Two For the Price of One...

Sabrina's Month of Love

I'm wrapping up Sabrina's Month of Love with a final version of

Better Than Sex Cake... and a confession.

I'd been told by some friends that I needed to read some books written by Robert Crais. I'm not sure why I waited so long, but now that I've been introduced to the two men in this series it's going to take a lot of discipline on my part to keep my review schedule... on schedule. Plus, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to balance my feelings between two incredibly hot characters- one a wise-cracking Casanova, and the other practically invisible, yet... dangerously attractive with his silent presence. For the life of me I'm not quite sure what Mr. Crais had in mind when he thought he could write a series with two strong male leads without getting a girl like me in trouble.

I mean, I'm a lover of male fictional characters, people. I read a good book with a strong male lead and my heart beats a little faster and I fall... in love. Sure, maybe it only lasts the length of the novel, but I develop feelings along the way and before I know it I'm eating, drinking, and sometimes dreaming of these men that I know must have been written just for me. Okay, maybe they weren't written just for me... but it sure does seem like it. *sigh*

Yeah, I've got a two for the price of one special happening in this Elvis Cole / Joe Pike series... and I'm tossing out my Reacher Worthy Chart and jamming to the tunes of Corey Hart... I Wear My Sunglasses at Night. Ooooooh, no... I'm afraid I've lost my mind. I've fallen... and I've fallen hard. What on earth will my friends think of me now? 

Well, while I try to figure out how I'm supposed to love two men at the same time... why don't y'all have some cake! And, thanks for joining me this month. It's been lots of fun.

Better Than Sex Cake – Version Three

·        1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

·        1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice

·        3/4 cup white sugar

·        2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix

·        3 cups milk

·        1 cup heavy whipping cream

·        1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

·        1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·        3/4 cup flaked coconut, toasted

·        1/2 cup chopped pecans

·       Directions

1.     Prepare and bake cake mix according to box directions for a 9 x 13 inch cake pan.

2.     While the cake is baking, combine pineapple with juice and 3/4 cup sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes until thick and syrupy, stirring occasionally. Pierce top of hot cake with fork at 1 inch intervals. Pour pineapple mixture over cake. Cool completely.

3.     Beat pudding mix with milk until smooth. Spread pudding over cooled cake.

Moses McGuire Red Velvet Cupcakes

MOSES MCGUIRE RED VELVET CUPCAKES

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons red food color
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/8 cup Sugar In The Raw®
• 4 egg yolks
• 3 egg whites
• 1 cup low fat buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup Stevia Extract In The Raw® Cup For Cup
• 2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 2 1/4 cups Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 2 (8 ounce) packages reduced fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup Stevia Extract In The Raw® Cup For Cup, plus
• 1 tablespoon Stevia Extract In The Raw® Cup For Cup
• 1/4 cup 1% low fat milk

Directions

Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1.     In small bowl combine cocoa, red food color and vanilla, set aside.

2.     In large bowl beat together butter and Sugar in the Raw and Stevia Extract in the Raw. Add yolks one at a time and beat well after each addition. Add cocoa mixture and blend well.

3.     In another bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, set aside. Combine buttermilk with salt. Combine cayenne pepper and baking powder with cake flour. Add buttermilk mixture and flour mixture to cocoa mixture, alternating a third at a time beating after each addition. Combine baking soda and vinegar then add to batter and blend well. Fold in egg whites.

4.     Fill each heart-shaped silicone baking cup 2/3 full with batter. Arrange cups on 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper and bake 13-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

5.     Remove from oven and let cool 5-10 minutes before removing from baking cup. Cool cupcakes on rack before frosting.

6.     Cream Cheese Frosting: In a medium bowl combine all ingredients and blend well. Makes enough frosting for 36 cupcakes.

Sabrina's Month of Love - Winners & Cupcakes

We've got two winners to announce today.

A BIG THANKS to those that have participated in both contests!  Enjoy the goods.  Please send me your addresses to sabrinaogden@gmail.com.

Oscar Martello -

The incredibly kind Steve Weddle sent me a lovely email with some Oscar Martello links! Woot! Woot! You can find those below... And the winner of a box of candy and an Oscar Martello button is ... LINDA RODRIGUEZ! Congratulations, Linda. Just send me your address and I'll get this in the mail.

Oscar Martello goodness can be found at the links below:

http://steveweddle.blogspot.com/p/terminal.html
http://dosomedamage.blogspot.com/2010/03/dan-oshea-flash-challenge.html
http://steveweddle.blogspot.com/p/uncle-oscar.html
http://www.thecrimefactory.com/2011/10/issue-1/
http://web.archive.org/web/20100112112849/http://beattoapulp.com/stor/2010/0103_sw_MissedFlight.cfm

CITY OF THE LOST by Stephen Blackmoore

The winner of the signed copy of CITY OF THE LOST by Stephen Blackmoore is ... ASYLOS!  Congratulations, Asylos! Send me your address and I'll get this in the mail ASAP!

Again, thanks to all of you for participating. Now, for some cupcakes!

Strawberry Cupcakes &

Fresh Whipped Cream

Ingredients

One box vanilla (or strawberry) cake mix - prepare as directed
Prepared whipped cream - See recipe below
One pint fresh strawberries sliced in half

Directions

Bake cupcakes following the box directions and allow cupcakes to completely cool.
Top cupcakes with clouds of whipped cream then place a strawberry half on top of each little cake.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Whipped Cream Recipe

1/2 cup heavy cream, well chilled
2 tbsp confectioners' sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Combine the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl.
With an electric mixer set on medium speed, begin beating the cream mixture, increasing the speed to high as cream thickens to avoid spatters Beat until soft peaks of whipped cream form.

I Think it's Time for More Cake

Sabrina's Month of Love

Another Better Than Sex Cake recipe, and a link to all the stats for one of my favorite men... Jack Reacher!

Better Than Sex Cake – Version Two

·        1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix

·        1/2 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

·        6 ounces caramel ice cream topping

·        3 (1.4 ounce) bars chocolate covered toffee, chopped

·        1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1.     Bake cake according to package directions for a 9x13 inch pan; cool on wire rack for 5 minutes. Make slits across the top of the cake, making sure not to go through to the bottom.

2.     In a saucepan over low heat, combine sweetened condensed milk and caramel topping, stirring until smooth and blended. Slowly pour the warm topping mixture over the top of the warm cake, letting it sink into the slits; then sprinkle the crushed chocolate toffee bars liberally across the entire cake while still warm. (Hint: I crush my candy bars into small chunks as opposed to crumbs - I like to have pieces I can chew on!)

3.     Let cake cool completely, then top with whipped topping. Decorate the top of the cake with some more chocolate toffee bar chunks and swirls of caramel topping. Refrigerate and serve right from the pan!