Staycalm
Here's a couple of recipes that are not too sweet and are easy to cook. If you made the pineapple cake, do not frost it; just dust lightly with powdered sugar and serve while still a little warm if possible. (But if you tell folks it has no fat and no dairy, they won't eat it. Don't ask me how I know) I never have figured out what's Swedish or Mexican about the cake, but it's good anyway.
Also have an buttortment of good-quality fresh fruit available. Here in Minnesota, some people bring pickled herring to these sorts of things. :-/
Swedish Pineapple cake (a.k.a. Mexican Wedding Cake)
2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 cup chopped nuts 2 eggs 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
Grease a 13x9x2Ó baking dish. In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well by hand. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 35 minutes at 350¡F, or until toothpick inserted in middle of cake comes out clean. Cool, then frost with cream cheese frosting. For Mexican Wedding Cake, add 1 cup chopped pecans to cake batter, and 1/2 cup each chopped pecans and flaked coconut to frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting: 8 ounces cream cheese, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup butter or margarine, 2 cups powdered sugar
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Raisin Applesauce Snack Cake
1 C whole-wheat flour 1 C unbleached AP flour 1 C sugar 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1/4 tsp. allspice 1 tsp. vanilla 1 egg 1/4 C canola oil 1 1/3 C unsweetened applesauce 1 C raisins
Preheat oven to 350¡F. Coat a 9x13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Combine flours, sugar, spices, soda, and salt. In separate bowl, combine the vanilla, egg, oil, and applesauce and mix well. Add the applesauce mixture to the dry mixture all at once and beat at medium speed to combine. Stir in the raisins. Pour the batter into prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the center of oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan; cut into 1 x 1 1/2 inch bars. Makes 36.
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Best regards, Bob
