Summer Time Treat

One of my favorite ingredients to bake with in the summer is rhubarb. We have an abundance of it at our house this year, so I have had a lot of fun trying out new rhubarb recipes. Here is a super fun, fast, and easy one that was on the back of a Betty Crocker cake mix box:

Strawberry Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

Preheat the oven to 325 F

In a 9x13 in. cake pan, melt 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter in oven

Sprinkle 1c Brown Sugar over melted butter

Arrange 2 cups sliced strawberries on brown sugar

Sprinkle evenly with 2 cups chopped rhubarb
(if fresh is unavailable use frozen, but thaw and drain first)

Prepare any flavor boxed cake mix according to package instructions

Pour batter over strawberries and rhubarb

Bake 45-50 minutes, or until cake passes the toothpick test

Immediately run knife around sides of pan to loosen. Place a serving plate upside down on top of the cake pan. Flip plate and pan over and leave pan upside-down on plate for a few minutes so the brown sugar can drizzle over the cake.


Cool 30 minutes then serve. If you want extra sweetness you can serve cake with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.

Oat Lace Cookie recipe

These cookies are a favorite at my house. They are frequently requested, and since they are so yummy and easy to make I happily oblige. Any time I take them to parties they seem to disappear. And because I have been asked for the recipe so many times I want to share it with everyone.

Oat Lace Cookies

(From The Cookie and Biscuit Bible by Catherine Atkinson)

Makes 36

2/3 cup unsalted butter or margarine

1 2/3 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup soft dark brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3 tbsp all-purpose flour

pinch of salt

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, finely chopped

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Thoroughly grease two large baking sheets.
2. Melt the butter or margarine in a small pan over a low heat. Set aside.
3. Mix the oats, sugars, flour and salt. Add the butter or margarine, the egg, and vanilla. Mix until blended, then stir in the nuts.
4. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of the batter about 2in apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 5-8 (for me it usually takes 8-10) minutes, until lightly browned on the edges and bubbling. Leave to cool slightly on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then, using a metal spatula, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. (If you leave the cookies on the baking sheet too long they WILL fall apart when you try to take them off.)

I hope you enjoy these cookies as much as I do!

For Ezra

My amazing brother and sister-in-law have such a cute little family! They have 2 adopted children with one "home made" in between. The oldest is almost 3, the middle child is 10 months, and little Ezra is 6 months. The adoption was just finalized about a week ago and he was sealed to his family in the temple on June 6, 2010. We had a big "officially part of the family" party for Ezra and I made him a cake to celebrate.I must say, I think the family tree turned out pretty cute. And it tasted really good too!

Contragulations Ezra; we are so glad yo'ure a part of our family! P.S. I have no idea how my brother and sister-in-law manage 3 young children every day, but whatever they're doing it's working. All 3 kids are so adorable!!!