Cinnamon Chip Quick Bread

Modified version of our beer bread.  Tastes great toasted or as French toast too!

3 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
12 oz cream soda
1/2 bag Hershey cinnamon chips

Mix flour, sugar and chips then slowly add cream soda.  Gently mix, batter will be lumpy.  Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.

Beer Bread

3 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
12 oz. beer

Mix flour and sugar and slowly add beer.  Gently mix, batter will be lumpy.  Bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.

Easy White Icing

This is a great basic white icing for cake decorating.  It is very sweet so don't forget to add the salt!

4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup vegetable shortening
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla (use clear imitation vanilla for bright white frosting)
pinch of salt

Combine ingredients in mixing bowl.  Beat on low to combine then beat on medium speed for a full 5 minutes. 

Options:

If you are simply icing the cake (not putting the icing into pastry bags for decorating) then thin with about 3 T water or corn syrup.

Instead of 1 cup shortening, use 1/2 cup shortening and 1/2 cup butter (salted or unsalted, adjust additional salt to your taste) or use 1 cup butter.  However, if you need bright white, use all shortening.  Also, keep in mind that butter frosting can start to melt if your cake is sitting out in warm temperatures or it can get too soft in the pastry bag from the heat of your hands.

Caramel Chex Mix

2 cups Rice Chex
2 cups Corn Chex
2 cups Wheat Chex
2 cups pretzels
1 cup nuts
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter

Combine Chex, pretzels and nuts in large bowl.  Boil brown sugar and butter for 2 minutes stirring constantly.  Pour over Chex mixture and mix well.  Pour into greased 9x13 pan and bake at 300 degrees for 15-16 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Remove from oven and stir mix as it cools to prevent from sticking together.