Strawberry Dream Cake

Every April or May as a child, my father would drive us 100 miles to Oakland’s Chinatown for dinner and strawberry cake.  Strawberries were in season and the cake they made was to die for - at least I thought.  We’d eat a Chinese dinner family style, and have strawberry cake for dessert.  My father would then buy a whole cake to bring home with us.

That Chinese restaurant is no longer there, as are most restaurants from my childhood, but I can still taste that strawberry cake.

Over the years, I’ve sought to recreate that cake.  Through trial and error, I’ve come very very close.  Now every year while strawberries are in season (which they are now) I have to make a strawberry cake.  I like doing the 4-layer number.  Below are 2 variations using box cake mixes:

This one comes the closest.

Strawberry Dream Cake

Cake:

1 package  (2 layer) yellow cake mix

1 packet Dream Whip Topping Mix

4 eggs

1 cup cold water

Topping:

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1 pint strawberries, cleaned and sliced
(reserve a few whole strawberries for garnish on top)

Combine all ingredients for cake in a large bowl.  Blend with electric mixer at medium speed for 4 minutes.  Pour into greased and floured 9” cake pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.  Cool 10 minutes in pans; then remove from pans and finish cooling on rack.  If you want a 4-layer cake, after cooling, cut each layer in half.

Whip whipping cream on high until thick and fluffy.  Add sugar to taste.  Spread whipped cream on each layer, then place sliced strawberries on top.  Repeat.  On the top layer decorate with whole strawberries placed in center.

Sour Cream Pound Cake

1 package Duncan Hines Butter Cake Mix

Follow recipe for the Sock-It-To-Me Cake on cake box side (omitting streusel filling)

Proceed with whipping cream as above.

These cakes make a lovely presentation. Try one, I think you will agree!

Our Family Game Night

I'm hoping to start a tradition this year, by instituting a Family Game Night.  When the children were little, we always played games.  My youngest daughter learned to multiply by playing Yahtzee.  When our family played games, generally it was to win.  Along the way, though, we always had fun!

This past Sunday was the first such game night of this new year.  We played Balderdash.  Balderdash is a bluffing game put out by Mattel, with obscure words and definitions.  If you don't know the word or it's meaning, you make one up!  What fun we had!  Our imaginations ran wild.  It was particularly hilarious when an off the wall definition was chosen as being totally realistic.  One word was Katipo.  I had never heard of that word in my life.  My definition was a specialized racing canoe.  They believed me, ( Ha Ha!) when in fact it is a black poisonous spider with a red stripe!  Another word was deltiologist.  A deltiologist is a collector of postcards - not a professional who studies algae in ponds.  Ha Ha, fooled again! We laughed and laughed!

Family game nights have many benefits.  It promotes family bonding in a relaxed and fun way.  Children learn important social and academic skills.  Family night is a way to enjoy each others company, without forcing conversation.

I googled Family Game Night and came up with some additional benefits of having a family game night.

It's inexpensive*.  It's suitable for all ages.  Everyone can participate.  It educates and entertains.  It allows for wonderful family interactions and builds strong character.  It is also a good way to reach out to others by inviting extended family members or close friends to join in on the fun!

If you decide to have a family night of your own, consider these tips:  Set aside about 2 hours to play. Avoid interruptions.  Have everyone enjoy an easy dinner together.  Provide snacks that aren't messy. 

After our evening of fun and games, I began planning for our next one!  I sincerely hope our Family Game Night will become a cherished  family tradition.

*We found our game at the thrift store for 2 bucks!