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Chardonnay Cake

By on July 5, 2011 in Dessert Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Recipes, The Organized Party Planner

Easy Chardonnay Cake Recipe

Chardonnay Cake

Chardonnay Cake

My recipe for Chardonnay Cake may be a little too easy.  Perfect for afternoon soirees, every time I serve this simple cake, I get raves.

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Chardonnay Cake

Chardonnay Cake

Ingredients

  • Yellow Cake Mix
  • Chardonnay- 2 cups
    • For Grand Marnier Glaze:
  • Grand Marnier- 1 cup
  • Orange Juice- 1 cup
  • Sugar- 1 cup mixed with
  • Corn Starch- 2 tablespoons

Instructions

  1. Prepare cake mix according to package instructions Substituting the water with Chardonnay.
    2. For Grand Marnier Glaze:
  2. Heat Grand Marnier and Orange Juice over medium heat until bubbly
  3. Add sugar mixed with Corn Starch and dissolve until glazed
  4. Pour over the top of cake
https://tonispilsbury.com/chardonnay-cake/

 

Below is my whimsical story of how I happened upon this gem of a recipe.

 

The Story Behind The Chardonnay Cake Recipe

At the very end of a long and windy rode in Paso Robles, California is a positively charming and unpopular winery.  I won’t mention the name, because although the scenery there is magnificent, the wine is not.

At the end of a long day of wine tasting during a group trip, we stopped off at this bewitching little spot owned by a famous couple from the 1950’s (at my urging only, because my wine-snobby friends would gladly have skipped it).

The story of how this quaint little winery came to be still gives me goosebumps.  I’m not sure if it’s true, but here’s how the story goes.

The husband and wife wine-making team are actually a famous 1950’s actor and Miss America from 1950-something.  During a helicopter flight from shooting in Hollywood to Northern California, the helicopter crashed with the husband inside on the site of the now-winery.  He survived (obviously).  And when he emerged from the wreckage he said something like, “this is the most beautiful place; I think I’ll build a home and winery here”.  He was then joined by his beauty queen wife where they still are.  He hand-paints labels for their wine and she keeps the place- well- charming.

During this particular visit, she (Mrs. Beauty Queen Winemaker) was out front pouring wine and giving away small samples of a Chardonnay cake she made.  Wow, this is a real treat, I thought.  No other winery we visited would ever think to meet you with hand-baked goods from the owner.  I loved it.

The cake was so moist.  I was sure used had some age-old culinary method.  As we chatted, I went on and on about how great her cake was when she offered to give me the recipe.

“Would it be too complicated?”, I wondered.  “Perhaps with some type of wine-reduction technique?”  As I waited for her to retrieve a copy of this gourmet secret compound, I burst at the thought of wowing my friends with an authentic Chardonnay cake recipe directly from a Paso Robles wine maker.

But, instead of leaving the table to retrieve it, she leaned over and said, “I use a basic yellow cake mix and substitute the water with two cups of Chardonnay.”

Maybe the cake tasted better than I thought after all this wine tasting- okay- drinking.  So, I thanked her and vowed to make it when I returned home to see for myself.

It was as good as I remembered it- moist and light tasting with just the perfect hint of Chardonnay.  Now I impress my friends during summer entertaining with this culinary marvel.

If you didn’t catch the secret recipe and are waiting for my ingredient and instruction list to follow: yellow cake mix….no water….Chardonnay instead.

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

hey, there’s a rainbow in my glass!

 

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

serve Chardonnay Cake in bite-size finger-food pieces

 

The cake comes out super moist and is sliced into bite-sized pieces to serve as finger food.  If you insist on having some type of icing for this cake, I used a glaze for mine.  I heated a cup of orange juice and some Grand Marnier in a small saucepan, then added a cup of sugar combined with a couple tablespoons of corn starch over medium heat until it turned to glaze.

 

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

 

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Chardonnay Cake from Toni Spilsbury, The Organized Cook

Party Treat!

If you’re having a party, try this fun giveaway- Chalkboard Wine Bottles.

Used as table decor, I set out some chalk for guests to sign their name or write something cute.  Then I give away the bottles to a guest at the end of the night.  They can also be used for wine tasting parties to mark each type of wine, “Merlot”, “Cabernet”, etc.

They’re simple to make: simply spray-paint some empty wine bottles of different shapes and sizes with chalkboard paint.  Dry.

Wine Bottles with Chalkboard Paint

For more fun ways to use chalkboard paint, visit my Pinterest Board!

Chardonnay Cake Recipe

Chardonnay Cake recipe

 

For more summer entertaining ideas:

Summer Sangria Recipe

Summer Sangria Recipe

Summer Sangria

Summer Barbeque Menu

 

 

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Slow Cooker Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches

By on July 1, 2011 in Recipes

Slow Cooker Recipe

Busy weekends with family visitors.  Lunchtime at the cabin on 4th of July.  Company potlucks.  Hands down, Slow Cooker Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches is the easiest, most affordable and most delicious meal to feed a large group of people in the least amount of time.

Slow Cooker Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

Ingredients:

  1. boneless skinless chicken breasts- 3-4 lbs
  2. barbeque sauce- 1 large 28 oz. bottle
  3. Rolls or hamburger buns

Garnish:

  1. pickles, sliced
  2. cole slaw

Directions:

  1. place chicken in Slow Cooker and cover with entire bottle of barbeque sauce
  2. cook on High for 5-6 hours
  3. during last hour of cooking, use spoon to stir and shred chicken
  4. serve on rolls with pickles and cole slaw to garnish

Slow Cooker Barbeque Chicken Recipe

 

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Serve Up Simple- 4th of July Simply Delicious Menu

By on June 27, 2011 in Survival Guide for Busy Moms, The Organized Party Planner

Serve up simple.  Simple and delicious, that is.

