MRE RECIPE: Quick Cakes

Yes, these are NOT diet friendly, but you can store the products to make these in your pantry and are super-easy to make.  I do NOT suggest using diet soda pop as they usually have asparatame in them which can cause seizures (it does in my boy) and other health problems.  But these ARE lower in fat than if you were to use oil and eggs.

Cake Mix + Soda Pop = Moist Cake

Yup, I make these all the time for bake sales.

Ingredients:
1 box of cake mix (15.25 oz)
1 can of soda pop (12 oz)

Directions:
Take your favorite cake mix and instead of adding the oil, eggs, butter, or other add-ins, just add ONE CAN of any flavor soda pop.  Completely combine (it looks weird at first), then pour into a 9 x 13 greased pan, and bake for the time on the cake-mix box.

I found this picture online, and use it often.  Remember that the soda adds only a LIGHT taste. My son LOVES the creamsicle cake (vanilla cake plus vanilla pudding plus orange soda pop).

Basically, tho, I use lemon-lime soda pop with most of my cake mixes. It barely gives any flavor, but makes the cake so moist that it's hard to get it out of the pan.  Leave it in the pan!! 

TOPPING:
You can use canned frosting (yuck!) or make a glaze by adding a liquid (can made from unsweetened lemonade or other drink powder + water) and powdered sugar. It's a delightful and tasty glaze/drizzle!

MRE RECIPE: Praline Sweet Potatoes

While this is the perfect recipe for an INSTANT THANKSGIVING, it is also good as a delicious dessert.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup mashed or diced dehydrated sweet potatoes
2 tbsp pecans
1 tbsp coconut flakes
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp tapioca flour or starch
1 tbsp butter powder
tiny pinch of salt

Directions:
Combine all ingredients and seal. To prepare to eat: Sweet potatoes/yams take a long long time to rehydrate! I suggest that you dump the ingredients into a pot with 3/4  to 1 cup of boiling water, and simmer until the potatoes are tender, possibly 15-20 minutes.

Add more brown sugar, butter powder and pecans for a super-yummy dessert.  You could even bake this is a small pie shell.

Notes:

• Delicious side dish for any instant holiday meal.
• Gluten-Free: naturally

MRE RECIPE: Raspberry Peach Yum

Don't you just love what I named this?  Okay, so raspberries and peaches taste beautifully together, and I like sending a dessert with Hubby to work.  So... I came up with this. Super-healthy and a nice way to end a lunch in the midst of a busy day.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup peach dices
1/4 cup raspberry powder
1 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot (thickener)
3 tsp raw sugar
pinch nutmeg

In separate baggie, 1/2 cup crumbled sugar cookies.

Directions:
Combine fruit, thickener, sugar and spice in one baggie and seal. Place crumbled cookies in a second baggie and seal. To enjoy, rehydrate the fruit, sugar and spices with very hot water for 10 minutes, and when ready, top with crumbled sugar cookies.


Notes:
-Gluten-Free: There are a lot of pre-made gluten-free cookies on the market. Choose a sugar-cookie and go to town!
-Dairy-Free: No dairy in here! One could make this creamy by adding a little rice milk powder to the fruit.
-Low-Sugar: Substitute stevia instead of sugar for a low-sugar version. Remember that stevia is VERY sweet so reduce the amount by at least half.