Red Velvet Layer Cake

I got this recipe out of The Nest magazine back in 2008 and it is a DELICIOUS and beautiful cake!

CAKE Ingredients:
* 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 2-3/4 cups sugar
* 3 large eggs, at room temperature
* 6 Tblsp red food coloring
* 3 Tblsp unsweetened cocoa
* 1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
* 1-1/2 tsp salt
* 1-1/2 cups buttermilk
* 3-1/3 cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted
* 1-1/2 tsp cider vinegar
* 1-1/2 tsp baking soda

CAKE Directions:
* Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour 3 (9x2-in) round cake pans and line bottoms with waxed paper.
* In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time; beat well.
* In a small bowl, whisk food coloring, cocoa and vanilla. Add to batter and beat well.
* In a measuring cup, stir salt into buttermilk. Add to batter in three parts, alternating with flour.
* In a small bowl, stir together cider vinegar and baking soda. Add to batter and mix well.
* Divide batter among 3 pans. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool for 1 hour. Remove from pans and frost.

VANILLA FROSTING Ingredients:
* 1-1/2 cup (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
* 8 to 10 cups confectioners' sugar
* 3/4 cup milk
* 1 Tblsp vanilla extract

VANILLA FROSTING Directions:
* Place butter in a large mixing bowl; then add 4 cups sugar, milk and vanilla.
* Using an electric mixer, beat for 3-5 minutes. Add remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition, until it's a good consistency for spreading.

Cherry Winks

I used to make these with my Babi for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

Ingredients:

* 2-1/4 cups all purpose flour

* 2 tsp baking powder

* 1/2 tsp salt

* 3/4 cup margarine or butter, softened

* 1 cup sugar

* 2 eggs

* 2 Tblsp fat-free milk

* 1 tsp vanilla

* 1 cup chopped nuts

* 1 cup finely chopped, pitted dates

* 1/3 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries

* 2-2/3 cups corn flakes (crushed to 1-1/3 cups)

* 15 maraschino cherries, cut into quarters

Directions:

* In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

* In a large electric mixer bowl, beat margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs. Beat well. Stir in milk and vanilla. Add flour mixture, combining thoroughly. Stir in nuts, dates and the 1/3 cup cherries.

* Portion dough using level tablespoon. Shape into balls. Roll in corn flakes cereal. Place about 2-inches apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Top each cookie with cherry quarter.

* Bake at 350 degrees about 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove immediately from baking sheets and cool on wire racks.

Trina's Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
* 2-1/4 cup unsifted flour
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 cup butter (2 sticks)
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 tsp vanilla
* 1 pkg (4 serving size) vanilla flavor instant jell-o pudding
* 2 eggs
* 12 oz chocolate chips (1 regular size package)
* 1 cup nuts (chopped) -- optional

Directions:
* Mix flour with baking soda.
* combine butter, sugars, vanilla, and pudding mix in large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture.
* Stir in chips and nuts. (Batter will be very stiff)
* Drop about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
* Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Take out of the oven and let sit on cookie sheet for a few minutes before removing to cooling racks.

Options:
* You can use vanilla pudding for regular-style (but still yummier) chocolate chip cookies, or you can use chocolate pudding for chocolate-chocolate chip cookies. You can also change out the flavors of chips!

Monterey Spinach Melts

This is a really easy appetizer recipe!

Ingredients:
* 1 pkg (16 oz) Cocktail rounds
* 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
* 1 small carrot, finely chopped
* 1 clove minced garlic
* 1 pkg (9 oz) frozen chopped spinach -- thawed and drained
* 1/4 cup mayonnaise
* 1/4 cup sour cream
* salt and pepper to taste
* 4 oz monterey jack cheese, thinly sliced

Directions:
* preheat oven to 375 degrees.
* combine all ingredients except bread and cheese. Spread mixture onto bread rounds and place them on a baking sheet.
* top with a slice of cheese.
* Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.

Snickers Carmel Apple Salad

Ingredients:

* 6 - 2- 1/4 oz Snickers bars, chilled and chopped

* 6 granny smith or red delicious apples, cored and chopped into bite sized pieces

* 1 - 12 oz container Cool Whip

* 1 - 5 oz box instant vanilla or butterscotch pudding mix

Directions:

* Mix cool whip and dry pudding mix together. Add chopped apples and Snickers. Chill for one hour.

Optional:

* Drizzle 1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping or caramel apple dip over the top of the salad and sprinkle with 1/2 cup chopped peanuts for garnish.