My Reciepes

[j_mbrady]

                                        SANDCASTLE CAKE

• cake mix (for example, Funfetti--white cake with confetti sprinkles)
• 1 can butter cream or vanilla frosting
• 2 cups crushed graham crakers or vanilla wafers for "sand"
• 4 wafer ice cream cones with flat bottoms (not jumbo)
• 7 pointed sugar cones
• Small flag on a toothpick
• Candy for decorations (for example, Swedish fish, shell, or rock candies)
• Sugar cubes, optional

Directions:

1. Prepare cake mix according to package directions.
2. Divide batter into one 9-inch square pan and 0ne 8-inch round pan.
3. Bake according to package directions.  Cool.
4. Place the square cake on a large tray or baking pan covered with wax paper.  Frost cake.
5. Place round cake on top of square cake and frost.
6. Sprinkle cakes with crushed graham crackers or vanilla wafers to look like a sandcastle.
7. Use all of the ice ceam cones to make turrets.  Fist put candy or crushed graham crackers in the bottom of the four flat-bottom ice cream cones so they don't tip as easily.  Then put frosting inside the uppe edges of the four cones.
8. Place pointed sugar cones upside down on top of the flat-bottom cones.  The frosting between the cones helps them stick together.
9. Spread frosting on the bottom of each flat-bottom cone, and place these four turrets at each corner of the cake (or wherever you wish).
10. Place three remaining pointed sugar cones upside down on the top of the cake.
11. If desired, add sugar cubes around edges of the cake to create castle walls.  Also, break a graham cracker square in half and use it as a door to the castle.
12. Use your imagination, and add coloful candies, such as Swedish fish, to decorate the castle.  Top one turret with a paper flag, or make a flag from fruit leather rolled onto a toothpick.
13. If desired, create a beach scene around the castle with more "sand," Swedish fish, taffy, and paper umbrellas.
14. Admire your creation; serve with ice cream.

    Serves  12

                                             Poppy Seed Bread

3 cups all purpose flour                                       1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder                                    2 1/4 cups of sugar

3 (generous) tbsp. poppy seeds                        3 eggs

1 1/2 cups of milk                                                 1 1/8 cups of oil

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract                                        1 1/2 tsp almond extract

Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.  Pour batter into two well greased and floured loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.  Let cool for about five minutes before removing from pans.  Enjoy!