Preheat oven to 350*. Grease 9 x 13 inch baking pan.

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour, salt, soda, cocoa, and sugars. Combine eggs, zucchini, oil, and vanilla; blend into dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate and peanut butter chips.

3. Bake for 30-35 minutes in preheated oven. Cool in pan and then enjoy.

*Variation: Bake in 10 x 15 inch jelly roll pan for 20 minutes.
You could use 1/2 c. chopped walnuts in place of chocolate chips, but why?

Texas Sheet Cake

Contributed by: Kim
(Dads favorite)

2 stick margarine
1 Cup water
4 Tbsp cocoa
Boil together then add to mixing bowl,
2 Cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Cup buttermilk
1 tsp soda
2 Cups flour
Mix with the hot chocolate sauce really well then add:
2 eggs
Mix well (you don't want to cook your eggs) Pour into a greased jelly roll sheets. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Frost while still hot.

Frosting for Texas Sheet cake
1 stick butter
4 Tbsp cocoa
6 Tbsp milk
Boil together. Pour into mixing bowl, then add 4 cups powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla, beating well. Spread on cake while still warm.

Kim's note: I start making the frosting when I take the cake out of the oven. If not sometimes the frosting will run off the cake.

Smore Bars

from Kim's friend Sheri Ottesen

6 cups mini marshmallows
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
5 Tbsp butter
1/3 cup karo syrup
1 tsp vanilla
8 cups golden grams cereal



Melt 5 cups marshmallows, chocolate chips, butter and karo syrup. when all melted add the vanilla, stir. Add golden grams and mix until coated. Add the last 1 cup of mini marshmallows. Pour into a greased pan. (I sprinkled on a handful of extra mini marshmallows on top while still warm). Cut and enjoy!!!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

By Kim's friend, Mike Price

1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 package chocolate chips

Beat butter, sugars, vanilla, and eggs until creamy. Add dry ingredients. Mix until flour is gone. Add chocolate chips. Drop on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

* I used white chocolate chips in these, but is very good with the chocolate chips.
* you can add 1 tsp mint extract with the wet ingredients to make mint chocolate chocolate chip cookies...also very good!