Monday Madness 2-5-07

Thanks to all of you who suggested questions. If I haven’t been to your site yet to grab them, I will be there soon! This week’s questions come from karen. Great questions, Karen! =)

1. What is your favorite main course to prepare?
Chili.  I don’t need a recipe.  It’s all in my head.
2. What is your favorite side dish to prepare?
Muffins to go with the chili.
3. Do you like to bake? If so, what is your favorite?
Bonnie Butter Cake – It’s my favorite cake!

Bonnie Butter Cake with Easy Penuche Frosting 

Cake:
1 3/4 c. sugar 
2/3 c. butter 
2 eggs 
1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla 
2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour or 3 c. cake flour 
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder 
1 tsp. Salt
1 1/4 c. milk  

Heat oven to 350^.  Grease and flour 9 x 13-inch pan or 2 9-inch round layer pans, or 3 8-inch round layer pans. Mix sugar, margarine, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy.  Beat on high speed, scraping bowl occasionally, 5 minutes.  Beat in flour, baking powder and salt, alternately with milk on low speed. Pour into pan(s).  Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, oblong 45 to 50 minutes, layers 30 to 35 minutes; cool.

Frosting 
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 c. packed brown sugar 
1/4 c. milk 
2 c. powdered sugar      

Heat margarine in saucepan until melted.  Stir in brown sugar.  Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir over low heat 2 minutes. Stir in milk; heat to boiling.  Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Stir in powdered sugar gradually.  Place in bowl of ice and water; beat until frosting is smooth and of spreading consistency.  If frosting becomes too stiff, heat
4. What one dish would you like to learn to cook?
Risotto.  It looks so good, but it’s kind of putzy!
5. What is your worst cooking disaster?
When I forgot to put cornmeal under the pizza, when my pizza stone was new.  It stuck to the stone soooo bad.  We had to eat something else for supper.