Mandarin Orange Cake

This recipe came to me from a friend and co-worker many years ago. I made it and took it to work today for a birthday. It's still a hit! When possible I try to cut down on eggs and oil in a recipe and for the most part it works. I used a 9 x 13 pan and then removed the cake from pan and put it on a platter. It was difficult to frost. My suggestion is keep it in the pan and only frost the top of the cake.

1 box yellow cake mix
½ cup oil (1/4 cup will do)
4 eggs (I used 3 eggs)
1 small can mandarin orange & juice

Frosting
Cool Whip (8 oz)
Small box vanilla instant pudding
1 – 8 oz crushed pineapple

Drain mandarin orange and reserve juice. Mix cake mix, oil, eggs and mandarin orange juice until well blended. Fold oranges into mixture. Pour into 9 x 13 well greased pan. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Frosting
Drain crushed pineapple and reserve juice. Mix vanilla instant pudding and pineapple juice by hand. Fold in Cool Whip. Frost and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Nana's Banana Bread

Some of my favorite recipes are breads. This one is my Mom's!




1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup mashed banana (1 banana)
2 cups flour (1 cup white and 1 cup wheat flour)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs ( 2 will do)
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts

Cream butter and eggs. Add mashed banana, sugar, milk and vanilla and blend.
Measure and sift flour and other dry ingredients.
Add dry ingredients alternately to liquid ingredients and mix.
Fold in nuts last. Grease loaf pan with butter, margarine or vegetable spray.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Test with a tooth pick to check to see if done.