A Little Bragging, please.

My daughters participated in a baking contest at the Washington-Centerville Library.


There were only two prizes: Best Presentation and Best Taste.


My oldest decided to make a Red Velvet Cake. My friend Margaret, came up from KY on her day off and spent the whole day with us baking. She helped Hannah master the stand mixer and make this cake.


They made them into cupcakes for easy serving.

Red Velvet Cake from Margaret Morgan

½ cup Crisco
1 ½ cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 oz red food coloring
4 tbsp cocoa
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter milk
2 ¼ cup cake flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp vinegar

Cream shortening and sugar, add eggs. Mix food coloring with cocoa then add to the creamed mixture, add vanilla Add salt and buttermilk alternately with flour. Add vinegar mixed with soda. Bake in 3 layer pans (or cupcakes) at 177 degrees C. for 30 minutes. Place waxed paper in the bottom of the cake pan for easy removal of cake later.

Icing:

3 tbsp flour
1 cup milk
2 sticks butter
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Cook flour and milk until thick (bring to a boil, stirring constantly); cool. Cream butter (room temperature), sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Blend with cooled mixture. Beat well. Place between each layer and on top and sides of cake.

M&M Race Day Cookies made by my middle daughter won Best Taste. But then we played to an adult palate. They had dark chocolate M&M's and real butter.
She was so thrilled to win on taste. 

My youngest wanted to make brownies. The ones I have been making since before she was born. She has never had a box brownie, because of this recipe.

The Best Brownies

1 cup veggie oil
2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ cup mini m&m’s

Blend oil, sugar, vanilla and eggs in mixing bowl. Beat well with fork. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Gradually add to egg mixture until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in lightly greased 11 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 177 degrees C for 20 – 25 minutes.

There were many other contestants and the kids had a lot of fun. One young lady, brought these gorgeous cupcakes that she made. She told people quickly how she made them. They were well made.