Pumpkin Cake

Cake Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can pureed pumpkin (2 cups)

Pre-heat oven to 350

Combine dry ingredients in large bowl and set aside.In a smaller bowl, lightly beat eggs then gradually beat in oil.&Beat egg mixture into dry ingredients.Once mixed completely, beat in pumpkin.

Pour batter into two greased and floured 9 in cake pans. Bake 35-40 minutes.

Frosting Ingredients:
6 tbsp butter
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese
1 tbsp real maple syrup
1 lb powder sugar

Cream together butter and cream cheese. Beat in maple syrup. Gradually beat in powder sugar

Frost cake when cool, chill until served.

A new Thanksgiving favorite!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

My awesome brother-in-law loves carrot cake.  My best friend Jenifer also just discovered she loves carrot cake.  Therefore, I had to post the most awesome carrot cake recipe of all time - my mom's.  Enjoy Joe and Jen (and everyone else!)

Pre-heat oven to 350

Combine:
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt

Beat in:
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

Grate 3 cups carrots (do not use pre-grated carrots - they don't have enough juice to make the batter moist).  Add carrots to mix.  Pour mix into 3 greased and floured 9-inch cake pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or if you use larger sheet cake pans increase time to 40-45 minutes.  Cool and frost with cream cheese frosting.

Hot and Spicy Cajun Shrimp

This is not for the faint of heart! It's really good served with cornbread or any crusty bread, and can also be served over rice.
6-8 servings

In a bowl combine and set aside:
2 lbs extra large shrimp, cleaned and deveined
3 tbsp Cajun seasoning
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tbsp fresh minced rosemary

Combine and simmer for 10 minutes:
1/4 cup beer
5 tbsp tabasco sauce ( I like the smoked kind)
5 tbsp worcestershire sauce
6 tablespoons lemon juice
1 small can tomato paste

In a large skillet heat a tbsp olive oil and quickly saute the shrimp just until barely done, 2-3 minutes.

Stir in 1-2 tbsp of cold butter to the sauce and pour over the shrimp.
Quickly bring back to a simmer and serve.

Blueberry Pancakes

These are delicious!

Combine in large bowl:
2 ½ cups flour
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

In a smaller bowl beat:
2 eggs

Beat in:
4 tbsp vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups buttermilk

Beat wet ingredients into dry until smooth.

Fold in 1 cup fresh blueberries

Cook on a hot griddle. It's time to turn the pancakes when they have bubbles rising to the top- about 2 minutes. Cook for another minute after turning.
Serve with butter and maple syrup.