Country Reflections: August 2009

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Who says brownie mix......

has to turn into brownies??

Use it to whip up this Mocha Fudge Cake...quick as a wink!

Tear open a box of double-fudge brownie mix and jazz it up with eggs and pecans. Pop it in the oven - then we're on to the frosting! Just throw some instant coffee granules into a bowl of whipping cream, turn on your mixer and presto! Now doesn't that take the cake?

Mocha Fudge Cake

1 (22 oz.) pkg. double fudge brownie mix

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup chopped pecan

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 tbs. instant coffee granules

1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar

Garnish- chocolate shavings

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 2 eight inch cake pans with cooking spray and line with wax paper.

Combine first four ingredients, stir in pecans. Spread in pans. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes and invert.

Combine whipping cream and coffee granules, beat at medium speed until foamy- gradually add powdered sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream between layers and top and sides of cake. Cover and chill 2 hours.

Garnish with chocolate shavings

Monday, August 24, 2009

A Great Bargain!

I bought these Gibson dishes recently at Big Lots. They are very popular out here in the blogging world! I had seen them on several blogs in their tablescapes and decided I had to have them too! I used them in the post below and decided to show the whole set. My local Big Lots had them for $35 and when they marked them at $20...I snapped them up!

I like these bowls and especially like the small one as it is nice for small amounts of ice cream, puddings, or sauces.

This is a nice size large bowl....

And a nice large platter...

I wasn't aware that the napkin rings and salt and pepper came with the set so was pleasantly surprised to find them. I had been looking for white napkin rings in stores....and here they were!