Raspberry Cream Cake -- Perfect for Valentine's Day

 

Dear Red Couch Recipes Readers.  How have you been?  I hope this post finds you well, and rested after the holiday season.  I took a break from blogging, as I seem to do often, after the Christmas break/  I really enjoyed Christmas this year, and I had a hard time letting it go, but I am beginning to get the itch to do some cooking and baking in the Red Couch Kitchen. 

  

As I was shopping after the holidays, I came across these pans.  Somehow they flew in my cart, and I knew that I will be using them a lot this year in the Red Couch Kitchen.  They retailed for $6.99 at T.J. Maxx.  I loved it that they were shallow and had a curvy edge; they are the Good Cooks brand.

 

I hope you will make a cake like it.  It is just a very simple cake, that has such a sweet, wholesome taste.  It whips up in minutes, and can be decorated in so many different ways. 

Raspberry Cream Cake Recipe

 

1 white box mix, or two depending on the size of your pans.  Made according to the directions on the box.  See note below

2 cups whipping cream

3/4 cup raspberry jam 

 

Make and bake cake mix according to directions.  Turn out on cooling rake, and level while in pans.  Let cool.  Whip cream and add raspberry jam at the end of whipping.  Spread on each layer and on the top.  Decorate as you please.  Next time, I think I will add fresh raspberries

Note:  I used one cake mix box for the pans I used.  If you are using regular 8 x 8 pans, you will need to use two cake mix boxes and increase the whipping cream and raspberry jam. 

 

Thank you for dropping by Red Couch Recipes.

 



Pink Velvet Cookies with Maraschino Cherry Filling

 

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes and to five years of blogging this month!  I am celebrating the five years by coming back to blogging after I fell off a blogging cliff in September of last year. See below for details on my blogging absence.  Many times are lives are filled with sweet happenings, while other times are lives tend to make a dive.  My life took a dive, but I hope to be back sharing with you sweet events of my life. 

 

I made these sweet cookies the other day.  They are so easy and so delicious.  The cookies are made from a  Duncan Hines box mix and go together so quickly.  The filling is a Maraschino cherry filling, which is so delicious, and appropriate for the month of February. I think they give the appearance of a French Macaron, without all the fuss.   I gave them to a friend, and also served them to the LDS missionaries who came to dinner that night.  My son was so funny!  He said, "You didn't make these, you didn't make these!"  I kept on replying that I did.  I guess he hadn't SEEN me make these, so he thought I DIDN'T make them.  Of course, this conversation took place in front of our guests ;). 

 

 

Blogging Absence  

 In October, we moved to the Spokane Washington area, from our home in Utah.  On the day our moving trailer arrived, our son, who was living in Utah, called to say he had severely broken his femur.  His femur was broken because the MRSA Staph he had contracted in May, even with 8 weeks of strong infusion antibiotics, had compromised his femur.  After 10 days in the hospital and a plate and 10 screws, and moving him out of his apartment, we brought him to Washington.  He wouldn't be able to work for several months, and it was not feasible for him to stay in Utah.   He is now on his third round of infusion antibiotics (3 times/day for 1.5 hours each).  Hopefully, this will be the course that kills the bone infection.  In April, his orthopedic surgeon plans to take out his metal, which could be the cause of this infection that won't leave.  Of course, when I tried to return to blogging, my computer is all buggy. 

I found this mix at our local Wal-Mart.

 

Pink Velvet Cookie Recipe

 

 

1 Pink Velvet Cake Mix

2 eggs

1/2 cup butter

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all ingredients together.  Form cookie dough into round balls, about 1 1/2 teaspoons, and then place on cookie sheet.  The balls will spread so allow enough room.  Bake for about 6-8 minutes.  When cool spread frosting on cookie and sandwich it with another cookie.  Sprinkle filled cookies with Confectioner's Sugar.  The mix made about 18 cookies.  Note:  I have made other cake mix cookies, this time I used two eggs, other times I have used only one.  This particular mix needed two eggs.

 

Maraschino Cherry Frosting  Recipe

 

My husband commented that the maraschino cherry filling really made the cookies.  I did not use any of the cherries, just the juice.

 

1/4 cup room temperature butter

2 cups confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon almond extract

2-3 tablespoons Maraschino Cherry Juice

 

Blend all ingredients together well and use to fill the cookies.

 

 

 

Nostalgia:  The Maraschino Cherry filling reminds me of my mother.  On more than one occasion, she made a heart shaped Maraschino Cake for my father for Valentine's Day.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies -- Four Year Blogging Anniversary!!!!

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies are so perfect for Valentine's Day.  I make them every year at this time because my children enjoy them so much!  The recipe is a oldie, but a goodie.  They are so much better than the peanut butter and chocolate candy bar, don't you think?

Today marks the 4th Anniversary of my blog Red Couch Recipes.  Little did I know four years ago that I would still be blogging.  I kind of set up my blog on a lark.  Many things have happened, good and bad, and many things have changed, but blogging has always been a constant.  Thank you for your support and kind comments.  It has been a fun ride in the blogging world.

