Recipes from Team Cat Cat!

YELLOW BUTTER CAKE

Yields: two 10x2-inch round layers or one 14x2-inch round pan
3 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons cake flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound plus 4 tablespoons (2 1/2 sticks) soft unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs plus 2 large yolks
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups whole milk
1. Position oven rack in the middle of your oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the bottom and sides of your baking pan or pans. Line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper and butter the paper.

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside. Put the butter in the large bowl of your mixer and mix on low speed for 15 seconds. Slowly add the sugar. Increase the speed to medium and beat the butter and sugar for 2 minutes, until the mixture is fluffy and lightens from a yellow to a cream color. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl during this mixing. Add the eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat for 2 more minutes at medium speed, scraping the sides of the bowl again. Add the vanilla extract to the milk. Decrease the speed to low and add the flour mixture and the milk alternately, beginning and ending with the flour mixture (3 flour,
2 milk). Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl after the last addition of flour. The batter is ready when the final addition of flour is mixed completely into the batter. If any flour is clinging to the sides of the bowl, stir it into the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan or pans and smooth the top of the batter with an off-set spatula. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes for the 10-inch pans. The finished cake should feel firm to the touch. Check with a toothpick, placed into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean it is done. It will also start to pull away from the sides of the pan.

Cool the cake completely in the pan or pans on a wire cooling rack.

When completely cool, run a knife around the pan edge and then invert onto a cake board or the cooling rack

NOTES & TIPS: Again, this cake freezes well. Wrap in SARAN WRAP AND FOIL. FREEZE UP TO 3 MONTHS. To fill and frost frozen cake layers, defrost the layers until they are thawed just enough to cut easily. COLD LAYERS SPLIT AND HANDLE WELL. If you are not going to freeze the cake, refrigerate for a day before frosting or icing your cake.

For Rum Cake:  Add 1/2 cup rum to cake batter.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white sugar

2 egg yolks, beaten

1/2 cup cream

3 tbs. butter

1 cup chopped pecans

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1.  Combine sugar, egg, cream, butter in saucepan.  Cook until thickened.  Add pecans, salt, vanilla, and cool.

this will make a lot, so you can easily halve the recipe.

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

2 (16 oz.) cans refried beans

2 packages taco seasoning

2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

2 cups monterey jack cheese, shredded (or use extra cheddar)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In medium bowl, blend cream cheese and sour cream.  Add the remaining ingredients, but reserve 1/2 the cheese.  Transfer mixture to 8x 12 baking dish.  Top with additional cheese.

3.  Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until cheese is slightly browned. 

A handy substitute for taco seasoning packets!  One recipe is about 3 tablespoons, which is equivalent to one seasoning packet.

Ingredients:

1 tbs. chili powder

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. paprika

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. or one packet of beef bouillon

Directions:

1.  Combine all ingredients in small bowl; store in airtight container.

Here's my version of taco casserole --Justin loves it!

Ingredients:

1 can refried beans with jalapenos

1 lb. browned ground beef

1 package taco seasoning

2/3 cup water

3 cups Spanish rice

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 flour tortillas

Directions:

1.  Spray large casserole dish with cooking spray.  Spread beans in bottom of dish. 

2.  Add taco seasoning and water to ground beef and heat until water is reduced.  Spread meat on top of beans, sprinkle with cheese. 

3.  Spread rice on top of meat, and sprinkle with cheese.

4.  Tear tortilla into pieces, then arrange on top of casserole.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

5.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted on top. 

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 scant cup cream

1.  Heat cream until bubbles appear.  Pour over white chocolate and whisk until smooth. 

This one is really good.  I've been trying to avoid Jello, but I'm making this one in part to give to a friend so I wanted something foolproof.  And it's a very pretty pink color!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 4 eggs (separated)
• 2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup strawberry puree made from frozen sweetened strawberries

Ingredients:

3-4 large potatoes, sliced

2 cups cheddar cheese

2 tbs. margarine

1/2 cup milk

dash salt

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a medium sized casserole dish with cooking spray. 

2.  Place a layer of potatoes in dish.  Cover with 1/2 cup cheese, dot liberally with margarine, and sprinkle with salt.  Repeat until all ingredients are used.

3.  Pour milk over top and sides of casserole.  Bake for 45 minutes or until done --cheese will be crispy on top.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 packet onion soup mix

2 eggs

1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350. 

2.  Combine beef, soup mix, eggs, and seasoned breadcrumbs.  Shape into 6 patties.  Coat with 1 cup panko breadcrumbs. 

3.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until done. 

I made this with Oreos today, for a cookies and cream cake.

Ingredients:

3 cups cake flour, sifted

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 cup butter at room temperature

2 1/2 cups sugar

1 tbs. vanilla

4 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup oil

Directions:

1.  In bowl, combine cake flour, baking soda, baking powder.  Set aside for later.

2.  In mixing bowl, cream sugar and butter together until fluffy.

3.  Add rest of wet ingredients to sugar/butter and mix thoroughly. 

4.  Beat in flour mixture until all is combined.

5.  Pour into 2 8 in. pans and bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until done.