Ris A L'Amande (Rice Pudding)

This is another tradition that has made it's way to our home from Denmark. Christmas dinner is not complete without the rice pudding! After the stuffing of our bellies and the loosening of a few belts from a well cooked Christmas dinner it's time for the Ris A L'amond! Before it is served one whole almond is presented before the family and dropped into the humongous bowl of rice pudding. It is gently stirred and carefully watched by hopeful eyes. As each bowl gets passed around the table it gets a thorough eye inspection from each person before it moves on. Who will find the almond this year?                                           We eat it slowly and examine it with our mouth to find that one almond worried that one of the younger kids will bite down on it by mistake. Mothers helping children, false findings. The anticipation! Oh but wait it is not as easy as you think because there are lots of chopped almonds in the pudding and some disguised as whole with just a sliver cut off. Eventually there is a finder of the coveted almond and they get a prize. All congratulates this year's winner and hopes to be the winner next year.

This year's winner is Justin!!

Snickers Birthday Cake

Danish Birthday Cake

My mother-in-law, Kirsten, brought a tradition with her from Denmark. For all her children's birthdays she celebrates with a Danish Birthday Cake. I have made it several times for my husband and children and this year I made it for my own birthday.

Here is my version of the recipe:

2 cakes mixes baked in 3-8 inch rounds according to directions.
After cakes have cooled cut each cake horizontally to make 6 rounds. Poke holes in the cakes and brush with a mixture of whole milk and almond extract. Get that cake wet! Not soggy.
Filling:
Strawberries
Strawberry Jam
1 Box of Vanilla Pudding
1 Large container of Cool Whip
Mix together strawberries and jam in one bowl.
Make pudding according to directions then fold in half of the cool whip.
Layer:
One cake round, pudding, strawberries, cake, pudding, strawberries, just keep going until the last cake is on.

Insert at least 3 skewers to hold in place then pull out a bunch of foil and fold it over to make it strong and wrap it around the cake to keep it from falling over. Don't let go!

Oh yea, clean out your fridge before you make this cake and take out a shelf or two to make room for it to sit overnight. I have had comments from some family members (Ross and Jim) that I didn't let my cake sit overnight and this is a must! The foil also helps keep little fingers out.

Before you get ready to serve it cover it with the rest of that cool whip and sprinkle with shaved chocolate. Simple enough? Trust me, mine is easier than my mother-in-law's.

Sorry with all the excitement the kids yanked out the candles and licked them before I got a picture.

Recipes will go here

Instead of clogging up my main page I will post recipes here.