Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Caramel Nut Cake



I have been spending too much time on eBay. But - I got this fabulous typed three ring binder from someone - filled with loose papers too, notes, comments, etc. What a find! There is a newspaper from 1951 in here too. This ad caught my eye. She has several Caramel frostings, and must have loved that flavor. The ad, from Alumode Specialty Co. is from Manitowoc, WI. Several of my Irish Curtin ancestors went up there to work on the railroad when they came over here. My husband and I stopped by a cemetery there once and it was all Curtins. My Mom didn't even know about all those branches.



So I am starting posting this one. I will likely type in the entire notebook soon, too.



Caramel Nut cake
Prepare 1 package Yellow Cake Mix according to package directions. Blend in 1 cup finely chopped nut meats. Pour equal amounts of batter into 2 8-inch square cake pans. Bake according to package directions. When cold, put layers together with Caramel Icing and decorate with nut meats.

Caramel Icing
1/2 cup cream
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 1/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Heat together cream and butter or margarine. Meanwhile, put granulated sugar in heavy frying pan. Place pan over medium heat and stir constantly until sugar becomes a golden brown syrup. Set pan off heat, stirring constantly until syrup cools slightly. Slowly pour hot cream-butter mixture into melted sugar stirring constantly. Return to heat and let boil until mixures are thoroughly blended with constant stirring. Remove from heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar. Beat until icing is smooth, creamy and thick enough to spread on cake. If icing becomes too thick, add a little more cream.



My friend author Deb Baker, author of soon to be three funny and skilled mystery series is starting a new blog with a 2010 reading challenge. I will be guest blogging about YA awards at the end of January there but I like her ideas. Check it out!


http://poweredbybooks.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-years-resolution-for-book-lovers.html

We are on the fifth day of Kwanzaa: Nia, or Purpose. I do like a holiday that makes me think.

1 comment:

Janice said...

I've never been into ready mixes, but that frosting sounds lovely. Great find there. I'll pop along to have a look at that blog.