Hummingbird Cake

This is similar to carrot cake only with pineapple & pecans.

For the cake batter:
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees and prepare to round cake pans.  I like to butter and flour them, but a little non-stick spray will work too.

3 cups Cake Flour
2 cups Granulated Sugar
1 teaspoon each of: baking soda, ground cinnamon (I like Saigon), & salt

1 cup Veggie Oil
3 Large Eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla paste or 1 tablespoon of extract
6 ounces of crushed pineapple in it's juice
About 1 cup of chopped pecans depending on your taste
2 ripe bananas

In the bowl of a food processor pulse all the dry ingredients and the pecans to mix thoroughly.  In a large bowl mash the bananas and then add the wet ingredients. Beat with a fork to break up the eggs. Transfer the dry stuff to another large bowl and slowly mix in the wet stuff.  Don't over mix.  The batter will be a bit lumpy.  Transfer to the prepared cake pans and bake for about 30 minutes.

Cook the cakes on a wire rack.  When completely cooled cover with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:  2 sticks salted butter, about 3-4 cups of powdered sugar, two 8 ounce bricks of cream cheese and one teaspoon of vanilla paste or scrape down one vanilla pod.  I like the way the vanilla flecks look in the frosting.

Let the butter and cheese come to room temperature and then beat to light and fluffy with an electric mixer.  Add in the vanilla then slowly sift in the sugar until it's as sweet as you like it.

Don't be shy with the frosting. 

Grilled Cheese with Bacon & Egg

Every want something a little more than a grilled cheese?  Love bacon?  Then this is for you.

Ingredients for 2 sandwiches: 6 slices of bacon, 4 slices of sourdough bread, 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 slices of Edam Cheese, 1 slice of  Cheddar Cheese, sprinkling of Parmesan Cheese, 2 large eggs, olive oil, fresh cracked black pepper

Cook the bacon to your liking and drain on paper towels.  I cook mine in a 425 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

Heat 2 pans with some butter and a little olive oil.  In one pan cook the eggs sunny side up.  Layer the sandwiches as follows: bread, 1 slice of Edam, 3 slices of bacon, sprinkling of Parmesan Cheese, 1/2 slice of Cheddar and finally the other slice of bread.  Toast on both sides until the cheese is nicely melted and the bread is browned.  Top with a fried egg.  I served my sandwiches with some tomato soup.

1/2 & 1/2 Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Vanilla, Chocolate & Cream Cheese Cupcakes

For the cakes:
1 stick of softened butter
3 eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
1.5 cups flour + 2 tablespoons of cornstarch (this mimics cake flour)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup well packed light brown sugar
1.5 teaspoons of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla paste or real vanilla extract
2 ounces Dutched Cocoa

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line your 12 count muffin tin with paper liners.

Sift the dry ingredients (except the cocoa)  together.  Cream the butter & sugar in a large separate bowl.  Add the dry to the wet.  Add the milk and vanilla.  Mix well.  Take out 2 cups of the batter and set aside.   Add in the cocoa powder and mix well.  The batter will be very brownie like. 

Spoon the chocolate batter into the tins.  Spoon in the vanilla batter.  Swirl with a toothpick.

Bake for between 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 brick of softened cream cheese
1/2 stick of room temperature butter
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
about 1/2 box of powdered sugar (it depends on the humidity)
1 tablespoon 1/2 & 1/2 or heavy cream

Cream together the cheese, butter & vanilla.  Slowly sift in the sugar until the frosting comes together.