Mindy's Favorite Recipes

I can't believe this is my final post. When I first joined the café in 2012 I had yet to be published. Now, I'm about the celebrate the release of my eleventh book. My, how time does fly.

But while all good things must come to an end, some things live in perpetuity. Like my favorite recipes. Goodness knows I have a lot of them, so narrowing them down was tough. The good news is that while we won't be adding any more recipes to the Yankee-Belle Café, the ones that are here will remain so that you (and our children) can tap into them whenever you like.

So here we go with my top five favorite recipes.

Grape Salsa - 

I know it sounds weird, but this sweet and savory concoction is my most requested recipe. It's super simple and perfect for any gathering. You can find the recipe here. 

Coconut Cream Pie - 

My girls' grandmother was famous for her cream pies. And when microwave ovens became the norm, she simplified her recipe so you no longer had to stand at the stove, cooking and stirring forever. My kids love the Chocolate Cream version, but hubby usually wins out and get his favorite, Coconut Cream. You can find the recipe here.

Pumpkin Bread - 

I'm pretty sure I've shared this recipe every year because I make it every fall to give as gifts. At first it was for teachers and other school staff, but since we no longer have any kiddos in school, friends, neighbors and our adult children are now the recipients of this moist, delicious tradition. That recipe is right here. 

Macaroni and Cheese - 

Credit for this recipe goes to my oldest daughter, but it's definitely a family favorite. You can serve it straight off of the stove or add a cracker topping and bake it a while. Whichever way you choose to serve it, you won't be disappointed. Find the recipe here.

Last but certainly not least is Sour Cream Blueberry Bundt Cake - 

My mouth waters just looking at this. It's so moist and bursting with blueberry flavor. Mmm, mmm, mmm... I wish I had a slice right now. You can find the recipe here.

I've shared and discovered so many wonderful recipes on this blog these past nine years. And I know I'll be back every now and then to retrieve recipes my counterparts have shared over the years. The Yankee-Belle Café has so many great recipes from all across this great country. 

While I won't be posting here anymore, I won't be hard to find. I'll still be cranking out books and hanging out with many of these lovely ladies over at Seekerville. So come and visit us and let's keep the party going. We'll bring the food. ;)

Until we meet again... 

Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at mindyobenhaus.com

Let's Just Eat Cake - Sour Cream Blueberry Bundt Cake

I am head-down in a book deadline this week, so leftovers have been the name of the game in the Obi house lately. But after this week... Look out! Because I'm ready to bake. And this cake will be at the top of my list because it's one of my absolute favorites.

Sour Cream Blueberry Bundt Cake is moist (a must in my book) and bursting with blueberries. And it is perfect for spring or summer.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen and thawed

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together butter and sugar on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs and mix just enough to combine. Now add your vanilla, sour cream, salt and baking powder.

Beat a medium speed for another minute.

Bump the speed back down to low and add your flour, just a little at a time so you don't find yourself in a cloud of dust, mixing just until everything is incorporated.

Your batter will be stiff, but don't worry. It's also totally delicious. Just sayin.

Now add your blueberries.

 And gently fold into the batter.

Spray your bundt pan with baking spray. The kind with the flour in it.

This was my mother's bundt pan, circa 1970-something, evidenced by the lovely orange color.

Spoon batter into pan.

Then smooth and gently press the batter with a spatula so it's even.

Bake 45-55 minutes. Always start with the minimum time and test your cake for doneness before adding more time. Test by inserting toothpick midway between the side of the pan and the center cylinder thing (it's a technical term).

Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes then invert onto wire rack to cool completely.

Once cooled, it's time to make the icing. For that, you will need:

• 2 TBS unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2-3 TBS milk

Whisk the first three ingredients and 2 tablespoons of the milk together in medium bowl. If icing is too stiff to drizzle, add a little more milk. You don't want it super thin, just thin enough to drizzle over cooled cake.

The bigger blobs you see are because the icing was too thick initially.

Look at those luscious blueberries.

Yum! I cannot wait to make this again. Perhaps this will help sustain us as we tackle the long list of chores that will need to be addressed once the book is turned in. Why is it that everything needs cleaning or sprucing up in the spring? Outside, flower beds need to be cleaned out, replanted and mulched. Cobwebs seem to be everywhere and they have got to go. Walkways need to be power-washed, windows need cleaning, both inside and out. Once that's taken care of, then it'll be time to address all those things I've neglected inside. We even have a bedroom we need to redo, but that's a post for another day.

What's lining up on your to-do list? 

Three time Carol Award finalist Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, one sassy pup, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at mindyobenhaus.com