Raspberry Upside Down Cake

Are you ready for an amazing recipe that is super easy to make and will wow your guests with your Martha-ness?

This oh-so-yummy Raspberry Upside Down Cake recipe comes from the yet-to-be released  101 Hearty Recipes from Gooseberry Patch!

I received this book for free from my friends at the Patch and thanks to you, we made this delicious cake in no time flat!;)

You start our with a half a stick of butter... aren't these little half sticks adorable --not to mention handy?!?

Now melt it up and pour it into a  9-Inch Round Cake Pan.

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Add to that 1/4 cup of sugar

Now place 1 1/2 cups of raspberries open side up down into your mixture.

Now sprinkle on 2 T of sliced almonds... Mmmm... almonds. I heart almonds!

Meanwhile in a bowl near you, mix up 1 1/2 cups Bisquick

1/2 cup of milk

2 T of oil

1/2 cup of Sugar

1/2 t each of almond extract and vanilla extract along with one beaten egg.

Now mix 'er up with a mixer for about 4 minutes and pour batter over the berries

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until it passes the toothpick test.

Now place your cake plate over top of the pan

And flip... but leave the cake pan in place.

After about a minute... waiting for all that ooey gooey sugar to fall right into place, remove the pan and check out the magic

Now, garnish by sprinkling on a few fresh raspberries and sliced almonds.

Magnificent!

Warning, this photo has been known to make some readers lick the screen or so I am told ;)

Want a piece?

Enjoy!

Psst... don't forget to enter to win 101 Hearty Recipes BEFORE you can buy it! And, stay tuned for more yummy recipes coming this week!

Links featured on GOODEness Gracious are often affiliate links. GG often receives products for free to review. GG opinions are however very much Cris' own. Just try to get her to say something she doesn't believe in... dare ya ;) If you have any questions about the products or recommendations found on this blog, just pop us an email :)

101 Hearty Recipes- Review & Giveaway

Dear Reader-

I am really excited to share with you this next batch of recipes from the brand new 101 Hearty Recipes that Gooseberry Patch gave me to peruse and review as one of their Early Bird reviewers... 

Yeah, it's a tough job ;) But somebody's gotta do it...

You might recall that I asked your help in choosing from this delightful little book when trying to choose what to make. 

Truth be told, I review A LOT of GP cookbooks, and ya know I don't like to play favorites, but I have to tell you, this one had me torn on what to feature. I love the 101 series because of all of the pictures, and I gots to tell you that this particular one had LOTS of pictures that were a callin' me and my homestyle kitchen's name. 

You guys--as always-- came through for me! 125 of you voted and as a result you helped me pick four fantastic recipes that I whipped up this weekend along with two others that I just HAD to make... just sayin' 

First up, in the Fun & Filling section you guys chose Nacho Chicken Dip or as we kid 'round here "Not Yo Chicken Dip"... 

It is so good we want it all to ourselves. This yummy treat will be perfect for pitch-ins, get-togethers and parties. It is super quick to make and very yummy and filling.

Also from the Fun & Filling section, Miss Add and I couldn't pass up these fun "Sandwich Pops" or Sandwich on a Stick as the cookbook likes to call them. They are so versatile for those picky eaters and can be customized with all kinds of fun seasonal flavors.

Now before we go any further my family would like to thank you for choosing Farmhouse Chicken Bake from Speedy & Satisfying. 

This dish is AMAZING! We love it. You MUST try this recipe. (Coming this week)

Dude, Miss Add ate peas and so did her Daddy... just sayin'

Also from the Speedy & Satisfying section, Fancy Crescent Chicken is another Home Run. I am sooo going to wow some folks with this at some point. YUMMM-O!

In the Casual & Comforting section you guys voted for a mushroom lovers dream, White Lasagna. This yummy dish is chock full of delicious 'shrooms.

And last, but CERTAINLY not least, this Raspberry Upside Down Cake from the Baked & Buttery section blows any version of pineapple upside down cake out of the water. 

This cake's bright flavors literally pop in your mouth... and it has almonds and almond extract in it and we all know how I LOVE those flavors ;)

Now that I have given you a sneak peek into what is in store for you later this week... I am so excited to offer you a chance to win this great cookbook BEFORE you can buy it in stores thanks to Gooseberry Patch!

You are going to have LOTS of ways to enter to win. You don't have to use them all, just do the ones you want. Just make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. 

1. Follow GOODEness Gracious through Google Friend Connect (GFC) (right sidebar)

2. Comment here and tell us one thing you'd love to see featured on GOODEness Gracious

3. Follow @crisgoode on Twitter

4. Subscribe to us via email (right sidebar)

5. Subscribe to our feed (right sidebar)

6. Check out Real Farmwives of America and follow through GFC 

7. Go to RealFarmwives.com and tell me which farmwife (or friend) you'd love to hang out with

8. Follow @realfarmwives on Twitter

9. Go to GooseberryPatch.com and come back and tell us which book you'd just LOVE to own.

10. Comment on Gooseberry Patch's Blog and tell them Cris sent you.

11. Follow @gooseberrypatch on Twitter

12. Tweet about this contest and include @crisgoode and @gooseberrypatch in your tweet

Note: We recently learned that Facebook rules prohibit contest entries to involve Facebook activity and we don't want to go to Facebook jail, so we can't have that as entries... so we came up with a few extra entries. 

Now that doesn't mean that we wouldn't love for ya 'all to stop over and say "hi" at the GOODEness Gracious Facebook Community, Gooseberry Patch Facebook Community and the Real Farmwives Facebook Community... just sayin'.