 

For these cookies, I would love for you to kind of under bake  them; they are best that way.

 

Peanut  Butter Kiss Cookies Recipe -- Makes about 24 cookies.

 

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup softened butter

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

  1 3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Granulated sugar to roll in

1 bag Hershey Kisses

 Cream sugars and butter. Beat in egg. Add milk, peanut butter and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients. Mix well.   Roll into balls, walnut-sized, and roll in sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. When cooked, lightly press Hershey kiss in the middle. Make sure you put Hershey's kisses on after the cookies are baked and cooled for just a few minutes.   

Thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes.

Valentine Love Table

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes and my Valentine's Love Table.  This is my second Valentine Table of the season.  This table features Brook Pink transferware salad plates. 



 

Underneath the plate is a heart plate.

 



The pink ramekins are a sweet addition to the table setting.

 



 As a younger girl, I always thought that pink and red clashed, but I think these shades look wonderful together.

 

A napkin view.  

I chose the cranberry King's Crown goblet and a clear bubbly glass for the stemware.  My aunt always used King's Crown at Christmas, but it also is fabulous for Valentine's Day.

Just a view of the table.



I partially filled the apothecary jar with conversation hearts.  I am not a huge fan of them.  I think they are cute, but I don't like the taste.  However, our little ten year-old friend does, and they are mostly gone by now.

I

Valentine's Day is about LOVE, and in our home it is not just about romantic love, but about love and kindness to each other.  My children do not like Valentine's Day very much because of the perceived emphasis on romantic love.  Last year we invited a single friend of ours to dinner.  The butter served with the asparagus formed a heart shape!

 



I hope you LOVE my table.

 



As I was thinking about doing a "Table Information" paragraph, I began to think about the people I love who have given me the elements for this table as gifts of love. 

 

Table Information

 

Jacqueline:  White chargers, heart plates and ramekins, King's Crown and clear bubbly glass stemware.  All, but the King's Crown from Tai Pan Trading.  King's Crown from e-bay.  The clear bubbly glasses, a favorite of mine, may have also come from my other sister Jean. Both sisters just kind of presented them to me.

 

Tatianna (daughter) :  Brook Pink Transferware salad plates

 

Mom and Dad (Nedra and Fritz):  Damask Rose Sterling

 

Napkins and Paper Heart Placemats:  Home Goods last year

Red Plates:  Wal-Mart

 

Napkin Rings:  Style Sisters

Posted with Tablescape Thursday

Thanks for dropping by my Couch!
 

Snowflakes and Hearts Table

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes and to my Snowflakes and Hearts Tablescape.

 

This was the table I set for our Sunday Dinner.  We served little salads in these cute little heart bowls.  This table mimics our decorations in our home, as we have hearts and snowflakes fused together also.

 

 

Each place setting had their own little snowflake votive.

 

 

I love the heart designs on these linens

 

 

 

I always like to include a shot looking through a glass.

Oh, I spy some cookies.  These peanut butter kiss cookies are really a favorite with my children.

 



 

 

Just another happy view.  I love to set a red table.  I am sure I have set more red tables than any other tables.  I use the red dinner plates as every day dishes.

 

 

Just a shot of the cookies.  I am taking some of them to some friends in little tins.

 

 

The cake stands were a gift from my husband.  There are three of them an they stack nicely.  I have yet to make three cakes at one time, but I will some day, and that's a happy thought.



 I thank you for visiting Red Couch Recipes.

Posted with Tablescape Thursday.



Three Ingredient Red Velvet Heart Cookies

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes and to a recipe for an easy and delicious RED VELVET COOKIE Recipe!  Yes, it really is just three ingredients, and so easy to mix up.

My children are not huge fans of Valentine's day.  They feel it is just a couples day and thus kind of a depressing day.  As I have discussed with my children, Valentine's should be a day of love for everyone, not just for couples. so we have some plans to shower those we love with goodies.  My husband and I were married on February 12, oh so many years ago.  Our reception was Valentine-themed, so naturally I have a soft spot for Valentine's Day.   So bake a batch of these and take them to someone you love

I love the crinkled look of these cookies -- and the Red Velvet flavor too!

 

Red Velvet Heart Cookies

 

1 box Betty Crocker Red Velvet Cake Mix

1/2 cup butter (no margarine)

1 large egg

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix the ingredients well and then cut out with heart-shaped cookie cutter.  If dough is sticky, mix a bit of confectioner's sugar, completely, in the dough.  Place cookies on baking sheet and refrigerate for about 14 minutes.  Even with refrigerating,, these cookie will spread, so make sure you leave plenty of room in between cookies on the baking sheet.  Bake for about 8 minutes.  Baking time will vary, depending on your oven.  For a soft cookie, which I love, do not over bake.  Yield: about 18 cookies, depending on the cookie cutter size.  I used the smallest crinkle edged Wilton cookie cutter from the set sold at Wal-Mart right now. 

