Mandarin Orange Cake

This cake will take the heat right out of a Summer's day. It has been a hot one on Beaty's Creek and I wanted something cool to eat for dessert and this hit the spot. Give it a try and it is sure to cool you off. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.




Needed-

Cake-
1 large can mandarin oranges-undrained
1 white cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs


Topping-
4 cups milk
2 Small packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 large can mandarin oranges drained
1 container Cool Whip


Mix all of the cake ingredients listed together, Make sure that the oranges are really beat into small pieces in the mix. Bake at 325' until cake is set in the middle. Cool completely.

Mix pudding with 4 cups of milk and mix for 3 minutes. Now add in mandarin oranges and Cool Whip. Pour on top of cake. Refrigerate overnight.

Buttermilk Pancakes

Raine and Ransome just love pancakes but I have never been too crazy for them. Maybe it is because I had to eat them with sugar-free syrup while growing up, YUK! These pancakes are very good though and I think it is the buttermilk in the recipe that makes all of the difference. I can actually enjoy these pancakes, with real maple syrup that is. This What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 T baking powder
2 t baking soda
2 T sugar
1 t salt
4 cups buttermilk
2 eggs
3/4 stick butter-melted
Blueberries, blackberries, bananas, walnuts, strawberries, or fruit/nut of your choice.

Mix dry ingredients together. Add wet ingredients and stir well. Batter will have a few lumps in it. Don't over mix. Heat a cast iron griddle over medium heat. When heated add 2 T butter, now pour 1/2 cup of batter on to the griddle. When bubbles form and edges begin to grow, flip for plain pancakes or add fruit of your choice. I love blackberries on mine. Serve with syrup and butter.

Blackberry Jam

I know I am going a little berry crazy lately but you will forgive me won't you? I am big fan of blackberries and their seeds. We have loads of wild blackberries around Beaty's Creek and the usual chiggers that go with blackberries and the heat of Summer. I don't care, I will itch for days just to have this jam, (there is that word again) when ole' Jack Frost is knocking at the door. This is What's Cookin on Beaty's Creek today.

Needed:

6 cups of blackberries-mashed
5 cups of sugar
2 packages of liquid pectin-(I love liquid pectin much more than powder.)
4 pint jars with flats and rings

Mash blackberries with sugar. Now in a thick bottomed pan pour in your blackberry mixture. Add in your liquid pectin and heat over medium heat until boiling. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and pour into jars. Seal jars and process in a hot water bath for 12 minutes. Let sit in a dark cabinet for a least one week before opening. I could not do this and nothing bad happened. Enjoy!