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.

Tennessee Banana-Black Walnut Cake with Caramel Frosting courtesy Paula Deen Yield: 12 servings Cake: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 eggs 2 ripe bananas, mashed 1/4 cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 cup chopped black walnuts* Frosting: 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 1 cup packed dark brown sugar 1/3 cup heavy cream, plus more as necessary 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 1 (16-ounce) box confectioners sugar 2 cups finely chopped black walnuts, for garnish (optional)* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans. For the cake: In a medium bowl, stir together flour and baking soda; set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream together shortening and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in mashed bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add flour mixture, mix until just combined. Stir in black walnuts. Pour into prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool in pans on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare frosting. Melt butter in small saucepan. Add brown sugar and 1/3 cup cream. Cook over medium-low heat until the sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Transfer to a large bowl. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat in confectioners' sugar a little at a time until smooth. If frosting is too thick, add 1 tablespoon heavy cream at a time until consistency is right. Sandwich 2 layers of cake with frosting. Frost the outside of the cake. Press chopped black walnuts on the sides of the cake, if desired. *Cook's Note: DO NOT substitute English walnuts for black walnuts. BANANA SPICE CAKE Yield: 12 servings Bananas, pecans and currants give rich flavor to this recipe. Baking 1 hrs. 20 min. 3/4 cup currants or raisins 1/4 cup orange-flavored liqueur or orange juice 1 1/4 cups sugar 1 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, melted* 2 eggs 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange peel 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 3 medium bananas, peeled, chopped 1/2-inch 3/4 cup chopped pecans Topping Ingredients: Vanilla ice cream, if desired Caramel sauce, if desired Instructions: Heat oven to 325°F. Combine currants and orange liqueur in small bowl; let soak 30 minutes. Drain well. Set aside. Combine sugar, butter, eggs, orange peel and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cloves. Beat until well mixed. Stir in soaked currants, bananas and pecans by hand. Spoon into greased and floured 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 80 to 90 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove sides of pan. Cool completely. (Cake may dip slightly in center upon cooling.) Top each serving of cake with ice cream and drizzle with caramel sauce, if desired. *Substitute LAND O LAKES® Soft Baking Butter with Canola Oil. Calories: 330 Banana Cake Cockaigne Adapted from Joy of Cooking Grease and flour 2 round cake pans (8 or 9 inch) or one 9X13 inch rectangular pan. I usually line pans with waxed paper before I grease and flour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Mash two ripe bananas, or enough to make one cup. Add 1/4 cup plain yogurt or sour cream (fat free is OK) ot buttermilk and 1 teaspoon vanilla Sift together: 2 1/4 cups flour (Cake flour) 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt Cream in a large mixing bowl: 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter Add 2 eggs, one at a time, Add the flour mixture, alternating with the banana puree, STIR until smooth after each addition. ( DO NOT OVER MIX...THINK MOISTEN) Pour batter into prepared pan(s) and bake at 350 until the cake springs back when touched, about 30 to 40 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if serving warm or frost with a chocolate frosting, mock whipped cream frosting. or a cream cheese frosting. I make it with the Mock Whipped Cream Frosting and sprinkle the filling and top with a crushed Heath Bar. Mock Whiipped Cream Frosting Ingredients: 2/3 cup milk 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup sugar 2/3 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened 1/2 teaspoon vanilla combine milk, 2 tablespoons flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil (4 to 6 minutes). Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Cover surface with plastic food wrap; cool completely (1 hour). Beat 2/3 cup sugar, 2/3 cup butter and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in large bowl at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Continue beating, gradually adding cooled flour mixture and scraping bowl often, until light and fluffy. Frost cooled cake. Banana Cake Mocha Frosting: 6c powdered sugar 1/2c cocoa 1/2c butter, softened 1/2c brewed strong coffee Sift powdered sugar and cocoa` together. Add softened butter and mix on very low speed till incorporated. Add coffee and beat till smooth.

were you able to find Sara Lee Cheesecake bites? I could not find there anywhere. Do they still make them? Any ideas what I can use instead? Thanks

I just made blueberry sugar-free jam. I used Splenda as a sugar-substitute. I knew that commercial pectins wouldn't work to thicken it so I just cooked it until it was thick enough (about 220 degrees on a candy thermometer if you want to check it that way). It took about 30 minutes but came out great. Just remember to cook it down and then let it cool to see how thick it really is. It won't get any thicker when you put it in the jars. I then put it in sterilzed jars and hot water bath processed it for 5 minutes. You have to be really careful when using Splenda, as far as sterilizing, etc. Splenda does not have the anti-bacterial properties that sugar does.