Strawberry Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

This recipe is out of Paula Deen's magazine and is to die for!

18.25 oz pkg strawberry cake mix
1/2 c butter, softened
4 large eggs
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
16 oz box confectioners sugar
3/4 c chopped fresh strawberries

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, butter and 1 egg. Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan. In a separate large bowl, beat cream cheese and 3 eggs at medium speed with a electric mixer until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until combined. Stir in strawberries and spoon mixture over cake mixture. Bake for 35-40 min or until center is set. Cool completely; cut into squares to serve. Garnish with sweetened whipped cream and strawberries. I served with vanilla ice cream.

I made this for my Mom for Mother's Day and my Dad requested that I leave the pan at his house! It's one of the best cakes I've had in a while and that says a lot from me because I'm a chocolate-oholic and this doesn't have chocolate in it.

The other recipe I made this weekend for my scrapbooking ladies was:
Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake

Butter, for greasing pan, plus 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) butter, melted
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 egg, plus 2 eggs
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 to 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly grease a 13 by 9-inch baking pan. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, and 8 tablespoons (1 stick) melted butter, and stir until well blended. Pat mixture into prepared pan and set aside. In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the remaining 2 eggs, and the cocoa powder. Lower the speed of the mixer, and add the powdered sugar. Continue beating until ingredients are well mixed. Slowly add the remaining 8 tablespoons (1 stick) of melted butter, and the vanilla, continuing to beat the mixture until smooth. Stir in nuts with a rubber spatula. Spread filling over cake mixture in pan.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the cake; the center should still be a little gooey when finished baking. Let cake partially cool on a wire rack before cutting into pieces.

This cake was a huge hit too and only a few bites came home with me but if I had to choose between them I think I would go with the strawberry - shuuush - don't tell anyone!

How life has changed

Many of you know Daisy and this is my last photo with her. I haven't seen Daisy since January at my parent's house. They think she has babies and is taking care of them so maybe we'll meet again. In January, my Dad told me he thought she was living underneath one of their buildings toward the back of their property and so I went out at dusk time and called and called Daisy really thinking that she wouldn't come. I heard some scurrying behind me and I turned and there was Daisy running as fast as she could to me. I honestly was nervous wondering if I should put my hands down to her or not so I decided I would bend down and put my hands out and see if she would come to me. Daisy was in my arms before I could get completely down. She let me hold her in my arms and pet her belly (holding like a baby) and she gave me kisses and then she was on my shoulder and off we went to the house to get her a treat. My mom took this photo and said she wasn't sure who was smiling bigger me or Daisy. All I know is this little creature wiggled her way into my heart more so than any pet I have ever had. We have truly been blessed to share some time with her.


Graduation for my Associates happened at the end of April. It took a little over three years but I accomplished it. So I have the first summer off in three years! ROAD TRIP! Erynn and I are hitting the road at the end of May for a little bit over two weeks going everywhere out west and back. We have never done a long trip like this together before but we have the gps and are ready to roll! Check back because we are going to try to keep a running journal of our travels.