WORM DIRT CAKE

INGREDIENTS

1 to 1 1/4 lb. pkg. Oreo cookies
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
3 cups milk
1 (12 oz.) tub Cool Whip (can use chocolate)
2 (3 1/2 oz.) pkg. instant vanilla or chocolate pudding
1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 gummy worms and/or other critters

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Crush Oreos. Put 1/3 of the crushed Oreos into a new, clean flower pot. Set aside.

Mix butter, cream cheese and sugar and vanilla together. Set aside.

Combine milk and pudding mix. Fold Cool Whip into the pudding.

Fold together pudding mixture and butter-cream cheese mixture.

Layer this mixture (about 1/3 of it) onto the crumbled cookies in the pot. Next, add another layer of the pudding mixture, then another layer of cookie crumbs, continuing until all ingredients are used.

As you're layering the ingredients, decoratively place several gummy worms and critters in the "soil" so they will be seen emerging. If you have a toy (clean) garden trowel, a plastic daisy, or some edible flowers, these can also be used creatively to embellish the presentation.

Chill in refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before serving.

DATE-NUT CAKE WITH RUM SAUCE

INGREDIENTS

1 1/4 cup butter
2 1/2 cups sugar
5 eggs
3 1/4 cups cake flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cups milk
1 cup pitted dates, firmly packed, finely chopped
1 cup nuts, finely chopped
2 tablespoons butter

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add eggs, beating well after each addition.

Sift together baking powder, flour and salt.

Save 3 tablespoons of flour and fold the remaining flour gradually into the butter-sugar mixture. Stir in milk and mix until batter is nearly smooth.

Coat the dates and nuts with the reserved 3 tablespoons flour. Stir into the batter.

Grease Bundt or tube cake pan generously with 2 tablespoons butter. Dust pan with flour and turn pan upside and tap out excess. Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top surface of the batter with the back of a wet spoon.

Bake in preheated oven at 325°F for 90 minutes.

Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes then slice along edges of pan with a butter knife to loosen cake before removing.

Rum Sauce (Optional):

1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons Myer's rum

Combine water, sugar and butter.

Heat over low heat until mixture reaches a boil. Remove from heat and add rum.

Invert cake on large platter and spoon rum sauce over warm cake.

Allow to cool before slicing.

Note: Serve frosted with Cream Cheese Frosting or spread whipped cream cheese on each slice (as you would spread butter on toast) just before serving.

CARROT CAKE WITH COCONUT CREAM CHEESE ICING

INGREDIENTS

2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups grated carrots
1-1/3 cups vegetable oil
4 eggs, slighly beaten
1 cup chopped and toasted walnuts or pecans
1 - 20 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Grease and flour two bread loaf pans. Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add carrots, oil and eggs. Beat well, until mixed. Add other ingredients and stir. Put into baking pans.

Bake for 1 hour or until done. Completely cool cakes before frosting.

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 - 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
1 - 16 ounce box powdered sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped and toasted walnuts or pecans
1 cup flaked coconut

Combine butter and cream cheese; cream until light and fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla, mixing well. Stir in pecans and coconut. Spread on each cake. Store cakes in the refrigerator.

Note: This cake freezes beautifully. Place on foil covered baking sheet. Freeze until hard. Remove from freezer and wrap in plastic wrap and then in foil. Return to freezer. Unwrap totally and then defrost cake.