Rave Reviews Coconut Cake

A special friend shared this recipe with me many years ago but it's still a favorite choice for any special occasion-- especially December birthdays!

Rave Reviews Coconut Cake


1 package (2 layer size) yellow cake  mix
1 package (4 servings) Jello Brand    Instant Pudding
11/3 cup water
4 eggs
1/4 cup oil
2 cups Bakers Angel Flake Coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Blend cake mix, pudding mix,water, eggs and oil in large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed for four minutes. Stir in coconut and nuts. Pour into 3 greased and floured cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes; cool in pans 15 minutes, then remove and cool on rack. Fill and top with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting.

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

4 Tablespoons butter
2 cups Bakers Angel Flake Coconut
1 package 8 ounce cream cheese
2 teaspoons milk
31/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet; add coconut, stirring constantly over low heat until golden brown.  Spread coconut on absorbent paper to cool. Cream 2 tablespoons butter with cream cheese; add milk, beat in sugar gradually. Blend in vanilla.Stir in 1 3/4 cups of the coconut, and spread on tops of cake layers. Stack and sprinkle with remaining coconut.

Optional: I spread icing between the layers, on top and the sides.

Dairy Q&A

                                                                  Question:

                           Are dairy farms closed on holidays?

Answer:

Dairy farms are never closed!

We milk our cows every day of the year--even weekends and holidays!

Our commitment to providing high-quality milk begins with taking good care of our cows everyday.

On Christmas Day, like every day, we'll milk our dairy cows twice a day,

                                     
                                 

make sure the milking cows have plenty of nutritious feed to eat,

provide hay and grain to our soon-to-calve dairy cows, 

keep a close eye on any cows giving birth,

and feed our baby calves in the hutches and pastures.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I love our Christmas tree because it is a memory tree filled with ornaments given to us as gifts, ornaments the boys  made when in elementary school or during our  4-H experience and gathered from places we've visited.

I'm thankful for the moments during the holiday season that we can just enjoy being together as a family to make new memories and enjoy sharing  those of the past.

Of course, the dairy  cows have their special place on the tree!

Dairymom's Butter Tradition

A few weeks ago, while standing in the grocery check-out line, I spotted the new Taste of Home Cookies recipe book. I couldn't resist adding it to my collection and so glad I did!  Lemon Butter Spritz, a recipe submitted by Iola Egle of Bella Vista,AR,   turned out to be a perfect recipe for my first experience using the new cookie press that I happily brought home from the  Dirty Santa  Game I participated in  last week at a family Christmas gathering.

I'm pretty sure these buttery cookies will become part of my Christmas cookie tradition after today's experience! 

Lemon Butter Spritz

1 cup butter,softened
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon grated lemon peel
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 Tablespoons baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 3 Tablespoons whole milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light an fluffy. Beat in the egg,lemon juice and peel. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Using a cookie press fitted with a bar disk, form dough into long strips on ungreased baking sheets. Cut each strip into 2 1/4-inch pieces (do not separate pieces).
Bake 5-7 minutes or until set (do not brown). Cut into pieces again if necessary. Remove to wire racks to cool.
For glaze,in a small bowl, combine the sugar,cocoa,vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Drizzle over cookies. Let stand until set.

Yield: 4 1/2 dozen

                                                                             

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The Bentonville City Council honored my mother,Mary Baggett, for her years of service to the community and in her position as city alderman for the last 12 years. 

It was absolutely perfect in every way--especially the dessert reception following the meeting!

( My mother's favorite meal--sweets!)

I'm thankful for this community leader that leads by example in serving others  and always strives to make our corner of the world the best it can be!

Dairy Q&A

Question:

How do I know which milk or dairy product is antibiotic free?

                                                   
                                                                      Answer:
           All milk is tested for antibiotics when it leaves the farm
                                   and before it is pasteurized.

                                                In fact,
 it is illegal for a dairy farmer to sell milk that contains antibiotics. 

Healthy animals are the foundation of a safe and abundant food supply. We use antibiotics under  the advice of our veterinarian  to treat a cow that is sick.  The milk from a cow being treated with antibiotics is separated to ensure it does not go into the milk supply.
You can find  more detailed information about antibiotic use on the farm at Dairy Makes Sense. 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Feeding our dairy cows a nutritious diet is an everyday activity. 

 I'm thankful for the the grain farmers that grow the corn we purchase for our cows to enjoy everyday of the year,

for equipment that makes it possible to load feed  easily,

and 

for the satisfaction of knowing the cows are enjoying the fruits of the farmers' labor.