Would You Like Dessert With That? ~ Dessert Memories: Strawberry Dream Cake

Ah - it's always good to get to Friday, isn't it? Let the weekend begin! Today we're talking about desserts. I ran across a recipe recently that was my favorite when I was a girl and thought I would share some memories with you.

My grandmother made a cake that I loved so she made it every year for my birthday (and some other times during the year too!). It was a very sweet moist strawberry cake.

Here's a pic of me enjoying it for my 17th birthday.


Now what makes you think that it's the 80's? Oh, you want to see more of that trendy outfit? Well it just so happens that I was kind enough to model it earlier that evening - 'cause I was soooo cool (head shaking, eyes rolling) - LOL.

I thought it would be fun to hear about some more dessert memories so I asked a few bloggers to share.

Kim from Homesteaders Heart said:

It was my sisters 14th or 15th birthday party when I was introduced to the most excellent combination on earth. My Mom made her a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and it was LOVE at first bite. I was around 4 years old and to this day I have, on my birthday, some sort of Chocolate/Peanut butter combination and it has, up until last year, been a Chocolate Cake with Peanut butter frosting but last year I was introduced to the yummiest peanut butter pie in the world (which of course has chocolate on top) and now it's a real toss up for which one I want. Either way I feel the need to make it myself. Why? Because you only get one birthday a year and if I make it I know it's gonna be good!!

Susie from Susie's Homemade said:

My favorite dessert growing up was my Grandma's Butterhorns. It was my favorite because my grandma is responsible for all my baking and gardening and everything I do on my blog. She taught me everything that I know. She used to let me help roll out the dough and crunch up the pecans and lick the bowl and everything. Next to gardening with her, baking is my favorite memory with my grandma.

Sarah Mae from Like a Warm Cup of Coffee said:

I know this doesn't sound like a dessert, but it would have to be red swedish fish. Aside from the fact that they are just yummy, it is the memory associated with them that made them so great.
My dad would pick me up from kindergarden in his 1974 green baracuda. I loved that car because my feet could touch the floor board because the seats were so low in it. We would start to drive away and my dad would reach behind my ear and pull out a red swedish fish for me. It was magical, and such a special treat.

Jen from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said:


Honestly, I grew up in a home where the choices were "twigs, sticks or roots."
It's a funny family joke now and my mom always laughs as she encouraged healthy eating in our home. So with special desserts being almost non existent, whenever birthdays or celebrations occurred we always knew we would get Poppy Seed Torte, which to this day is my three brothers' favorite treat. It's a bit labor intensive, with a delicious blend of flavors, but we knew loving hands made it. But best yet? Sugar!

Thank you ladies for sharing those wonderful dessert memories!

Here is the recipe for the strawberry cake that my grandmother made for me every year:

Strawberry Dream Cake

1 pkg white cake mix
1 pkg strawberry jello (3 oz)
2 tablespoons flour
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup (or less) vegetable oil
1/2 box frozen strawberries, thawed

Combine cake mix, jello, flour, eggs, and water. Beat 2 minutes. Add thawed berries. Beat 1 minute. Add oil. Beat 1 minute. Bake in 3 layers for 35 min. at 350 degrees.

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
4? cups powdered sugar
Remaining 1/2 box frozen strawberries, thawed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (and/or almond?)

Frost cooled cake.

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Thanks for heading down memory lane with me! Now link up your posts! They can be about chocolate, desserts,or your favorite dessert memories. The more people link up, the more it starts to feel like a party around here!

What are your special dessert memories?

I think enjoying special memories are part of a beautiful life, so I'm linking this up at The Inspired Room!


P.S. Don't forget to enter my DaySpring teapot giveaway!!

Oh, and I'm famous today! OK, well I'm not famous but I have a chocolate guest post on a famous blog today - My Wooden Spoon - please come by and leave a comment to relieve my insecurities! :)

I'm linking this up to Tasty Tuesday with Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam! Go check out all the great recipes!