Crazy Cake Mix in a Jar

Everyone loves a handmade gift and it's affordable to you too!  Be creative when decorating the jar; use fabric, raffia, personalize your labels, etc.

2 cups flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/3 cups sugar

In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, cocoa powder & baking powder. Layer ingredients in jar in order given in a 1 quart canning jar. It is helpful to tap jar lightly on a padded surface (towel on counter) as you layer the ingredients to make all ingredients fit neatly. Use scissors to cut a 9 inch-diameter circle from fabric of your choice. Center fabric circle over lid and secure with a rubber band. Tie on a raffia or ribbon bow to cover the rubber band. Attach a card with the following directions:

Crazy Cake
3/4 cup Vegetable Oil
2 tsp. Vinegar
1 tsp. Vanilla
2 cups Water
Stir cake ingredients together using a wire whisk or fork, making certain that all ingredients are completely mixed together.

Bake at 350ºF for 35 minutes. Frost as desired or serve sprinkled with powdered sugar, with fresh fruit on the side.

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Pop-Tarts® | Sprinklings | Peppermint Bark Bars

Pop-Tarts® | Sprinklings | Peppermint Bark Bars

Banana Beignets

6 cups vegetable oil, or as needed, for frying

1 cup milk

1 cup water

1 large egg*

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons sugar

2 firm bananas, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Pour oil into a deep pot to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. Heat oil to 370 degrees F.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, combine milk, water and egg. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Add slowly to milk mixture and mix until batter is smooth.

Fill a 2-tablespoon measure half full with batter, add a slice of banana and then fill the rest of the way with batter. Do not make them bigger as they will not cook through.

Drop formed beignet into hot oil and fry 3 to 4 minutes. When each beignet floats to surface, turn it and keep turning periodically until it's golden on both sides. Drain on paper towels. This will have to be done in batches.

While still warm, either roll beignets in confectioners' sugar or place sugar in a strainer and sprinkle over them. Serve hot.

*Break the egg in a separate bowl first to check for blood spots and discard it if it has a spot. This is how to check for a kosher egg.

Makes 20 to 24 beignets

Potato Casserole

Makes 6 to 8 servings

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds frozen hash browns, thawed and set aside
½ cup melted butter
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 pint sour cream
1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup crushed cornflakes

Mix all (except first and last) ingredients together. Fold in
potatoes; put mixture in 13 x 9 –inch buttered baking dish.
Sprinkle top with crushed cornflakes; drizzle with a little extra
melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Great dish to
take to pot lucks.