When Life Hands You Lemons, Sit Them In A Pretty Vase And Make Cake Instead

 When it comes to cooking, I'm a far cry from Rachael Ray, Cat Cora, and yes, even Paula Deen (even though I live in Albany, Ga - where she's actually from).  I've been known to experiment on my family on occasion and that does include baking.  I'm bad about watching Food Network, then trying to use the tips and recipes they use on the different shows.

 Well, one day I was flipping through our local paper and checking out the grocery store ads to see who had the better prices on meats (this has become a favorite pasttime of mine over the last few months - remember we're a one income family).  I came across a recipe in one of the ads for a Blueberry Refrigerator Cake.  Here it is, as printed.

Blueberry Refrigerator Cake
3 layers of yellow cake - your favorite brand
1 (8 oz) tub whipped topping, thawed
1 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened or sour cream
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (21 oz) can blueberry pie filling

Mix whipped topping, cream cheese or sour cream, sugar, and vanilla together. Spread mixture on each cake layer. Spoon pie filling on each layer and on top layer. Refrigerate cake until all is served.

 After reading how simple this cake would be to make, I decide this is the cake to make for an event at church.  I bake my cake early in the morning on Saturday, so it can cool all day.  That afternoon, I make my "icing" and begin to frost the cake.  Before I begin to "frost" my last layer, the cake begins to melt!  I hurriedly place it in the fridge to set.  After about 20 minutes, I take it out and begin again.  Wouldn't you know, it begins to melt AGAIN!  So, I stick it in the fridge, but this time after about 5 minutes I get a brilliant idea. 

 Picture this with me:  I grab my bowl of frosting and decide I will stand in front of the fridge and ice my cake while it remains in the security of a cold fridge.  YES, this will work I say.  Well, I want to tell you that it indeed worked and was a hit at the Homecoming celebration at our church.  Every bit of cake was devoured.

 A few weeks later, I was sitting in front of the tv awaiting the arrival of our second child when Sandra Lee (who is a little too big for her breeches!) starts to make a refrigerator cake.  She does the exact same things I did, except for one.  YOU DON'T ICE THE SIDES OF THE CAKE, YOU LEAVE THE LAYERS EXPOSED TO SHOW OFF THE FILLING!  ARRGHHH!  No wonder the sides kept sliding off! 

 Since this mishap of sorts, I have made this cake two or three times and have never iced the sides again!

PS - If you would like some excellent recipes, today you're in luck!  I'm recommending two sites.  One is my friend Laura's "foodie" blog and the other is the supermarket I found the recipe at.  ENJOY and Bon Appetite!

www.kickinupdough.wordpress.com  is Laura's Blog - which I get a kick out of reading!  You'll enjoy it I know....

www.harveys-supermarkets.com/recipes   is for Harvey's Supermarkets