Pear Vodka Strudle Cake

Pear Vodka Strudel Cake...

This cake was amazing! This new recipe of mine was devoured this past Holiday. It would be perfect for the New Years Holiday too! Whether you choose to serve it after dinner for dessert or in the morning with coffee, you will be happy with the results.

 My special ingredient was "Iced Cake Vodka"...

This cake was so moist & flavorful! A real treat!

A small amount of canned pumpkin is the secret ingredient...this helps to keep the cake so moist. 

Yum...The Almond Strudel adds a wonderful nutty sweet flavor...

Pear Vodka Strudel Cake

1 cake mix, vanilla bean flavor (or you may use "white")

1/2 cup of Sour Cream

1/2 cup of canned pumpkin puree'

3 eggs. beaten

1/3 cup of canola oil

1/3 cup of Iced Cake Vodka (or regular Vodka no flavoring added) 

**( In addition: 1/8 cup Vodka reserved for when the cake is cooked, see instructions below)

1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon of almond extract

1 1/2 cups of diced pears, drained

Mix well, EXCEPT the Pears...*see baking instructions below

Almond Strudel Topping

3/4 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup of Old Fashion rolled Oats

1/4 cup of butter, melted

1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

3/4 cup of sliced almonds

Mix well & set aside...

(*You may want to add a piece of foil to lightly cover the almond mixture while baking)

Baking Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a springform pan with Cooking Spray, then sugar coat the pan.

Mix together everything for the cake except the Pears...mix well

Pour Batter in the pan. 

Next: Add the pears... place on top of the batter

NOW: Add the Almond Strudel to the top of the pears & cake batter. Pat down lightly.

 Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes. Use a toothpick to check cake, should come out clean. 

WHEN the cake is done, let cool for 20 minutes before removing the outside ring on the Springform pan.

THEN...with a tooth pick poke holes around the top of the finished cake.

**Then drizzle the 1/4 vodka around the top of the cooked cake. Let  the cake sit another 10 minutes to allow the vodka to soak in. This step is optional.

Time to Serve....with Champagne or Coffee!

 Ready to mix...

 Add the pears on top of the batter...

 Strudle ready to add to the batter...

 Sooo...Yummy!

 I had to hurry and take photos....The cake was disappearing fast!

This cake was divine!

A Special Cake Served with Style...

Heavenly Holiday Hash...

Heavenly Holiday Hash is the perfect Christmas morning breakfast...

Easy to fix (even the day before) & serve!

 Love to serve this on individual cast iron skillets....

 Or even a little more formal....

 Yum!!! Now that I tempted you....Let's see that recipe!

 Simple ingredients mixed with LOVE makes the perfect holiday brunch!

Heavenly Holiday Hash

1 large bag of tater tots, baked according to the directions on the bag

3 green onions, sliced

6 or 7 slices of bacon, cut small and cooked

2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Garlic pepper to taste

* (My Home-made Pine Creek Ranch Seasoning will be posted soon, a garlic pepper blend)

Hollandaise sauce for topping....

Mix every thing together except the Hollandaise sauce.

Then....drizzle half of your Hollandaise sauce over the top...

Place in a baking pan or iron skillet and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes

Serve with a Fried Egg on top with more Hollandaise sauce!

Simply YUMMO!!!!

 Ready to mix up

 Hollandaise sauce ready & waiting...

 In the pan....

 Go ahead...toss some more cheese on top! You know you want too!

 Heavy drizzle of Hollandaise sauce...

 Oh MY....Heavenly!!! 

 This is sooooo good! Out of the BLUE... Hubby asked if I had liability (food) insurance! I said; "WHAT???" "Why Would I Need THAT?" He answered; "'Cause you're making ME FAT!"

YEP, it's that GOOD! Simple BUT Good!

Simply served Ranch-Style...

Good Food is the Heart of the Family Table...

Serve it with Style!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Heart

NeeCee & Family

Love this Santa....Wish I knew who was the artist!
Would love to give them credit!
Beautiful...Found this on the internet!

Butter Rum Ham Glaze...

Butter Rum Ham...

This ham was so moist and flavorful....So easy to prepare!

 I bought this ham for Thanksgiving dinner. It was so good...I'm doing a repeat for Christmas!

Rum Butter Glaze...

1 cup of Karo syrup 

2 heaping tablespoons of Hot Butter Rum Batter

1/4 cup of gold rum

1 tablespoon of brewed coffee

Blend together and baste the ham with some glaze

Cook the Ham according to the directions. *I used a Smithfields Spiral Bone-in Ham.

After the Ham is cooked, glaze again & let rest for 10-15 minutes.

Slice & Serve

Oh My...this was AMAZING! Full of flavor & taste, I barely had enough for left overs.

I froze the ham bone...Using that this week for some pinto bean soup! YUM, keep an eye out for the recipe! 

Holiday Ham Served with Style...

How to Easily Decorate Your Christmas Tree...

How to decorate your Christmas tree the Pine Creek Style way...My version is just  that...My version. I am sure there are a ga-zillion articles posted on this subject....BUT this is what works for me...and now several friends, family & my kids are using my method. It seems to work for them!

Every year someone says, "Tell me how to decorate MY tree like that!"

So here is my untrained opinion on the topic. Have fun, enjoy......

I have two trees this year...this one is my Kitchen Tree...

And this is my Living Room Tree...

 Start with your tree, check the lights and add any additional lights at this time.

Also place your tree topper on the top and if lighted, check lights.

Don't worry about straightening the branches. Do that as you work and add the garland & ornaments.

Leave the lights on while you decorate. It helps with placement of the ornaments.

 Place your Christmas tree skirt (or whatever you use) around the base of the tree.

On this tree I used a yard & a half of burlap around the base. I also placed my cow hide rug under the tree.

I choose large items I am going to place near the tree , and put them in place.

Sometimes, I move them around until I get the look I want.

This year I wanted to use my dress form & maybe a chair.

 Next decorate the top of the tree...front

 And back!

Then I add the garland....I decide the look I want then, I attach the garland.

This year I used 2 garlands, burlap and a gold-ish colored shear. Start at the top and work your way around the tree.

 On this tree I placed the garland in a diagonal fashion, alternating the colors. I use the branches to secure the garland in place. I make it a little puffy to give a look of fullness & add demention.

Continue around the tree, adjust as needed!

 I start with the largest items for the tree first. I used framed black & white photos this year. Same thing for signs and large ornaments. Work around the whole tree. Make sure you look & place items around all the sides. Alternate your pattern while spacing. Secure items with branches.

 Start adding ornaments, I try to do groupings of 3, and alternate the sizes. Example: 2 medium ornaments & 1 large ornament. The next grouping could be 2 large & 1 medium. Have fun with it!

Before you start, choose your colors & theme. I like to add different styles of floral picks, but keep them in the same color scheme.

The colors on this tree was silver & gold with a touch of bronze. The only additional colors are the muted old world wooden pictures of Mary & Jesus.

 I added a mirror on a low easel and a champagne bowl with scented pine cones.

And a couple of necklaces on the dress form along with a bronze floral picks.

This is a special photo I added this year for my Dad. We lost him last Christmas to Cancer. He shared with me his "love of Christmas" and his decorating ideas. He loved the Holidays!  He made a living as a mail carrier & a fireman. The framed photo is from his special tree last year that includes a photo of him while on his mail route.

A view from above....

Merry Christmas with Style...