Thursday, February 25, 2016

Angelina's Cherry Cake and Book Giveaway


First, congratulations to our two winners of "Back in the Saddle" from last week, and thank you, Waterbrook Multnomah for offering extra copies!!!!

Carol Garvin and Joy Avery Melville! Happy dancing for you!

We've got a couple more Thursdays of giveaways and let me just say, having a straight-shootin' heroine who's as good with a gun as she is with a spatula ROCKS....

Because Angelina Morales (aka Mary Angela Castiglione) isn't afraid to get the job done in either venue, and I love that about her!

Here's a pic of how I envisioned Angelina...


She's a mix of Latina and Incan, a true blend of culture clash, and she was the only child born alive to her parents Martin and Isabo Castiglione who came here before she was born. Her father became a Seattle police captain, and Angelina followed in his footsteps. She was a decorated undercover detective specializing in vice and gangs when her retired father was killed as a retaliation for a drug ring she helped dismantle.

With a widowed mother and a baby son, she couldn't bear to stay in the job she loved and allow more loved ones to become possible targets... And now time has gone by. Things are changing at the Double S Ranch... good change? Or just change?

Angelina isn't sure, but her faith and drive push for the former, and when it comes to Colt Stafford, the prodigal-like oldest son... change is inevitable.

I developed this recipe last year, when I finished writing "Back in the Saddle"... you remember Back in the Saddle, right?  My first cowboy western from Waterbrook Multnomah, releasing March 15, 2016 in THREE SHORT WEEKS!!!!

Yee Haw!


I love this story, I love this series, and I hope you will, too! And this cake is fun, super easy and a bright pink salute to George Washington and his totally inaccurate cutting of the cherry tree... or a nod to spring!

Here's the easy-peasy recipe that won a lot of cowboy hearts at the Double S:

Angelina's Cherry Cake:

1 White Cake Mix
1 1/4 cups maraschino cherry juice
6 eggs, separated (a temporary separation! We'll get them back together for the happy ending soon!)
1 tablespoon almond flavoring
24 maraschino cherries, chopped (more or less is fine)

Whip egg whites. Set aside.



Line 2 9" cake pans with parchment paper OR line a 13 x 9" pan with parchment paper (this keeps the crust sponge-cake soft, so good!)



Mix cake mix, cherry juice and the six egg yolks together. Blend until smooth. Add in about two-dozen chopped maraschino cherries.

Whip egg whites until stiff peaks form.

Fold in egg whites until incorporated. (mixed in, but don't overbeat, we want those air holes the egg whites will make!)

Pour into pan or pans. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-35 minutes, depending on your oven and the pan choice.


This is a soft, sponge-like cake (think cherry Twinkies).... Any frosting is fine, and a dark chocolate one like this Hershey's recipe would go great with the cherry cake....


But for this pic I used simple Whipped Cream Frosting:

1 quart heavy whipping cream
1 cup sugar

Beat at high speed until stiff peaks form. Frost layers and sides if desired. Shave chocolate over top or garnish with more maraschino cherries.  Keep chilled, serve cold.




And there you have it, a delightful nod to spring, future presidents, or just a great summertime cold cake!

We've got Colt's cowboy hat out again... and just so you know, I got a sneak peek at Nick's cover.... I don't know if it could be better, but IT IS..... How can that be???? How did Kelly Howard and her crew at Waterbrook catch so much of the book in the cover???? I don't know, but let me just say:

Nick's sportin' a darker hat, but he's every bit the cowboy his big brother is, and he'd be glad to let you know that this fall!

Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing!

40 comments:

  1. MMMM, cherry cake!

    And guess what's in my crock pot right now? That pork onion soup recipe you posted. My whole house smells like onion soup. It would have smelled like onion soup about four hours ago but I forgot TO TURN IT ON.
    Oh well, it'll be good for lunch! Hubby will have to take a sandwich to work. ;)
    Who knows, maybe I'll make cherry cake and it can be a whole day where we eat Isabo's creations.

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    1. Burst out laughing! I've done that more times than I can count!!!!!

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  2. Sounds delish - making my shopping list now and adding the ingredients. Once I find my cake pans (somewhere in the boxes left to unpack) I'll be making the cake!
    Please put my name in the cowboy's hat for the drawing - can't wait to read the book!

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    1. Edwina, I've got your name in the hat!!! And that unpacking is such a job.... Bless you!

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  3. The cake sounds and looks delicious! :) Btw your book sounds like a great read!

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    1. Sarah, thank you! The cake was a big hit with kids and grownups here.... my test audience! And the book... Oh my stars, SARAH!!!! Such a delightful story of second chances!!!

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  4. Oh yum...I don't think I've ever had cherry cake but this looks scrumptious. So excited that Back in the Saddle's birthday is coming out soon...two days before St. Patrick's Day!!!! Hmmm that leaves me imagining cowboys doing an Irish jig. :-)

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  5. That cake looks wonderful! And so does the book! Congratulations on your new release, Ruthy!

