Quick Mix Layer Cake

Cake:
Prep time 15 minutes

1/2 cup margarine
2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cups milk
2 eggs
2 T. milk
1 t. vanilla

Grease and flour 2 9-in. layer cake pans.

Stir margarine to soften.

Sift flour and sugar together over margarine.

Add 3/4 c. milk, mix until all flour mixture is dampened.

Beat two minutes on medium speed of mixer.

Add eggs, two tablespoons of milk and vanilla. Beat one minute on medium speed.

Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched with finger.



Frosting:
1 stick (1/2 cup) margarine
2/3 cup Hershey's cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 c milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk beating on medium speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk if needed. Stir in vanilla. Makes about 2 cups.

Notes: I don't know how but I completely forgot about the vanilla in the frosting. Luckily, it's still pretty good. The cake on the other hand isn't as moist as I would have hoped. The frosting definitely helps, but it's not what I thought it'd be.

Minnesota Wild Rice Soup

3/4 c. uncooked wild rice
7-10 slices of crisp crumbled bacon or cooked chicken (optional)
1 8 oz can of drained sliced mushrooms
1 c. half and half
4 chicken flavored boullion cubes
2 T. butter
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 c. water
2 stalks of chopped celery

Combine all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on high for four hours.

Notes: I found this recipe on a magnet at the airport last time we passed through and bought it thinking it would make a nice addition to the fridge. Then, after staring at it every time I opened the refrigerator door it occurred to me that the ingredients looked pretty good. Since it got kind of cold this weekend I gave it a try and holy moly was it good!