Waldorf-Astoria Red Velvet Cake

MMM... My absolute favorite cake. My daughter had one of these at Christmas too. Since it is red and white it is a great dessert cake choice for either the Christmas or Valentine's Day holidays. Plus, it's not only yummy but beautiful too!

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup Shortening
* 1 1/2 cup Sugar
* 2 Eggs
* 2 ounces Red food coloring
* 2 tablespoons Cocoa -- heaping
* 2 1/4 cups Plain flour
* 1 teaspoon Salt
* 1 teaspoon Vanilla
* 1 teaspoon Baking soda
* 1 cup Buttermilk
* 1 tablespoon Vinegar
* 1 teaspoon Butter Flavoring (if desired)

Frosting

3 tablespoons Flour
* 1 cup Butter (Not Margarine- you can tell the difference in the flavor).
* 1 teaspoon Vanilla
* 1 cup Milk
* 1 cup granulated sugar

Directions:

Cream Shortening, sugar and eggs.
Make a paste with coloring and cocoa and add to mixture.
Add salt and flour with buttermilk and vanilla.
Alternately add soda and vinegar and don't beat- just blend.
Bake in two 9-inch pans (greased and floured) for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Layers may be split to make four.

Frosting:

Cook flour and milk on low heat until thick.
Then cool (I put it in the freezer for this.).
Cream sugar, butter, and vanilla until fluffy.
Add to flour-milk mixture.
Beat until mixture is like whipped cream.
Spread on layers.
Sprinkle with nuts if desired

I hope you love this cake as much as I do!

Children's Crafts: Make a Beaded Lizard

Today I have a fun craft for you!

To make it a Valentine's Day gift for a friend use red and white beads, or your friend's favorite color beads will do fine too.

NOTE: If you are doing this project with smaller children, use larger beads (It also makes a bigger lizard that way too) and keep close supervision at ALL times!

Here we go...

How to Make a Beaded Lizard

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Here's a cute and fun afternoon activity that you can attach to your backpack.

Steps

1. Obtain some pony beads.
   
2. Cut a length of 1/8th inch ribbon around two yards (or meters) long.
   
3. Fold it in half to find the center.
   
4. Larkshead knot the center to your lanyard clip or keyring.
   
5. Tape the ends of the ribbon to make them stiffer (and easier to thread through the beads.)
   

Head

1. Thread one bead onto one ribbon end and then pass the second ribbon end through it from the opposite side.
   
2. Snug them down to push the bead to the knot.
   
3. Thread two beads the same way, with the ribbons crossing through from opposite sides.
   
4. Snug down.
   
5. Thread your eyes... one eye color bead, one body bead and one eye color... pass ribbons through from each side.
   
6. Snug them down.
   
7. Thread two body beads (neck) and snug.
   
8. Thread another two (neck) and snug.
   

Legs

1. For the legs, thread two body beads and three foot color beads onto one ribbon.
   
2. Take the end of that same ribbon around in a loop and pass it BACK through the two body colored beads.
   
3. Snug it down as shown.
   
4. Repeat for the other front leg. (and again, after the body for the hind legs)
   

Body

1. Thread three beads; body, contrast and body color. Snug them down.
   
2. Thread four beads; body, contrast, contrast, and body. Snug them down.
   
3. Thread five beads; body, contrast, body, contrast and body. Snug them down.
   
4. Thread four beads; body, contrast, contrast, and body. Snug them down.
   
5. Thread three beads; body, contrast and body color. Snug them down.
   
6. Thread two body beads. Snug them down.
   
7. Add the two hind legs. (see above)
   
8. Thread two body beads. Snug them down.
   
9. Thread single beads in a row ... usually 6 is a good number... until tail is the length you like.
   
10. Tie off the ribbon. Cut the ends and you've got a beaded lizard!
    

Tips

• Pull ribbons snugly before tying off the tail to avoid future loosening.
  
• A lanyard clip will allow you to attach the lizard to a backpack, belt loop, purse, etc.
  
• Try different types of string and beads. Silk or leather cord, thin ribbon, or plastic lanyard can all add a different feel to your project. In addition, using smaller beads will yield a smaller lizard. For a tiny lizard, try using seed beads and 30 gauge gold or silver beading wire!
  

Warnings

• Small parts: If doing this craft with young children, ensure that they do not ingest any materials.
  

Things You'll Need

• Pony Beads
  
• 1/8th inch wide ribbon (two yards or meters)
  
• Scissors
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Make a Beaded Necklace
  
• How to Make Rose Petal Beads
  
• How to Make Paper Beads
  
• How to Make Dangling Pearl Earrings
  
• How to Make Bead Earrings
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Author credited with original beaded craft article/project is: User:LoisWade42 at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Beaded Lizard.

All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.



I find a lot of fun projects, how-tos and also interesting articles at WikiHow.com Be sure to check out the related articles listed above for other beaded craft projects.

Also, I thought including this article would also include the pictures, but it didn't. Just click the main link of the article to see the step by step images.

Here are some supplies you need for this beaded lizard project:

For kids gifts the plastic beads are great:
These beads come in all colors imaginable!

However, I also think these gemstone beads would be great for projects like this one! Make your lizard have a natural, more valuable look than with the plastic beads!



And as of the writing of this post there were only a few of these great tourquoise bead sets left so grab them quick!





And, if you are interested in more beading projects check out these awesome beading books:






And for a little more exotic beaded jewelry projects try this book:



Product Description: SEARCH PRESS-Learn to make beautiful original necklaces and bracelets using decorative Chinese knots beads pendants and semi-precious stones. 16 stunning projects using clear step-by-step photographs show how to create original stylish designs. Softcover: 80 pages.

Enjoy!

Phyllo-Wrapped Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper

Here is a tasty Valentine's Day Recipe:


Ingredients:


* 1 cup roasted red peppers (fresh or jar from Italian market),
* 12 sheets frozen phyllo pastry, thawed,
* 6 tablespoons melted butter or nonstick spray,
* 6 (5 oz.) skinless salmon fillets, 1 inch thick


Directions:
Puree red peppers.
Layer 2 sheets phyllo on work surface, brushing each with butter or spray with nonstick spray; leave remaining sheets of phyllo covered with plastic.

Place 1 fillet crosswise on the pastry, 5 inches from the narrow end.

Top with 1 Tbsp. puree.

Fold the 5 inch section of pastry over the salmon and fold in the sides.

Roll the pastry into a rectangular packet to enclose the salmon.

Brush with butter on all sides or spray with nonstick spray.

Repeat with the remaining pastry and salmon.
Place packets on baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes until the salmon is cooked through and the pastry is light golcen brown.

Top with the remaining pepper puree.


If you are new to cooking and need some kitchen appliances to puree with, or just new appliances, here are some excellent recommended food processors and blenders for you to use with this Valentine's Day recipe - and of course all of the other holiday recipes too!

Food Processors:

and... and..


Blenders and blender / food processor combos that puree:

and...
This one is Rated 4 stars by 192 customers ---\/


Enjoy!