the pursuit of yumminess

As I stated in an earlier blog, I have been on the quest to begin documenting my cooking and baking endeavors. Well, I have kept up with photographing some of my recent creations, but not so much on posting them. Well, here I am now, posting.


Get ready to get hungry. I usually make this into cupcakes but for the fourth of july, in the hunt for patriotism, I actually made it into cake form. This is Paula Deen's Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake, with a few of my own alterations.



This cake doesn't usually have blueberries on it, but let me tell you, they were yummy!

Here is the recipe:

Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Prep Time:

15 min

Inactive Prep Time:

10 min

Cook Time:

20 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

8 servings

Ingredients

1 (18.25-ounce) box white cake mix
1 (3-ounce) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin
1 (15-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed (I use a pint of fresh with some sugar)
4 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
Strawberry cream cheese frosting, recipe follows

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (10-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed (I just used some leftover puree from my fresh strawberries approx 1/3 cup)
1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract (I didn't use this)
7 cups confectioners' sugar
Freshly sliced strawberries, for garnish, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin. Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil, and water; beat at medium
speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into prepared pans, and bake for 20 minutes, or until a wooden
pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire
racks.

For the frosting:

Directions

In a large bowl, beat
butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in 1/4 cup of the strawberry
puree and the vanilla extract. (The rest of the puree is leftover but can be used in smoothies or on ice cream
for a delicious treat.) Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until smooth.

Spread frosting in between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries, if
desired.

Courtesy: Foodnetwork.com