Here is a recipe for a coconut cake with a raspberry filling and flaked coconut frosting. Ingredients 2 large eggs, Whole Foods 365 brand (.50 cents) 2 large egg whites, Whole Foods 365 brand (.50 cents) 1 3/4 cups flour Whole Foods All Purpose flour brand (.63 cents) 2 teasp baking powder, Rumford brand (.06 cents) 1/2 teasp salt, Morton’s brand (.02 cents) 3/4 cup butter, cut into small pieces, Whole Foods 365 brand (.63 cents) 1 1/3 cups white sugar, C&H brand (.40 cents) 1 1/2 teasp vanilla extract, McCormick brand (.69 cents) 3/4 cup full fat coconut milk, Whole Foods 365 brand (.80 cents) 3/4 cup raspberry jam, Whole Foods 365 brand ($1.00) 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut, Whole Foods 365 brand (.30 cents) For The Frosting Ingredients 2 cups powdered sugar, C&H brand (.84 cents) 2 tablesp butter, softened, Whole Foods 365 brand (.13 cents) 1/2 teasp vanilla extract, McCormick brand (.23 cents) 2-3 tablesp whole milk, Whole Foods 365 brand (.06 cents) 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut, Whole Foods 365 brand (.60 cents) Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two �" 9 inch x 1 1/2 inch (23 x 3.75 cm) cake pans, and then line the bottoms with parchment paper (or spray with non stick spray). Sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Set aside. In bowl of electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition; add the egg whites and mix well. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and coconut milk, in three parts; in other words, add one third of the flour, mix gently by hand with a spatula just until it is mixed in, and then add half of the coconut milk, mixing until just combined. Add half of the remaining flour, mix by hand until just mixed in, and add the other half of the coconut milk, mixing until just combined. Add the other half of the remaining flour, mixing by hand until just mixed in. Always mix gently, and do not over mix. Divide the batter and pour into the prepared pans, smoothing the surface with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the cake springs back when pressed lightly in center. Place the cakes on a wire rack to cool, in their pans, for about 10 minutes. Then invert the cakes onto a greased rack. To prevent splitting, re-invert cakes so that tops are right side up. Cool completely. Cut each cake in half. Place one cake layer on your serving plate and spread with about 1/3 of the raspberry jam and sprinkle with about 1 - 2 tablespoons of coconut, or enough to lightly cover the entire surface of the cake. Continue with the next layers, stacking and filling with the jam and coconut. Set aside when done. You will be making the frosting next. For The Frosting In a mixing bowl add the powdered sugar, butter and vanilla. Turn the mixer on medium low and slowly add the whole milk until you reach the consistency desired. Increase the speed to medium and continue to beat until fluffy.

Easy Italian Chicken 4-6 chicken breasts 1 very large tomato 1 large bottle Italian dressing (fat free is ok too) Grated Parmesan cheese (as much or as little as you like) Place chicken in baking dish. Pour Italian dressing over top.Cut up tomatoes to bite size pieces and place on top of chicken. Add cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for at least an hour or until juices run clear. Serve white rice and pour juice over rice from the chicken. Source: SOAR My way of making this: I use skinless, boneless chicken breasts & cut each breast into thirds. Ive never used a whole bottle of Italian dressing. I like to sprinkle dried rosemary and dried basil over the chicken & tomatoes along with some garlic powder and dried red pepper flakes. I usually serve with vermicelli on the side. You can make everything the night before, cover with saran wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake. Sweet Potato Casserole 4 large sweet potatoes ½ cup granulated sugar ½ stick butter 1 Tbsp Half & Half (or more if it needs thinning) 1 tsp. Vanilla extract Walnut or pecan halves ½ cup Brown sugar 1/3 bag Miniature Marshmallows Boil, peel & mash sweet potatoes. Add butter, granulated sugar, Half & Half. Then add vanilla. Whip potato mixture in electric mixer until smooth. Pour into casserole dish; swirl in brown sugar and about 1/3 bag of miniature marshmallows. Top with walnut or pecan halves. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. (Recipe can be made ahead and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before baking.) Note: I have also added the miniature marshmallows towards the end of the baking time so that theyre partially intact/melted. This is delicious! Thin Noodles with Bacon This was a favorite supper of mine as a kid. Cook noodles or thin spaghetti or orzo until al dente. After draining and placing in bowl, I add butter and then parmesan (either grind up a wedge or get the Digiorno shredded in the little plastic container). Salt and freshly ground black pepper. (sometimes I squirt a little fresh lemon juice over the pasta at this point). Then I sprinkle with crisp bacon cut in bite size pieces . Serve this with a tossed salad with vinaigrette or Italian dressing. You might want to just start with the noodles, butter and bacon to see if your family likes it and add the parmesan on your own serving. Meat Loaf 2 eggs 3 oz tomato paste ½ cup water 1 tsp salt 15 grinds fresh black pepper (probably should use way less ) ¼ tsp cayenne pepper 2 lbs ground beef, 85-90% lean ½ cup plain breadcrumbs 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, pressed Preheat the oven to 350. Whisk together the eggs, tomato paste, water, salt, pepper and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and work together completely until all the ingredients are evenly distributed. Place the meat mixture into a baking pan and shape into a loaf about 11" x 4" wide. The loaf should be in the middle of the pan. Blend some ketchup, a little chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and a little bottled BBQ sauce and spread over the meatloaf. Cover with foil. Bake 45 minutes, then uncover, and remove as much liquid as possible. Return to oven uncovered and bake another 15 minutes. Source: I adapted this recipe from Dave Liebermans recipe, "Bubbys Meatloaf". You can cut back on the onions, black pepper and cayenne pepper a bit.--Ann Great with whipped potatoes (I like to add butter, milk or Half & Half, salt & pepper and a little garlic powder, to boiled potatoes, then whip in electric mixer until very smooth).

This is a variation. We had them at the first Cooking Forum Camp, they were brought by Julie. I have been a hero every time I have brought them as an appetizer. To everyone's amazement, they aren't greasy. The trick is to put them a ZipLoc in the refrigerator and keep turning the bag for at least a day. Herbed Cheese and Cracker Bits Julie from Cooking Forum 2 packages of Ritz Bits cheese crackers (the round mini-sandwich crackers but not peanut butter) 1/2 C. corn oil 1 (1 oz.) package of powdered Hidden Valley Ranch (original) 1 heaping T. Dry Dill Weed 1 t. garlic powder 1/2 t. celery salt Place crackers in a reseal able bag. In a measuring cup mix oil, salad dressing mix, dill, garlic and celery salt. Pour this mixture over crackers, turning to coat. Refrigerate for 24 hours turning bag several times to redistribute oil mixture. Let crackers come to room temperature before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. They last awhile--if you have any leftovers!

Here is a recipe that I have been meaning to try. Amaretti Cookies 2 egg whites 1 1/4 cups blanched whole almonds 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 1/4 cup slivered almonds Let the egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes in large mixing bowl. Meanwhile, line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or brown kraft paper. Set aside. In a food processor bowl or blender container process or blend whole almonds with 1/4 cup of the sugar till almonds are finely ground. Set aside. Add the cream of tartar and almond extract to the egg whites. Mix on medium speed till soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed till very stiff peaks form and sugar is almost dissolved. Fold in ground almonds. Drop meringue mixture by rounded teaspoons 1 1/2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Sprinkle a few slivered almonds over each cookie. Bake in a preheated 300 degrees oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or till cookies just begin to brown (centers will be soft). Turn off oven. Let cookies dry in oven with the door closed for 30 minutes. Peel cookies from paper. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 1 week. Makes 38-40 cookies