 

 I have the best results with this recipe using a shiny baking pan. 
 

Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Drizzled Shortbread Cookies

 

 

Glad you dropped by Red Couch Recipes!

 

My mother made a maraschino heart-shaped cake for my father one year for Valentine's Day, and ever since I always associate maraschino cherries with Valentine's Day.  So I put together this recipe for my children, and they loved them.  These cookies are like chocolate covered cherries in shortbread form. Their lovely color is derived from the maraschino cherries and juice.   My daughter Tati also took them for her church class as a treat and they loved them also, and I hope you love them too.  Now that is a whole lot of love -- but it is Valentine's season, isn't it?

 

 

 

 

Recipe for Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Drizzled Shortbread Cookies

 

1  cup softened butter (do not use margarine)

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons almond extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice

2 cups, plus 2 -3 tablespoons flour, as needed (see note)

Maraschino cherries from a 10-ounce jar -- chopped very finely with the juice squeezed out of the cherries -- squeeze first, then chop

Small amount milk or semi-sweet chocolatechips for drizzling (about 1/2 cup for drizzling)  -- I used milk chocolate chips.

 

 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  In medium mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until light and fluffy.  Beat in the almond extract, then beat in the salt.  then add maraschino cherry juice.  On low speed, gradually beat in the flour, beginning with 2 cups of flour, and adding more flour, if necessary.  The dough should be able to be rolled out.  Roll out cookies to about 1/3 inch and cut with a cookie cutter. I used a small heart-shaped cookie cutter.   Bake at 325 for about 8 - 9 minutes.  Let cookies sit on baking sheet a few minutes, and then remove and cool on rack.  When cookies are cool, melt chocolate, and then drizzle on cookies. Let chocolate dry.  Yield:  2 dozen small cookies.   Now go on and serve them to a loved one.

 

Cookies waiting to be drizzled

 

 

 

Notse:  I live in a very dry, desert area; the amount of flour you use will vary.  For the drizzling of the chocolate, I just cut a small hole in the corner of a Zip-Loc bag.  I then put a small amount of chocolate in the bag and drizzled the chocolate over the cookies with a back and forth motion.

 

Cookie waiting for chocolate to dry

 

 

 

Hope you are baking something up special for your loved ones.

 

 

 

Just a little picture from the homefront....

This is the cat named Ruby that we rescued from the street a little less than a year ago.  He was sitting in the middle of the street.  I recently bought him a little house, AND HE LOVES IT!!  You know how you buy something for your pet, and they never use it...

 

 

 

 Thanks for dropping by the Couch.

Valentine Box Tablescape

Happy Belated Valentine's Day from Red Couch Recipes!  We hope you had a wonderful day.

This was my daughter's Valentine box from last year.  She made a romantic Valentine Breakfast for Two.  Each year at her school, except this year, they hold a Valentine Box contest. She did win some kind of award for her tablescape last year.

How would you like waffles, an ice cream cone, and candy skewers for breakfast?

This year the school did not sponsor a Valentine Box contest; I guess it was good that she did it up big last year.

I am posting this with Tablescape Thursday.  I bet there are no other tablescapes like this one posted!

Thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes!

Heart Scones

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes where love is in the air.  You can easily make these heart scones in a jiffy and serve up some love to those you love.

I made homemade pizza on Friday night.  Almost always I double the pizza dough so that I have some leftover dough to make scones.  This is the recipe that I use for pizza dough. 

Heart-Shaped Pizzas

 Sometimes, I add a little olive oil to the dough.  I ususally make the pizza dough with a mixture of fifty percent white flour and fifty percent whole wheat flour  For the scones, roll out the dough and cut them out.  I usually roll the dough out to a little less than one-half inch.  Of course, you could also use some frozen dough.

These are grilled scones or pan-fried scones like my mother used to make back in Wisconsin when I was a child.  Here in the west they deep fry scones, but I always have loved pan fried scones.  I use my panini grill to grill them.  This was the grill that my husband thought I would never use!  I place the heart dough, with a little bit of olive oil or butter on it, then I allow it to cook a few minutes before I bring down the cover. 

Serve the scones with some butter and perhaps a little jam and you are ready for a lovelyValentine's Day treat.

Posted with the following:  Met Monday, Made By You Monday, Make It Yourself Monday

Love Blocks

Welcome to Red Couch Recipes, where love is in the air.  I recently helped the 10 cutest girls in the world (my church Activity Day girls) make these Love Blocks to give away to someone they love.  They formed LOVE with their bodies.  I cut 3 x 3 blocks of wood from 2 x 4's.  The girls sanded the blocks, painted the blocks, and then applied Modge Podge to the blocks.

Isn't my daughter a cute one?

L....

O...

 V...

E...

Make some for someone you love today!

Weekend Wrapup, Met Monday,

Made By You Monday