Sylvias Fruitcake Recipes

SYLVIA'S BIRTHDAY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch round cake pan.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt. Make a well in the center and add eggs, vanilla, oil and water. Mix until smooth. Pour batter into 10 inch round cake pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Allow to cool before frosting.

FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Chop 1st four ingriedients.
• Mix eggs & sugar.
• mix flour with spices and baking powder.
• Layer cherries, sprinkle flour mixture, layer pecan.
• Layer pinapple, sprinkle flour mixture, layer pecans.
• Layer dates, sprinkle flour mixture layer pecans.
• Repeat layers till all used up.
• Pour egg and sugar mixture over fruit and nuts, mix well by hand.
• Line pans that are used with wax paper and packed with mixture and put in a 225* oven and bake till toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Let cool and pull wax paper off.
• Wrap cake in Saran Wrap.
• May put 1/2 cherries and whold pecans on top to decorate.

SYLVIA'S FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Grease the bottom and sides of an eight-cup souffle dish or a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan. Line with brown paper; grease the paper.
• Combine the walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, dates, apricots, prunes, candied fruits, raisins and cherries in a large bowl. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt over the nuts and fruits. Toss lightly until well coated.
• Beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla in a medium-size bowl with an electric mixer until the mixture is fluffy and light. Pour over the nut mixture. Stir gently to combine.
• Fill the prepared dish or pan, pressing the cake mixture firmly. Bake at 275 degrees for about two hours. (If the top is browning too quickly, cover with buttered foil.)
• Remove the cake to a wire rack. Spoon one-quarter cup of brandy over the cake. Let stand one hour. Invert the cake and peel off the paper. Turn it right side up and let it stand on the wire rack until it is completely cooled. Place the wire rack in a shallow pan and spoon the remaining one-half cup of brandy over the cake.
• To store, wrap the cake in cheesecloth that has been soaked in brandy. Wrap in heavy-duty aluminum foil or store in tightly covered container.

SYLVIA'S WORLD FAMOUS TALKED ABOUT SPARERIBS

Steps:

• Rub salt, black pepper, and red pepper into ribs. Place in deep baking dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Pour vinegar over the ribs and bake 1 1/2 hours. Rotate ribs 2 or 3 times during cooking.
• Remove ribs from baking dish and place in a single layer on baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
• Cut slabs between bones into individual ribs and place in a baking dish. Spoon sauce over them to coat lightly. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake until heated through- about 20 minutes. Serve with original sauce on the side.

SYLVIA'S RED VELVET CAKE

Steps:

• For the Cake:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans. In a medium bowl or on a piece of waxed paper, sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk. Beat in food coloring and vinegar, then add vanilla. Spread the batter evenly in the pans.
• Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Turn out onto a rack to cool.
• For the Frosting:
• In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and butter. Beat in confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Stir in pecans. Use frosting to fill and ice cake.
• Slice and serve on individual plates.

SYLVIA'S PERFECT PIE CRUST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, with a pastry cutter, gradually work the Crisco into the flour for about 3 or 4 minutes until it resembles a coarse meal. In a small bowl, beat an egg with a fork and then pour it into the flour/shortening mixture. Add 5 tablespoons of cold water, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir together gently until all of the ingredients are incorporated.
• Separate the dough into thirds. ***Note: Separating it into thirds will result in three thin crusts. If you prefer a more substantial crust, separate it in half.*** Form 3 evenly sized balls of dough and place each dough into a large Ziploc bag. Using a rolling pin, slightly flatten each ball of dough (about ½ inch thick) to make rolling easier later. Seal the bags and place them in the freezer until you need them. (If you will be using it immediately it's still a good idea to put in the freezer for about 15 to 20 minutes to chill.).
• When you are ready to use the dough to make a crust, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw for 15 minutes. On a floured surface roll the dough, starting at the center and working your way out. (Sprinkle some flour over top of the dough if it's a bit too moist.) If the dough is sticking to the countertop use a metal spatula and carefully scrape it up and flip it over and continue rolling until it's about ½ inch larger in diameter than your pie pan.
• With a spatula, lift the dough carefully from the surface of the counter into the pie pan. Gently press the dough against the corner of the pan. Go around the pie pan pinching and tucking the dough to make a clean edge.

SYLVIA'S RIBS

Steps:

• Place the ribs in a large stock pot with enough water to cover. Bring the water to a boil and cook over medium-high heat for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In medium saucepan, combine ketchup, barbeque sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, steak sauce and garlic; blend well. Cook the sauce over medium heat for approximately 20 minutes. (Please note that the above ingredients are all to taste. Use more or less of anything you like. I never make the ribs the same way twice!)
• Cut the ribs between the bones and place in a baking pan. Pour sauce over ribs, cover and cook for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue cooking for an additional 30 minutes.