Strawberry Fields Forever

If you haven't seen Across the Universe, you should definitely check it out!  I grew up listening to the music of the Beatles and I sang along to this entire movie.  I didn't think I'd like it, but I really did.  OK - the end of that one is a little gory, but it kinda fits with the cake at the end.  LOL  Now you HAVE to read on to see what I'm talking about.

Happy Monday, Kitschies!  Yep - it's Monday again, but this Monday is a little bit different than the routine for me.  Both my docs are out which means NO PATIENTS which also means I don't have to be in clinic today.  WOOT!!  I got to sleep in just a little bit and then I hit the ground running.  I've gotten quite a bit done and I still have time left in my day.  The only bad part is that my back is bothering me.  As soon as I'm finished doing my stuff around the house, I'm going to set myself up in bed with an ice pack and a book.  I can't leave my readers hanging, so I'm doing my post despite the pain (this is where you feel sorry for me).

I was really wanting to try a new recipe this weekend.  And I was craving something with strawberries, but not a pie.  Then I happened on a recipe for strawberry cake that used fresh strawberries.  Perfect!  On Saturday, my son and I baked up this cake. It's a near FAIL and you'll see why toward the end.

Strawberry Cake

1 package white cake mix
1 package (3 oz) strawberry-flavored gelatin powder
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup water
3/4 cup mashed strawberries

Icing
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 lb confectioners sugar
1/4 cup mashed strawberries

Combine cake mix and gelatin powder in a large bowl. Beat in oil, eggs, water, and strawberries. Pour into 2 9-inch round greased and floured cake pans. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool and frost with strawberry icing.

For icing, beat the butter and confectioners' sugar together until smooth. Add strawberries. Spread between cake layers, then frost top and sides.

NOTES:  You might think that a cup of vegetable oil seems like a lot, but it wasn't.  The cake wasn't oily - it was nice an moist.  I started with 3/4 cups mashed berries, but I think I ended up using about a cup.  I increased the amount of berries in the frosting, too.

I don't have a food processor, so I used a potato masher - it worked perfectly!

My little helper, Nate.  He loves to help me in the kitchen.

Ready for the oven.

Half the fun is the clean up!

OK.  Here's where it almost goes wrong.  It's been SUPER humid here the last 3 or 4 days.  Saturday was no exception.  On top of the external humidity, we have an evaporative cooler which means it's humid inside, too.  FUN!!  So, I don't know if it was the high humidity or what, but the frosting did NOT turn out very good.  It tasted fine, but it looks like pureed vomit.  Seriously.  UGH!

How disgusting does that look?!  I can take it - just tell me.  I even threw the remaining "frosting" in the fridge to see if it would firm up.  Yeah.  Notsomuch.  *sigh*

At least it doesn't look so bad when it's being served.  A little side note - there is no food coloring the cake.  The red of the strawberries made the white cake that pink.

Nate showing off his piece of cake.  He really is a good helper.  And he's always so proud that he helped Mommy. <3

Well, dear readers, I'm off to get some more stuff done around the house.  I hope you're enjoying the start of you week.  It'll be back to work as usual for me tomorrow.  OH!  And before I forget...check out From the Kitchen of: Mrs. Bettie Rocker.  She's hosting a link party for the next week.   I'm throwing this recipe in the mix (I don't know why).  She's got some AWESOME recipes on her site (two of which I'll be posting soon).  She is vegan, but the rest of her family isn't - we benefit from the best of both worlds here!

Listening to: New Born by Muse
Mood: ouch