Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients: 2 cups white sugar 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored Jell-O 1 cup butter, softened 4 eggs (room temperature) 2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 cup whole milk, room temperature 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup strawberry puree made from frozen sweetened strawberries Directions: Preheat the oven to 350. Grease and flour baking pan, I used two 9" rounds. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and dry strawberry gelatin until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter alternately with the milk. Blend in vanilla and strawberry puree. Bake for approx 30 minutes in a preheated oven, or until a small knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cake to cool in the pan over a wire rack for at least 10 minutes, before tapping out to cool completely. For the Cream Cheese Frosting: 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I added 5 drops of red food coloring to get pink frosting) In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment combine the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. Spread on cooled cake. Refrigerate any leftovers. Recipe/s adapted from: SweetPeas Kitchen (Frosting) Sharon Swift (Cake) Photos by: Diane Baker for Canning and Cooking at Home Pinterest Link: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/530510031081065908/
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Yes! I decided to take the "plunge" and buy my first dehydrator!! I did a bit of research and decided on a few things: I wanted a low cost unit, minimum 500watts, quieter motor with temperature control, a fan that blows downward into unit and if plastic- that it be BPA free. I got all of those. I found the Nesco FD-61 SnackMaster and Jerky Express. It's a basic unit with 4 trays and a fruit roll try included. Nesco's website also has many great recipes to offer!! I can't wait to make the Harvest Granola! My first try was marinating and dehydrating some "chip tip" beef (thin sliced beef, lean from my local butchers) this beef was the perfect cut to use for this first timer!! I used the marinade that Nesco offered in their recipe book that came with the unit. Once marinated, I dried the beef for 90 mins at the proper temp. What Nesco (and others) don't come out and say is that meats need to be precooked to at least 160 BEFORE you place into the dehydrator to ensure eColi and other nasties are killed off...you also can finish off your beef in the oven at 350 for 10 mins *this is what I did...since I didn't know this "cook before caveat" beforehand...My next 'adventure' was slicing and dehydrating peaches, bananas and apples. I will say - next time I will do bananas by themselves as they take approx 11 hours in my machine - where the apples and peaches take approx 7 hours. I do NOT pre-treat my fruit with lemon juice as some suggest - there is just 'no need' in my mind and since we live in such a low humid area - the threat of my apple slices turning brown were low...as you can see in the photo above - they look great and the taste is AMAZING!! the sugars concentrate when the moisture is wicked away and it leaves you with the amazing natural sugars and flavors!! Best Snack Eats Ever!! I will be keeping you all posted of 'future' drying adventures too :) Diane |