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    1. Thank you, Laura! The cake is just way fun... and the cowboy???? and the horse.... and the heroine????

      SIGH.........

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  6. The new release sounds like a very good read!

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  7. Going shopping and picking up the ingredients for this cake. Can't wait to make it. Looking forward to reading Back in the Saddle.

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    1. Patricia, I shop at Sam's a couple of times a month, so I buy the GINORMOUS jar of maraschino cherries.... And then I use the juice in recipes.... It's a waste not, want not world! :)

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  8. would love to win. angelachesnut246@gmail.com

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    1. Angela! Thank you for including the e-mail over here, this blog doesn't give it to me behind the scenes! I'm so glad you stopped by!

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  9. Sounds like Multnomah is treating you right! I'm so happy for you and always ready to read a Ruthy book! ��

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    1. Linnette, I miss you!!!! How is school and everything going???? So good to see you!

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  10. Angelina sounds like a wonderful heroine. AND she can cook! Sweet!

    I love cakes that use the meringue in the mix - the cake has a different texture. Very satisfying! And the cherry flavoring is perfect for spring. :)

    Thanks for the recipe! And waiting...waiting...waiting for that book to appear! It will be soon, now!

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    1. I know, I've been on tenterhooks (does anyone know what a tenterhook truly is???? A prize to the first person who answers and saves me looking it up!!!!) ever since the final edits went through.... and I love it! COWBOY MANIA!!!!

      The simple truth of western lore....

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  11. Mmmmmm, Ruthy! Cherry Twinkies!?!? Sounds so good!

    I'm planning a #TuesdayTea post near your release date for Back in the Saddle and planned to serve Angelina's cake. I wasn't going to include the recipe since it is in the book, but since you've posted it here, is it okay if I use the Yankee-Belle Cafe link on my blog?

    There is a tea shop in Seattle I'm just sure Isabo enjoyed while she was there, but with Mary's job responsibilities, she was probably too busy to stop for afternoon tea.

    And Nick's cover is even more gorgeous? Wow! Can't wait to see the cover.....and for Nick to have his HEA! Love this series!!!

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    1. YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!!!! :)

      Isabo loved walking the waterfront and stopping at little shops, so I'm sure she frequented the tea shop! And Martin liked the odd cigar now and again, and there's a smoke shop near the water off of Madison, maybe??? Anyway, good cigars for her late husband to enjoy when walking their Labrador Retriever!

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    2. NICK'S COVER.....

      Nick's cover just grabbed me, heart and soul, because I know Nick!!! I know how badly he wants what's been wrenched away, the chance to be normal... and beloved.

      Sigh.

      We take so much for granted, don't we????

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  12. My granddaughter is our baker so she will be getting the recipe to bake a cake! Book and series sounds like another winner!

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    1. Mary, thank you!!!!! And the kids loved chopping cherries! (Actually they kind of just pulled them apart, no cut fingers. Yay!!!)

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  13. The cake sounds delicious and I think if would be perfect with coffee and your book. Thanks for sharing.
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com


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  14. Oh, I can't wait to try making this!! It sounds wonderful!

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    1. Missy, it really is! Cherry flavored sponge cake! And the texture is wonderful!

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  15. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I'm SO pleased to be a winner of this book. I've been looking forward to reading it.

    And a cherry flavoured sponge cake??? It sounds de-lish, and so easy to make. EASY is the only way in my household. I'll definitely be trying it out on my family soon.

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    1. I have to try it with a dark chocolate frosting, and maybe a creamy filling. Wouldn't that be marvelous??????

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  16. I've had your cakes before...I bet that they ALL be good. Love you, Ruth.

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  17. 6 eggs, separated (a temporary separation! We'll get them back together for the happy ending soon!)

    hahahaha love this!!!

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  18. a hook used to fasten cloth on a drying frame or tenter.
    Is that ok, Ruthy, for a definition?????!!!!! lol
    The cake recipe looks mmmmm good!

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  19. Absolutely nothing could be wrong with a cake that is topped with
    a quart of whipping cream! Thanks for the recipe, Ruthy.

    Nancy C

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  20. It's been one of THOSE kinds of days so it's 10:30 and I'm only just getting to the cafe. (Only just getting dinner too, so I'll just imagine I'm having Angelina's cake as dessert!)

    Ruthy, my grandmother, Ruth, used to make a cake very similar to this. I remember my mother being horrified to see the entire jar of maraschino cherries (and juice) going in. I loved the whipped cream. Still do.

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  21. I've always wanted to make a cake using Marachino cherries. YUM!!! I wonder how it would taste with a chocolate cake mix? I might have to try it. I have a stash of MCs in the pantry. :D

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  22. I'm dying to make this cake. just read Back in the Saddle and can't wait to read Home on the Range. I'm going to try to find Isabo onion soup recipe😉

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