Donna
used to make this every year just about, by request, for Stephanie's dad. It
was - and probably still is - his favorite.
Burnt
Sugar Syrup:
2
cup sugar
Put sugar in heavy skillet and caramelize to golden
brown by stirring constantly over medium heat. When the sugar has melted and
turned color, add 2 cups hot water and stir until caramel is dissolved, making
a thick syrup.
Cake:
3/4
cup butter, softened
1
1/2 cups sugar
3
eggs
1 C
milk
¾
tsp salt
3
tsp baking powder
1
tsp vanilla
3
cups sifted all-purpose flour
Cream
butter and sugar and salt, add eggs, vanilla, milk, baking powder and flour.
Mix well. Add 3 tbsp Burnt Sugar Syrup.
Preheat
oven to 375º F for approximately 30 minutes. Test with toothpick stuck in center.
Frosting:
1
lb powdered sugar
1
stick butter
1
tsp vanilla
3
tbsp Burnt Sugar Syrup
§
"Soul
food is our personal passport to the past. It is much more about heritage than it
is about hominy." ~Sarah Ban Breathnach
§
Cookies:
1 C shortening
2
C brown sugar
1/2 C granulated sugar
3 eggs
4 to 4 1/2 C flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
Filling:
1 1/2 C dates, chopped
1 C sugar
1 C water
1 ½ C pecans, chopped fine
Cream together the shortening and sugar. Add the
eggs and beat until fluffy. Sift the flour; then add the salt,
soda and cinnamon and sift again. Add
the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and beat until smooth. Chill dough in the refrigerator for a
few hours. Divide the chilled dough
into two parts. Roll each 1/4" thick and spread with cooked, cooled
filling.
Filling: Combine the fruit, sugar and water and cook until thickened, stirring
constantly. Remove from heat and add the nuts. Cool and spread on the rolled
dough. Roll up, jelly-roll fashion, and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator.
Slice in rings 1/2" thick and place on greased cookie sheets, 1 inch
apart. Bake at 375 F until golden brown. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.
Break
up an angel food cake into a 9 X 13 cake pan. Make a large instant vanilla
pudding with 2 cups of milk. Add a
medium size cream cheese, softened, and beat. Fold in 8 oz cool whip.
Drain
and spread 17 oz crushed pineapple over cake. Spread the pudding mixture over
the pineapple and sprinkle with nuts if
desired. Refrigerate over night.
§
"Why did the Chicken
cross the road?"
(Hypothetical answers from
various famous people)
Bill Clinton: "I did not
cross the road with THAT chicken. What do you mean by 'chicken?' Could you
define 'chicken', please?"
§