Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Advent Calendar, Fall colours

Monday I renewed my subscription to Jacquie Lawson, the English ecard greetings programme. I send all my ecards though them. They have wonderful designs, animations and music. As a thanks for my renewal, I got a copy of their advent calendar free. This  year it is set at the seaside. Even getting the programme this early there are lots of things you can do before December begins.

Monday lunchtime, driving to the bowling alley, we were somewhat dazzled by the colours of the trees this year. I think it has something to do with the weather which is still beautifully sunny and not all that cold yet and the leaves have been staying on the trees a whole heap longer. We don't have many red maples in this area, but I wish you could see all the yellows, golds and bronzes which look especially gorgeous in the sun. I tried to take some pictures on my tablet without much success. Maybe by the time I publish this I will have managed to get some on my camera. Sadly it wasn't really sunny today and leaves are falling all over the place now so, no more pix other than the one I took the other day and posted.

Hoping to get to exercise class this aft. Not been up to it lately but I really need to go.

This is a cake I made some time ago and recently was thinking about making it again so had to find the recipe.Not only is it easy, but it makes for an impressive dessert for a dinner party.


Snowball Chocolate Cake

1 pkg. (2-layer size) devil's food cake mix
1 pkg. (250 g) Philadelphia Brick Cream Cheese, softened
1 egg
2 Tbs granulated sugar
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Vanilla INSTANT Pudding
1/4 cup icing sugar
1 cup cold milk
2 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping
1 cup flaked coconut

1. HEAT oven to 350ºF.

2. PREPARE cake batter, in 2-1/2-L ovenproof bowl, as directed on package; scrape side of bowl. Beat cream cheese, egg and granulated sugar until well blended; spoon into centre of batter in bowl.

3. BAKE 1 hour 5 min. or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool in bowl 10 min. Loosen cake from bowl with knife; invert onto wire rack. Remove bowl. Cool cake completely.

4. MEANWHILE, beat dry pudding mix, icing sugar and milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Stir in Cool Whip. Refrigerate until ready to use.

5. PLACE cake on plate; frost with pudding mixture. Cover with coconut. Keep refrigerated.

Servings: 16

Tips
Kraft Kitchens Tips

Size-WiseAt 16 servings, this fun-to-make cake is a great dessert to serve at a holiday party.Easy CleanupSave on cleanup by mixing and baking the cake batter in the same bowl! SubstituteSubstitute 3 squares (84 g) Baker's White Chocolate, grated, for the coconut. To grate, first warm the chocolate in microwave on DEFROST 1 min. for each square or until warm. Use a coarse grater for best results.

Source: Kraft What's Cooking

Have a great day
 

16 comments:

  1. I'm watching the election and need to go to bed. I grew up with advent calendars since it's a German tradition and my mom is German. When I was little one could only find these calendars in the German delicatessen and they were just pictures which I love better than the chocolate ones oddly. I will check out Jackie Lawson

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    1. I really enjoy the JL advent calendar. Having been getting it for several years now Birgit. I hope you did get to bed. I am gobsmacked at the results.

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  2. We had lots of wind here yesterday and many leaves now cover the ground. I am too depressed to do anything about them. I need chocolate.

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    1. I can imagine you would be depressed Denise. Thinking of emigrating? Sending you virtual chocolate.

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    2. LOL. My son called at 6:30 this morning to ask me when I was moving since he'd have to find a new babysitter. I just cannot believe this has happened.

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    3. An Australian friend described Hilary as representing every competent woman in the world who was passed over for a loud mouthed man. I also just discovered a good friend appears to have voted for him. Incredible.

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  3. Our leaves are changing and falling now. The cold weather held off a long time.

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    1. It's still not that cold here Alex although cold enough for the leaves.

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  4. Replies
    1. It was pretty good Sandra. I must invite someone to dinner LOL

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  5. Just look at that cake. Would be pretty for Christmas! Hope you got to exercise class!

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    1. No we went bowling instead Denise. Probably more exercise than the class.

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  6. That cake looks sooooo good I'm practically drooling. I love Jacquie Lawson's cards. They are magical. Is the advent calendar on the computer or you got a paper one in the mail? I loved those. My parents always gave me one for my birthday which is the end of this month. I'll still buy them from time to time.

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    1. The advent calendar is on the computer JoJo and is great fun to open plus there are things going on all the time.

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  7. I love the colour of autumn trees too and now we live on the mountain we actually get to see them. Yummy looking cake.

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    1. Glad you get to enjoy them, they can be so beautiful Pinky.

      Cake is delicious and so easy.

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