JELLO CAKE VERSION - TROPICAL CAKE WITH ORANGE CREAM FROSTING

This is a version of the following Jello cake that I posted previously.

http://craftsandcreationswithkathy.blogspot.com/2009/05/peach-jello-cake-with-whipped-peach.html

With the summer days being hot, we were in the mood for something tropical and this hit the spot.

I used a lemon cake mix and used orange juice instead of water and baked according to the directions on the box then allowed the cake to cool then poked holes in the top with a fork.

I then used a small box of Tropical Fruit jello and 1 cup of boiling water, mixed it together then poured over the cake.

For the frosting, I used 1 8oz tub of whipped topping, 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 cup of orange juice.

CHEATERS PINEAPPLE ORANGE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

Tastes like it is from scratch, but you really "cheat" and use a mix instead.

Ingredients:

• 1 box cake mix, Pineapple or if none available, white or yellow
• Ingredients used for box mix - usually eggs, oil, but you will not use the water or liquid that the mix uses.
• 1 1/2 cups orange juice or 3/4 cup orange juice and 3/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1 stick butter or margarine
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 15 oz can pineapple (I used chunk, but you can use rings or crushed)
• Marichino Cherries - optional (I didn't use on this cake)
• 1-2 TBSP Rum or Rum Extract (I didn't use on this case, but have in the past)

Preheat the oven to the degree on the box mix. Put the stick or margarine in a 13x9 pan and put in the oven until melted (takes 2-3 mins).

Mix the cake mix, eggs, oil, and juices together until well blended.

Take the melted butter out of the oven. If you want to add rum or rum extract, mix it into the melted butter at this time.

Sprinkle the brown sugar, distributing evenly.

Distribute the pineapple evenly across the bottom of the pan. If you want to add marichino cherries, you would put them in amoungst the pineapple.

Pour the batter mixture over the top of the brown sugar and pineapple, distributing evenly.

Bake in the oven the time recommended on the package (usually around 30 minutes) and bake until the cake springs up in the center.

For presentation purposes, you could flip the cake over on to a baking sheet, or you could just leave it in the pan and flip the picces over as you serve them (which is more exciting if being served to kids that have never had upside down cake before because they will want to know why you didn't frost the cake and you cut the cake, take the spatula and flip it over on the plate and abbra cadabra, you the "frosting" is on the bottom!).

Non-Alcoholic Sangria

Great for a family cookout or gathering as it is non-alcoholic and even kids can enjoy it. This is based on a recipe by Sarah Jayne at Recipezaar: http://www.recipezaar.com/non-alcoholic-sangria-370788?scaleto=4

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 cups grape juice
• 3 cups club soda
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• Optional: lemon, orange, apple or peach slices
• Large pitcher of punch bowl
• Large wooden spoon

If you are going to serve fairly soon, pour grape juice into pitcher, then add the club soda. If you are going to serve soon, don't pour to club soda into the mixture until you are ready to serve.

Add the sugar.

Add the orange juice Stir until well blended. If you are going to add the fruit slices, put them in now and store in the fridge to chill or until ready to serve.