Showing posts with label Icing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Icing. Show all posts

Deluxe Cream Cheese Frosting

This frosting is slightly softer than a traditional recipe. Extra cream cheese and butter enrich the frosting and give it a little more volume.

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 (3 oz) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup butter, softened.
1 (16 oz) package powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.

Yield 3 1/2 cups

The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook, pg. 129

* Sometimes I omit the 3 oz of cream cheese and instead use 1 cup of butter, if I do not have the additional small package on hand (or I don't want to break up an 8oz package.) You still have the cream cheese flavor, but the consistency is not as firm.

Spreading God's Love

People receive God's love in a number of ways. Some commune with the beach, others the mountains. The way I feel God's presence the most is through music.

I joined the choir at my church about six years ago. A fellow alto encouraged me to attend. I had been in choir when I was little. My parents and I would sing at nursing homes and in my early 20's I performed in little theater. Music has always been apart of my life.

The immediate connection I felt with God upon entering the choir loft was overwhelming. I didn't realize how much I had missed this feeling. Tanya, our Minister of Music, asked me to help with the children's choir and I have enjoyed this activity for the past 5 years. I also joined the ladies hand bell choir.

How does this fit in with cake you ask?

Well, as a McEachern United Methodist Choir member, I will go out on a limb and say that food is an integral part of the choir's ministry. Gathering together with a meal is a common connection that folks from all different backgrounds can relate. People who have never sang a note in their life can relax and come eat with us... Larry makes a SERIOUS multi-layer cake with cheesecake in the middle that is undeniably a gift from God!

This food connection is something that has carried on with friends that I have made in various choirs at McEachern. One day on Face Book I decided to make a cake and post a "real time" scavenger hunt with cake as the prize with the help of my i phone. This was fun! I would read posts of excited friends thinking they were closest to finding the cake.

Tanya, the proud winner later called me to thank me. She had a not so good day, having had to sing at a dear friend's funeral. She told me that she believed my cake was a gift from God, that somehow we were connected by his spirit and my cake scavenger hunt was the plan to lift her spirits. And the cake did that for all involved. The joy I feel when I watch the yellow yolks disappear into the butter and sugar cannot really be described in words. The smell of baking cake is always met with a smile by my children coming home from school. And the knowledge that my cake made someone's sad day brighter, well is simply delicious icing.

So for me cake, music and love all go hand in hand. With God's hand extended for an extra slice.
Cake is love.