Brrrr!

For some of you spring may mean that the sun is shining and the cold and snow are behind you until winter comes around again. I wish we could same the same for us here in the north. Even though its spring we still have the chance of snow and freezing temperatures until the first or second week of May, and even then, who knows what mother nature can drop on us.

A quick flurry of sleet

A couple nights ago it was cold enough for the rain to turn to snow/sleet and we were blasted with a little bout of it again yesterday morning. These are the kind of days where you just snuggle up, pop in a movie, make some good comfort food and stay inside.

In our house there are no days bad enough in Hazel's opinion to justify us staying inside. From the moment she wakes up its, "shoes", and "outside." We went out when there was a break in the rain, but didn't stay out long because it was so cold and windy that even she willingly walked up to the door and went inside without a fight.


Here is some of the yummy food that I made the other night. The sesame chicken is a combination of two recipes mixed. The sauce is from Tyler Florence and the chicken breading is from a copy-cat recipe from Panda Express Orange chicken. We don't make this often but its a good treat when we do.

Sesame Chicken

2lbs, chicken cubed
1 egg
1 ½ tsp. salt
pepper
oil (frying)
½ c. cornstarch
1/4 c. flour

Sauce

3 Tbsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. ginger
1 clove garlic
2 c. chicken broth
¼ cornstarch
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
½ c. sugar
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
Sesame seeds for garnish


Place chicken pieces in a large bowl. Stir in egg, salt, pepper and 1 Tbsp. oil and mix well. Stir cornstarch and flour together, Add to chicken pieces stirring to coat.

Add the sesame oil to pan and set over low heat, Add the ginger and garlic and fry gently for about 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the remaining sauce ingredients in a bowl and stir well to dissolve the cornstarch. Gently pull onto the saucepan with the ginger and garlic. Stir as you pour because the cornstarch will thicken up quickly. Keep warm over low heat.

Next, the hubs requested that I make my Cream Cake. Its his new favorite! I found it in an issue of Taste of Home Magazine last summer and have made it a couple times since then. Once again, its not of of those dishes that you make all the time. I call it a Twinkie cake because that's what it looks like and tastes like, but better!

Photo from Taste of Home

Cream Cake Dessert

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup water
4 eggs
* You need to use the pudding in the mix. I tried it once without it and the cake just fell apart. It makes it a little firmer.

FILLING:
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
Fresh raspberries, optional


In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, pudding mix and shortening on low speed until crumbly. Add the water and eggs; beat on medium for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased and floured 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan.
Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine flour and milk until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Cool completely. In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening, sugar, until light and fluffy. Beat in the milk mixture, vanilla and salt until smooth.

Split cake into two horizontal layers. Spread filling over the bottom layer; replace top layer. Garnish with raspberries if desired.

 

I couldn't resist sharing this last photo with all of you. Isn't this just an odd bunch hanging out. The hubs is taking a break while we wait for my brother-in-law to come over and help feed bums. Hazel loves to throw rocks, so she's in heaven at the moment. The lamb snuck out of the fence and decided to come over and visit everyone until feeding time. Poor Penny doesn't know she's not supposed to be friends with a lamb. Its kind of like the fox and the hound. They don't know that they're not supposed to be together. I've even caught Penny licking one of their faces. Silly dog! Hopefully she'll learn that she's supposed to be herding them not hanging out with them : )