If you’re entertaining for Independence Day, I have a recipe to make your life a lot easier.  Skip the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs and try this menu:

4th of July Menu from The Organized Cook

 

By marinating the steak a day or two in advance and making the salads which take just minutes to prepare, you’re time will be free to enjoy 4th of July festivities.

What’s great about this menu is that it covers all the basics- steaks, potatoes, pasta.  So, when guests ask, “what can I bring?” tell them to bring easy items like fruit or drinks.

4th of July Menu Flank Steak from The Organized Cook

If you’re not entertaining, it’s the perfect combination for just you and the family- I know- because this is what we had for dinner this past Saturday night and it was delicious….tasted like summer.

Toni’s 4th of July Menu

Ingredients

  1. Flank Steak 3-4 lbs, cut into 2-inch strips against the grain
  2. Dijon Mustard -1/2 bottle
  3. Soy Sauce- a few shakes

    4th of July Menu Red White Blue Potato Salad from The Organized Cook

    Dice potatoes into quarters

  4. Red Wine Vinegar- about 1/3 cup
  5. Fresh or Dried Oregano & Basil

 

  1. Petite Red, White & Blue (purple, actually- but close enough) Potatoes (I found the perfect ones at Trader Joe’s), cleaned and quartered
  2. Blue Cheese Crumbles- 1 small container
  3. Sour Cream- 1 cup

 

  1. Cavatappi Pasta- 1 lb
  2. Zucchini & Squash- 1 each, diced into half-chunks
  3. Grape Tomatoes- 1 pint

    4th of July Menu Cavatappi Salad from The Organized Cook

    Dice zucchini and squash into halves

Where I got my potato salad inspiration- basically, I think making traditional potato salad is a ton of work.  You have to peel, cook and dice potatoes and eggs, dice potatoes, etc.  So, unless my mom is here to make it (she makes a great potato salad), then I want to find an easier alternative.

I was shopping in Trader Joe’s and spotted these miniature potatoes and thought how perfect they would be in a salad.  I wanted to make it lighter, without mayonnaise, so I decided to try sour cream.  With some blue cheese to add to my “red, white and blue” theme, this potato salad came out better than I’d hoped.

4th of July party menu from Toni Spilsbury The Organized Cook

 

Directions

Steak

  1. A day or two in advance, combine mustard, soy sauce and vinegar in a bowl or casserole pan with about a half cup of olive or canola oil; mix well
  2. Season steak with salt, pepper, basil and oregano
  3. Dip steak into marinade and coat evenly
  4. Place steak in zip-top baggie and pour remaining marinade in; seal tightly and place in the refrigerator on a plate or platter to marinate overnight

 

Potato Salad (can be made a day in advance)4th of July Menu Red White Blue Potato Salad from The Organized Cook

  1. Place oven on Broil
  2. Place potato chunks onto baking sheet
  3. Drizzle olive oil over the top and sprinkle with some salt; use your hand to toss
  4. Broil until potatoes are brown, approximately 35 minutes
  5. Transfer to mixing bowl
  6. Add blue cheese and sour cream; toss

 

Pasta Salad (can be made a day or two in advance)

  1. Put zucchini and squash slices next to potatoes to Broil until brown, approximately 20 minutes
  2. Boil pasta in salted water until tender; drain and rinse under cool water
  3. Add vegetables to pasta
  4. Drizzle with olive oil; toss4th of July Menu Cavatappi Salad from The Organized Cook

When it’s time to eat, just grill steak- or hand it off to the hubby to grill like I do.

 

 

4th of July Menu Flank Steak from Toni Spilsbury The Organized Cook

Happy 4th of July!

 

If you’re looking for a summer beverage for 4th of July party, try my Summer Sangria!

Summer Sangria from Toni Spilsbury The Organized Cook

And, for the absolute most adorable place setting, check out this Patriotic Place Setting design by Social Couture.

 

 

 

 

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Chicken Madeira

By on June 27, 2011 in Making Dinner

Why are so many of us asking, “what’s for dinner tonight?”

My way of cooking is unique from anything on the market today and answers the question “what’s for dinner tonight?” with the answer- “What’s For Dinner This Week”. My signature recipes create healthy, delicious meals using my unique algorithm that plans and organizes family dinners to reduce waste while saving time at the grocery store and in the kitchen. The Weekly Meal Plans include menus, grocery shopping lists, cooking instructions with time and money saving techniques.

Subscribers to The Organized Cook know what’s for dinner this week and Chicken Madeira is at the top of the menu.

The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

Reincarnating The Leftover

Nobody likes to eat leftovers.  Last night’s London Broil may have been fabulous.  But, when you slap the label “leftover” on it, the appeal is lost.

Italy Meets London Broil from The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

Italy Meets London Broil from The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

However, when that same London Broil is reincarnated into Philly Cheese Steak Subs, you have a super simple and tasty dinner recipe.

 

 

Philly Cheese Steak Sub from The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

Philly Cheese Steak Sub from The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reusing Preparation Time

Another cooking technique I use to save tons of time is reusing my preparation time.  When I saute chicken breasts on Monday night for my gourmet Chicken Madeira, I saute a few extra diced chicken breasts to store for Green Coconut Chicken Curry.

Chicken Madeira from The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan System

Chicken Madeira from The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

With just this one step I’ve saved myself cooking and preparation time later on the week.

 

Green Coconut Chicken Curry from The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

Green Coconut Chicken Curry from The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what’s on your dinner menu this week?  Let The Organized Cook do the planning and organization for you.

Subscribe now.

The Organized Cook Weekly Meal Plan

 

 

 

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