Blast from the Past Thursdays!

I haven't done a Blast from the Past one in a while. I haven't been blogging much at all, so I thought I'd throw one in today...


This is a picture of Todd getting his MBA right before we moved from Alabama to Iowa. It really was amazing how that all worked out, the timing was impeccable...but isn't that the way God works? He was getting out of the Air force, we had to be moved out of base housing by a certain time, and Todd just happened to be wrapping up his Masters. Oh my goodness, that was a lot of hard work. Working full time and attending night classes...we didn't see each other much, and Heidi was a little baby then, I am very proud of his accomplishments! He is a hard worker and wonderful provider for our family! Oh my, and having that MBA has certainly opened doors for us later on in life!

Cake making!!

I had to make a dessert for going over to a friend's house for dinner tonight, so this is what I came up with. It's going to be awesome.

First let me share the ingredients...

2 boxes of Duncan Hines Butter Chocolate cake. I always use Duncan Hines for all my cakes. They are my favorite.

The filling is:


1 pint of whip cream
1 tbsp of instant vanilla pudding
1tbsp of karo syrup
about 8 crushed Oreo cookies

Whip together the first 3 ingredients until thick then add the crushed cookies...cover and put aside in the fridge until if firms up a bit.

I took my 10inch rounds and cut them in half.
Before laying the first layer on the cake plate, I put some frosting down first to act like glue. You don't want your cake sliding off...





First I put fudge down underneath the whipped topping. Just regular ice cream fudge from the store. It is thick and GOOEY and wonderful!!!
Then, I added my filling...




Then I put the top on...


Then more fudge...


Then more filling...


Then I cut my other cake in half. ***I should probably share with you about now that, before I even begin cutting in half, I cut the top round bubble off the freshly baked cakes...right out of the oven, because I want them to sit evenly and not be tipsy. So, when you layer, make sure that the very top layer is actually the BOTTOM that isn't a serrated part of the cake because if you put the serrated side on your very top piece, it isn't firm and doesn't hold up under the heavy icing on the top and will crumble.***
Then I begin a new layer...more fudge...



More filling...I start in the middle and spread out to the sides...




Then add the very top...which is actually the BOTTOM, flipped over on the top...




Then chocolate icing on the top and sides. I start on the top, work my way over to the sides, then down the sides of the cake. I use a cake spatula, and the trick is...don't pick up your spatula while spreading, it pulls the cake up and you get crumbs in your frosting---just a little tip for making it look prettier!



Hmmm....it still needs something....


There! Crushed Oreo's on the top make it look better!
Wa-la!! Pretty easy right??!! Maybe I should bring a jug of milk with me....