To me, the dessert is the best part of the meal! Anyone who knows me, knows that is what I almost always choose to take to a potluck dinner. I found this recipe in the Taste of Home Christmas 2010 and have made it twice already. I use home-made Lemon Curd that I have canned. Delicious, simple, and so convenient and inexpensive! 

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake
 3 eggs, separated
1 package (18 1/4 oz.) lemon cake mix
 1 c. milk
1/3 c. buttermilk
1/3 c. canola oil
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/4 c. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. grated lemon peel
4 tsp. poppy seeds
2 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 jar (10 oz.) lemon curd
Place egg whites in large bowl, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In another large bowl, combine next 8 ingredients. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form, fold into batter. Pour mixture into 2 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350^ for 22-28 min. or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing cakes from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
In large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla, beat until stiff peaks form.
Cut each cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on serving plate; top with 1/3 c. lemon curd. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining lemon curd over top of cake to within 1 inch of edges. Frost sides and top edge of cake with frosting. Pipe remaining mixture around edges.
Garnish with lemon slices and mint, if desired.

 This is another easy and fun recipe to make! It takes time to let the jello set, but it goes together fast. 

Broken Glass Jello

4 boxes (3 ounce) jello, various colors
2 envelopes gelatin, plain
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk, canned
cooking spray

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Dissolve each box of flavored jello separately into one cup of boiling water. Pour each flavor into a separate container to set (I used small glass dishes). Place in refrigerator to set for at least 4 hours. Once flavored jellos are set you can start making the white part. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add plain gelatin to boiling water and stir to dissolve. Add can of sweetened condensed milk to gelatin and set aside to cool for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, very lightly spray a 9 by 13 inch oblong pan with cooking spray. Cut colored jello into small cubes, you can vary the cube sizes if desired(or use a small melon baller to make small balls of jello). Place jello cubes into prepared oblong pan layering and carefully mixing up the colors. Pour the cooled gelatin/milk mixture over the colored cubes. Refrigerate overnight. Carefully cut jello into desired sizes and shapes and serve.

Introduction!

I have decided to start a blog! I have had so many people asking me to share recipes, and I thought this would be a great way to do it. I don't expect to update more than once a week, and sometimes not even that often, I am sure. Today I am baking and cooking-I am making a meal for a young couple that just had their second baby. When a new baby is born, the mothers from church take turns making supper for them. There are enough of us that the new mother gets meals 2-3 times a week for a month. It is very much appreciated! I will post my complete menu, with pictures and recipes, later.