July Foodie Holidays: Week 4

July 22: Penuche Fudge Day
July 23: Vanilla Ice Cream Day
July 24: Tequila Day
July 25: Hot Fudge Sundae Day
July 26: Coffee Milkshake Day, Bagelfest Day
July 27: Crème Brûlée Day, Scotch Day
July 28: Milk Chocolate Day
July 29: Chicken Wing Day, Lasagna Day
July 30: Cheesecake Day
July 31: Cotton Candy Day, Raspberry Cake Day

Another recipe from my mom, although it feels a little like cheating, because it's not really raspberry cake, so much as cake with raspberry sauce. Anyway, it's delicious. (I should double-check with her, though, because I don't believe she uses margarine anymore to cook with, and I don't know if it affects this particular recipe or not to substitute butter. Don't be afraid to ask your contributors for clarification, or to test the recipes yourself if you have the time!)

Pound Cake

1/2 lb margarine

1/2 C. Crisco

3 C. sugar

5 eggs

3 C. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 C. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tsp. almond extract

Directions: Cream first three ingredients together well. Add the eggs one at a time. Alternately add the flour/baking powder and the milk. Add the vanilla and almond extract. Bake in a greased and floured tube (angel food) pan at 350ºF for 1 hour 20 minutes. Cool 2 hours (NOT upside down.) Serve with raspberry sauce.

Raspberry Sauce

2 10 oz. packages frozen raspberries

1 C. water

1 C. sugar

4 Tbsp. corn starch

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Directions: Reserving the juice, drain the thawed raspberries. Combine the juice, water, sugar and corn starch in a saucepan, cooking and stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in the lemon juice and the raspberries. Cool slightly. Serve warm over pound cake

National Margarita Day - Feb. 22nd; Chef Maxcel Hardy

Chef Maxcel Hardy
Hardy has cooked for some pretty VIP, including the prince of Dubai, and is the personal chef for an NBA star. He's the founder of One Chef Can 86 Hunger, a not-for-profit that raises awareness for hunger in the US. "The Foundation is also committed to bringing culinary arts to inner city communities through its culinary programs and scholarships to the next generation of young chefs." Additionally, he's created a line of chef's jackets that are updated modern chefs.

* * *

February 22nd in Margarita Day! There's a few stories how this cocktail was invented and named, but no clear winner. It seems likely that it's been around since the 1940s, and possibly even earlier. Made with tequila, triple sec and lemon or lime juice, it's the most popular tequila-based drink in the United States. And that's all fine and good, but you know what else is good? Cookies. I just found my next must-try cookie recipe, over at Smitten Kitchen: Margarita Cookies. (Yes, there's tequila in them.)

Available at Amazon.