Monday, May 31, 2010

Luscious Summer Desserts + A Cajun Food Diary !

Here are two heavenly summertime desserts that will delight your taste buds! So light and delicious, that I really have to control myself or I would eat way too much of these divine treats! A dear friend of the family used to make this cake for us on special occasions, when I was growing up. Very easy and out of this world! Cest bon, cher!

 

 Pineapple Dream Cake
 
1 box yellow cake mix
1 large can crushed pineapple, w/juice
1 pkg. instant French vanilla pudding
1 container " light" cool whip

Make and bake cake, according to package directions. Cool slightly, and poke holes in cake with fork. Pour pineapple w/juice over cake. Make pudding, according to package directions and pour over pineapple layer. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Top with cool whip and serve. 
******
And here is one of my all time favorites that my dear godmother passed on to me. It is absolutely sinfully delicious, cher, and is a perfect summer dessert! Enjoy!


Nanny's Strawberry Shortcake

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
2 1/4 cups sifted flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
3 tbs.'s water
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbs. lemon juice
1 lb. fresh strawberries, washed and sliced in half
Whipped cream

Cream butter and add sugar gradually and mix well. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add 1 tbs. at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, alternating with water. Beat the eggs lightly in bowl and add vanilla and lemon juice. Stir well and add to the dry mixture. Mix gently and pour into a greased loaf pan and bake @300 degrees for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. Set aside to cool.

Slice cake into eight slices. Place slice on dessert plate, top with whipped cream, then fresh sliced strawberries. repeat. Bon Appetit! Serves 4

*******
A Cajun Food Diary

It's been a fun couple of days in Cajun country, and the holiday weekend is not over yet! Here are a few pics of the fabulous food that my guests and I have been eating for the last 3 days! You might say that we've been on a seafood binge, getting it while we can!

Stuffed Shrimp and Fried Shrimp


Grilled Shrimp Salad

 

Cajun Fried Catfish Strips


Hot and Spicy Boiled Crawfish

 
Appreciation Cake at Crawfish Boil


And a little something that I cooked. (Crawfish Etouffee
)


Click here for recipe for Crawfish Etouffee


 

Hope that ya'll have a wonderful, happy holiday, mon amis!
Happy Memorial Day!





21 comments:

John said...

The desserts don't do it for me. no sweet tooth, but I love the look of the seafood dishes.

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

That is such a beautiful crab boil photo... a great week

GYPSYWOMAN said...

hey there, louisianalady - how ya'll doing down home? having a fabulously delicious time i know!!! and those recipes, be still my heart! OMG how long it's been since i had divine louisiana catfish!!! save some for me, cher!!!

Joanne said...

Marguerite, I think if I rush, I can maybe get to your place in time for that wonderful strawberry shortcake! Wow, that looks refreshing. It's warm here today, in the upper 80s, so that would hit the spot!

Eddie Bluelights said...

Strawberry shortcake - sounds a dream - I'm flying over! Please save some pour moi, cher! LOL

Laura said...

Wow Marguerite-
My mouth is watering!

That pineapple cake recipe looks simple, which is what I like.

Have a great week,

Laura

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

I've concluded that I absolutely must have a full stomsch before I come to your blog. Otherwise I will stuff my face and end up as a blob!

It's Just Dottie said...

Oh My Goodness!! I wish I was eating with you!
Dottie

Marguerite said...

John- Thanks, glad you liked them! Enjoying the seafood while we still can!

Dave- Thanks, it was our annual crawfish boil. They were so big, they looked like crabs or lobsters! Hope you're having a great week, too!

GYPSY- So good to see you! As good as can be expected, knowing that our coast is being destroyed. At least we will still have our crawfish and catfish! I will, cher!

Joanne- Merci, cher, the Strawberry Shortcake is so delicious that I could eat it every day! That is quite warm for New England, now! Stay cool!

Eddie- Thanks, this Strawberry Shortcake would be worth the trip! lol I would, but it was all gone in 10 minutes, but I would mail you one, if I could!

GYPSYWOMAN said...

you know all of ya'll are in my caring thoughts, cher!

nanny said...

I have had the cake and you are exactly right....It is to die for!
Can't wait to make your Nanny's Strawberry Shortcake.....

Wow I wish I had been at your house for memorial day....one plate of each for me!!!! (just to get me started)ha

Eddie Bluelights said...

Love your various header photos but I always like to see the sign post to "Marguerite" which shows I am not far away from you. Ah! Aren't I romantic? Hugs ~ Eddie

Drick said...

man, both of these look sinful and both are just too good looking to be true - that said, I'm planning on making at least one of these delites this weekend - and by the way, the oil started washing on our white beaches yesterday, should reach Florida panhandle today...

Vagabonde said...

Ah Chère Marguerite when I open you blog I know I have to have my recipe document opened too as there will be some great recipes in your post to be copied and I just copied 3. Yes, chère, keep eating all that seafood now as I am afraid for the future of your waters.
I decided to make chili for my husband and I for Memorial Day. He usually makes it, but this time I tried it for the first time from a recipe I found on the web. My husband said “it’s pretty good, but it’s not chili, it’s vegetable stew-soup” I was crushed. Do you have a good recipe for chili?

Marguerite said...

Laura- So good to hear from you, cher! Merci beaucoup for your sweet comment. Simple and delicious is an unbeatable combo! Hope that you try it! Thanks for stopping by!

Trish- It's probably a good idea! lol Kinda like not going to the grocery store on an empty stomach!

Dottie- Thanks, I wish you were, too! So happy you enjoyed it! I'm so glad you stopped by!

Joanna Jenkins said...

The strawberries are GREAT here, I know what I'll be making this weekend. Thanks to you and Nanny!
jj

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Oh Marguerite, my grandmother used to make Pineapple Dream Cake...so many wonderful memories! You'll neverbelieve this, but we have been able to get boiled crawfish way up here! They are expensive, but so worth it!

Marguerite said...

GYPSY- Merci beaucoup, cher! And don't forget, Alabama and Florida, too, now!

nanny- Thanks, I just love both of these, too! Enjoy! Wish that you could have been here, too!

Eddie- Merci, cher, I have posted that header, just for you! Yes you are!

Drick- Thanks so much for the sweet compliments, cher! So glad you like them and want to try them. They won't disappoint. So sorry, still praying for ya'll.

Vagabonde- Merci beaucoup for your nice comment, cher! I cannot imagine a life without gulf seafood... it will be so hard! I do have a recipe for chili and I have posted it on my sidebar, under what's cookin? Just click on the pic, for the recipe. Enjoy!

Joanna- So glad you like the recipe and hope you enjoy it! It is divine! Thanks for coming by!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Hello, darling!!! So sorry I'm late to the paaaaaaarty!!!!!! And it is lookin' like I've missed one of your SPECTACULAR events here!!!!! Darn!!!! Oh, that Strawberry Shortcake looks to die for...I'm a HUGE berry fan...Strawberries and Boysenberries are my faves...This will be a BIG hit!!!! Hope you are gearing up for a wonderful weekend in Cajun country, mon cheri! Can't wait to hear all about it! Do some dancing for me!!! Love, Janine XO

Mehmet Osman Çağlar said...

I'm late dear Marguerite , I
know it.Because some political events
happened in Türkiye.Also you are
always in my thoughts dear friend.
I smell the wonderful cake,take a little piece and going now, but I can come later.
Have a great weekend.
Love and hugs.

Pat Tillett said...

You are just killing me with all those great photos of great looking food!