Libby Klein I was a huge fan of cooking shows in the 90s before they became all about competitions and judging. One that was a little unique was called Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee. Who remembers that?
Sandra Lee's recipes always called for things like boxed cake mixes, or instant pudding. I refused to make them back then because I was a wannabe chef and it seemed like cheating. These days I'm so overrun that I'm rethinking my previous stance. That's where this recipe come in. I bought a bunch of mixes for those times when I have unexpected company. And I bought some beautiful raspberries and peaches then got too sick to eat them fast enough. For the first time in the history of fruit on planet earth, these raspberries stayed fresh for more than a week which made me extremely suspicious of them. I threw them in a saucepan with the cut up over-ripe peaches and made a quick jam which I then ladled into the middle of a boxed pound cake. I zazzed up the enclosed glaze by using lemon juice instead of water so I could feel fancy about it. The end result was delicious. Sandra Lee is onto something.
What are some of your semi-homemade recipe ideas?
Semi-homemade Peach Melba Poundcake
Peach Melba "Jam"
Poundcake
Layla Virtue, a blue-haired, 30-something recovering alcoholic and former cop is trying to reinvent herself as a musician—between AA meetings, dodging eccentric neighbors at her trailer park, and reconnecting with her mysterious dad—in this unforgettable new mystery brimming with hilarity and heart.
Layla is taking her new life one day at a time from the Lake Pinecrest Trailer Park she now calls home. Being alone is how she likes it. Simple. Uncomplicated. Though try telling that to the group of local ladies who are in relentless pursuit of Layla as their new BFF, determined to make her join them for coffee and donuts.
After her first career ended in a literal explosion, Layla’s trying to eke out a living as a rock musician. It’s not easy competing against garage bands who work for tacos and create their music on a computer, while all she has is an electric guitar and leather-ish pants. But Layla isn’t in a position to turn down any gig. Which is why she’s at an 8-year-old’s birthday party, watching as Chuckles the Clown takes a bow under the balloon animals. No one expects it will be his last . . .
Who would want to kill a clown—and why? Layla and her unshakable posse are suddenly embroiled in the seedy underbelly of the upper-class world of second wives and trust fund kids, determined to uncover what magnetic hold a pudgy, balding clown had over women who seem to have everything they could ever want. Then again, Layla knows full well that people are rarely quite what they seem—herself included . . .
never saw the show, but I'd eat your cake Libby!
ReplyDeleteI do remember that show! As I've gotten older, I seem to like the almost homemade even more. Like you, I felt compelled to stay with the old ways taught to me by my granny and my mom. Whether it's getting smart or getting lazy, I'm not sure, but I'll happily make semi-homemade if the end results are a delicious product.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the much easier and oh so delicious sounding Semi-homemade Peach Melba Poundcake recipe!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
I remember Sandra Lee and Semi Homemade Cooking! That's a blast from the past :) I've always thought my cakes were better when I used boxed mix and jazzed them up by using milk instead of water, extra vanilla extract, or added mini chocolate chips to the batter. Plus boxed mixes are almost foolproof unlike some scratch recipes.
ReplyDeleteAnd your pound cake looks amazing, Libby, as does the peach melba filling. I think I'd probably eat half of the filling before it found it's way to the cake!
DeleteThis cake looks dee-lishous! We always make cakes from scratch, because the preservatives in cake mixes have a negative effect on my finicky stomach...Peaches and raspberries are some of my favoorite fruits, so I will try making this cake! Thank you for sharing your culinary expertise with us, dear Libby! JOY! Luis st ole dot travel
ReplyDeleteOh gosh that looks so good! I remember Sandra Lee, but not that show. I was always a marinara sauce snob. It had to be made from scratch and simmer for at least a full day. These days there are so many really good jarred sauces and I can think of so many other ways to spend my time, so I start with a jarred sauce and personalize it, let it simmer a few hours and YUM! German chocolate cake was another one that always had to be made from scratch. No more! I'll make the frosting from scratch, but the cake is from a box every time!
ReplyDeleteI used to watch that show, but I didn't make the recipes. I liked that her recipes were reasonably priced. Your pound cake looks awesome.
ReplyDeleteI think, I some how missed, why the peach thing is, called semi-home made
ReplyDelete