Chocolate-Orange-Guiness Cake

Cake Ingredients:

8 ounces butter, room temperature
8 ounces dark brown sugar
10 ounces self-raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
2 rounded Tablespoons Cocoa
Grated rind of 1 orange
4 Eggs
1/2 cup Guinness


Icing Ingredients:

4 ounces butter
8 ounces powdered sugar
Orange juice


Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375F.
Grease two 8 or 9-inch cake pans.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa into a bowl.
Add the orange rind to the creamed butter and beat in the eggs, one at a time, including a spoonful of the measured flour mixture with each one, and beating well between additions. Gently mix in the Guinness, a tablespoonful at a time, including another spoonful of flour with each addition.
If there's any flour left over, fold it in gently to mix;
Blend thoroughly without over-beating.
Divide the mixture between the tins, smooth down, and put the cakes into the center of the pre-heated oven.
Reduce the heat to moderate (350F) and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the cakes are springy to the touch and pulling slightly away from the sides of the pans.
Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, make the icing:
Cream the softened butter and powdered sugar together
Blend in enough orange juice to make an icing that is soft enough to spread.
Frost between layers and on top of the cakes once cooled.

Option - drizzle some Guiness on top of each cake layer, let it soak in a little bit, and then apply the frosting.

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Pistachio-Lime Shamrock Cookies, Nice and Green for St. Patrick's Day

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Ingredients:

Cookie Dough:
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon grated lime peel or half tsp lemon juice
1 cup finely chopped pistachios

Lime Frosting:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon grated lime peel or juice

Directions:

Cookies:
Cream butter and sugar;
Beat in egg.
Stir in flour and lime.
Mix in pistachios.
Refrigerate dough at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375F.
Roll out dough 1/4-inch thick;
Cut shapes with shamrock-shaped cookie cutter but circles are just fine.
Place cookies on ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Less for soft cookies, longer for harder cookies.
Cool completely before putting on the frosting - do outlines or cover entire top.
Option - sprinkle a little Jello powder on tops just before serving for an extra kick of citrus.

Lime Frosting:
Combine butter, powdered sugar, milk and lime in a medium bowl.
Mix until smooth.
Makes about 1/2 cup.
Option - Use green food coloring if you would like the icing to be deeper green.
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Irish Potatos - A Sweet, Delicious Confection for St. Patrick's Day

INGREDIENTS-
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1 TBSP ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS-
In a medium bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
Add the vanilla and powdered sugar; beat until smooth.
Using your hands if necessary, mix in the coconut.
Roll into 3 inch long potato shapes, and then roll in the cinnamon.
Place onto a cookie sheet and chill to set.
If desired, roll potatoes in cinnamon again for darker color
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