HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY...and a Giveaway!

If someone asks you...What does Valentine's mean to you?...how would you answer that?...As for me, I would say that to me it means a day to show your loved ones how much you care, and how much you love them. Not just gifts and cards, but in words and expressions! I'll be honest with you this cake I made with a cake mix...yes, boxed cake mix, and not my own...but, I doctored it up so well, that I was so inspired to be creative with the frosting, which really is from "scratch"...and being more creative by adding something pink or red, which happened to be a can of lite cherry pie filling that I had in my cupboard from this summer, that I did not get to use for my cheesecake. So, I decided to share my little heart shaped cake, which was baked in my heart shaped spring form pan, which was a thrift find...brand new Wilton's, for $1.99 retailing at least $16.99. I have gotten so much use out of this, that it's for sure, a keeper.

How can you not love this yummy cake filled, and frosted with real chocolaty goodness, and the oh, so yummy cherry filling, which is drained from the liquid, and save the cherry liquid to spread on top of the chocolate frosting.
Last minute dinner at my son's house...not knowing if I should go, my kitty Prince being so sick for the last couple days...not eating, just moping around, not letting me sleep at night...he was pacing up and down, I thought for sure this is it, since he is so old, but still so full of life and energy. How can you not feel sad when your pet gets ill?! I took this special little cake to my son's house, we shared it after a fabulous meal, and then off to my daughter's to share the other half of the cake...while they were in the middle of their fabulous home made sushi dinner, that Fabrizio made...even the little 4 year old grandson, the little guy, loves sushi...so much for that, I went there to pick up my beautiful roses that they gave to me.

2 dozen beautiful roses, that I received from my family...they told me they bought it at Costco, since they were shopping there on Sunday. Isn't it so thoughtful? A favorite kitty mug, and a bouquet of roses, and "I Love You, MOM" ...HAPPY VALENTINE'S...how much more would a Nonna, and a Mom want from her children, and Grandchildren. This is what Valentine's is about. Not the "Bling" or $$$...but a thoughtful simple gift, and to let your loved one know how much you care about them!

Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting
my own recipe

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
8 Tablespoon=1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sour cream
dash of salt
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 can-15 oz. lite cherry pie filling

Melt chocolate and butter together in the microwave, just
until softened, stir together, and set aside to cool a little.
Stir the sour cream into the chocolate. Add the vanilla, salt, and in a large bowl add the confectioner's sugar, adding the chocolate mixture and with electric mixer mix until frosting is light and smooth, and spreading consistency. Bake cake according to package direction, and when it is cooled, split in half.

Split cake in half, strain the cherries saving the liquid. Spread all the cherries on the bottom part of the cake,
and top with half of the frosting. Place the upper portion of the cake on top, and frost all over. Chill for about 20 minutes and spread the cherry liquid, which is already thickened over the top of the cake. (optional)...I was not happy with the result for the top, was expecting to do something more elaborate, but I was not prepared with other additions. You can just frost the top of the cake, let it chill for about 1 hr. or longer, before cutting it.

Actually, the cake was doctored up, I will be honest "Abe"...but will not divulge information, how it was, all I can tell you is that this was the easiest cake, ever...everybody loved it! Now, you will just have to get my giveaway, which is a fabulous book.

Now, for my fabulous "thrift find" book which is a 2003 addition, such a welcome for doctoring up cakes, and making cookies, cupcakes, bundt cakes, and one of my very favorite is a Banana Pudding cake, made with yellow cake mix, pudding mix, banana slices folded into the pudding, and topped with whipped topping...recipe is in the book. They'll think, you slaved away for this yummy dessert.
No rules apply...Just follow my blog!

Giveaway ends, on February 17, 2011, at 11:00 PM standard time...Sorry, but only U.S. and Canada apply!
Winner will be judged by Random generated number. I promise you, you will love this book and even if you don't it really is a nice gift for someone, who will appreciate short-cut and yummy cakes!

Wishing you all a  HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, from me...
PRINCE and MUSHIKA to your beloved pets...

with LOVE!