GOODe Luck!

Contest ends 7/28. Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize. If you do not leave your email address we will not be able to contact you and you will be responsible to contact us after the public announcement. Winner's prize will not be shipped outside of the Continental U.S.

Links featured on GOODEness Gracious are often affiliate links. GG often receives products for free to review. GG opinions are however very much Cris' own. Just try to get her to say something she doesn't believe in... dare ya ;) If you have any questions about the products or recommendations found on this blog, just pop us an email :)

Cedar Plank Lime Tilapia

Looking for something yummy for the grill?

How about some Cedar Plank Lime Tilapia?

Sounds fancy, but it is super easy... promise ;)

First you start out by soaking your cedar planks in water. It would be best to soak them over night, but truth be told I didn't have time for that so I settled for a couple hours.

You can pick up cedar planks at Walmart in the grilling section.

Once they are GOODe and soaked, spray them with oil, place your fillets on the planks and pour the juice of one lime over the top of the fillets.

And sprinkle them liberally with Lawry's Seasoning Salt.

Grill 'em up for about 20 minutes until the are cooked through and flake easily.

Yum!

Enjoy!

Connecting. Sharing. Learning. Growing.

Most of you know that about a year and a half ago I left my job and started my own business where I do a lot of freelance writing, speaking engagements, facilitation, and consulting. I also do quite a bit of hands on training with beginners in social media  and specifically bloggers to help provide them the tools to get started creating their own voice out there. In addition, networking with others in the bloggy and social media worlds that I can learn so much from is also an essential part of my dream job.

It is no secret that I adore these platforms that I work with everyday because I know that they give folks a place to have a voice to share their opinions, thoughts, expertise and experiences on an endless menu of topics ranging from the best ever Pot Roast (really it is...just sayin') to tutorials on how to how to make your own laundry soap to sharing and connecting through experiences that make us who we are...

One of the greatest personal benefits I have had is the enjoyment of getting to know a group of gals I have worked with for years even better. My fellow farm gals and I have enjoyed getting to know each other and supporting one another through our joint project over at the Real Farmwives of America and Friends. These ladies truly are the face of today's agriculture. They are the people that are working hard every day to make sure that when you stop by Walmart, that there are pork chops, bacon (mmm...bacon), milk, yogurt and ice cream waiting for you.

I often think someone should just pinch me... I get to work in a field that I love with a group of people that understand my roots so well. How does it get any better?

Those of you that know me IRL (In Real Life) may know that early in my career I was a Career Advocate or Job Coach working with people with disabilities for several years.

And, if you have found yourself in a conversation with me about that time in my life, you know that I count it as one of the most rewarding times in my career. I enjoyed so much assisting people to find and maintain employment that fit their passions and interests and not to just fill their pocketbooks.

Blog coaching and job coaching are similar in that if you just give folks the tools they need in an open environment of support, the sky is the limit to what they can achieve. I so enjoy sitting on the sidelines and watching folks discover their voice and passion... that is my passion.

That is why I am so excited to share that I will soon not only continue to work with my farm gals, but I will also start working with people with disabilities and their families to learn how to start their own blogs.

If you would like to see my guest post about Connecting in a Disconnected World over at The Arc of Indiana, click here.

____________________

If you know Indiana mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, etc. of people with I/DD and self-advocates who you think may be interested in blogging, please feel free to pass along the following information.

If you are interested in learning more about the basics of blogging or if you are a current blogger and would like to connect with others that share your interests, The Arc of Indiana will be holding two workshops that might be of interest to you.

Blogging Basics on September 26 from 9 AM to 3:30 PM will be a very basic class for beginners who want to get started on creating their own blogs.

On October 4 from 9 AM to 3:30 PM we will hold a Blogger Networking Workshop for existing bloggers who seek to connect with others.

Both workshops will be held at The Arc of Indiana, 107 N. Pennsylvania St., Suite 800, Indianapolis.  There is no charge to attend but registration is necessary. 

If you or someone you know is interested in blogging or connecting with other bloggers, please register here.

Lime Orzo Salad

Dear Reader-

We have found another summer flavor-filled dish that we just love!

We found a recipe for Lemony Orzo Salad in Summer in the Country...

Now truth be told I was out of lemons, so we converted this Lemony Orzo Salad to Lime Orzo Salad... I would have called it Limey Orzo salad... but that just sounds to much like Slimy Orzo Salad... which just sounds gross and does not do this yummy dish justice... just sayin'

Anyhoo... cook up your pasta... you know me... I whipped out my handy dandy Rice Cooker ( which is just a  larger Micro Cooker at my house ;)).

Wash up your spinach.

Tear up your spinach into bite size pieces.

Drain your pasta and then place it on top of your spinach.

Now cover until your spinach wilts.

Meanwhile... in a bowl near you, combine 1/4 Cup Olive Oil

1/2 Cup of Lime (or Lemon) Juice

2 T each of Onion and Garlic Powder

1 t of Salt, Pepper and Dried Parsley (Psst... I forgot the parsley...)

Mix 'er up

Now stir the mixture in with the pasta and spinach.

Add in a 2 oz can of olives

And 1 Cup of Chopped Tomatoes

Mix it up...

Now you can eat it warm or cold... your choice!

Enjoy!

Links featured on GOODEness Gracious are often affiliate links. GG often receives products for free to review. GG opinions are however very much Cris' own. Just try to get her to say something she doesn't believe in... dare ya ;) If you have any questions about the products or recommendations found on this blog, just pop us an email :)


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