Garden Patch Cake Recipes

GARDEN PATCH CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat oil, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; add to egg mixture and mix well. Stir in vegetables. Add chips and mix well. Pour into a greased and floured 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. , For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over cake. Store in refrigerator., Editor's Note: See below for decorating frosting recipe and directions., GARDEN PATCH CAKE DECORATING:, In a bowl, cream shortening, extracts and salt. Gradually beat in sugar alternately with milk until smooth and stiff. Cover with a wet paper towel and plastic wrap until ready to use., TO MAKE TRELLIS:, Lay 5 craft or Popsicle sticks on a sheet of waxed paper with 1/4 in between bottom of sticks (ends that are inserted into cake) and 1/2 in. between tops. Spread back side of remaining sticks with frosting; position across the 5 sticks 1 in. and 2 in. down from the top. Allow to dry, about 1 hour. Press bottom of sticks into upper left corner of cake., TO MAKE GARDEN PATCH:, Using a toothpick, mark a 5-1/2x3-1/2-in. patch in lower right corner. Lightly sprinkle with cocoa and gently press into cake., TO MAKE VEGETABLES AND BORDER:, Cut a small hole in corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert #10 round tip. Combine 1/4 cup frosting and red food coloring; fill bag. Holding bag straight up and down, form 8-10 tomatoes in front of the trellis. Prepare another bag, inserting #5 round tip. Combine 1/2 cup frosting and yellow food coloring; fill bag. Using the same procedure, form rows of small dots to create kernel of 8-10 ears of corn in upper right corner. Wash #10 tip and insert into a third bag. Combine 1/2 cup frosting and orange food coloring; fill bag. Using the same procedure, form 3 rows of 4 carrots on the garden patch. Add green food coloring to remaining frosting. Prepare a fourth bag, inserting leaf tip; fill with some of the frosting. Form husks on edges of ears of corn; add stems and leaves to tomatoes and carrots. Add vines to trellis. Prepare a fifth bag, inserting the star tip; fill with remaining green frosting. Form a border around base and upper edge of cake.

GARDEN PATCH CAKE

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat oil, eggs, sugar and vanilla.
• Combine dry ingredients; add to egg mixture and mix well.
• Stir in vegetables.
• Add chocolate chips and mix well.
• Pour into a greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan.
• Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes or test done.
• For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy.
• Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth.
• Spread over cooled cake.
• Store in the refrigerator.

SPRING GARDEN CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare carrot and zucchini cakes as directed, and cool to room temperature. If necessary, use a serrated knife to trim cake tops level. Each cake should be about 1 1/4 inches high.
• Prepare cream cheese frosting. Place zucchini cake on a 10-inch cake round, and spread top of cake with 1 1/4 cups cream cheese frosting. Place a carrot cake on top of the frosted zucchini cake. Chill until icing is set, about 15 minutes. Ice entire cake with remaining frosting. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes. This can be done up to 1 day in advance.
• Sprinkle top of cake with 1/2 cup cookie crumbs, leaving a 1/4-inch border around perimeter of cake. Using a paring knife, lightly mark cake top, dividing into quarters or four "plots." Rake the plots with the tines of a fork. Place green sprinkles on the perimeter of cake. Arrange marzipan fruits and vegetables on the plots. Carefully press pastillage fence posts onto the side of the cake, about 1/4 inch apart, and place candy pebbles around the base of the fence. Serve cake at room temperature.

GARDEN PATCH SAUTé

Steps:

• Heat oil in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook zucchini, yellow squash and mushrooms in oil 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are crisp-tender.
• Stir in tomatoes. Sprinkle vegetables with chives and garlic salt. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, just until tomatoes begin to soften.

GARDEN PATCH STEW

Steps:

• Melt margarine in 4-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook onion and carrots in margarine, stirring occasionally, until onions are tender.
• Stir in broth and rice. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.
• Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer 10 to 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.