Strawberry Poke Cake

DD has a birthday this week and so, for a special occasion, I grant her something a little different. :)

*STRAWBERRY 7-UP POKE CAKE*

Cake:
1 box strawberry or white cake mix
3 large eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup cold water
1 cup carbonated 7-Up soda drink

Topping:
1 (3 oz) box strawberry flavor gelatin
3/4 cup boiling water
2 tbsp sugar (or to taste or you may omit)
3/4 cup very cold water
3-4 cups fresh sliced ripe strawberries (or as needed to cover the cake)
Frozen Whipped topping, thawed (you may use as much as you like)
Strawberry fans for garnish

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

In a bowl, combine all the cake ingredients on low speed beat for 1 minute, then increase to medium-high and continue beating until very smooth (about 3 minutes) transfer to prepared baking pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the cake tests done. Cool completely.

For the topping; dissolve the gelatin in boiling water with the sugar and mix until no granules remain. Add in the cold water; mix well.

Using a straw, poke holes all over the top of the cake about 1-inch apart. Drizzle the jello mixture evenly over the top of the cake. Lay the strawberry slices evenly over the top. Refrigerate for 2 or more hours. Before serving top with whipped topping and strawberries. Refrigerate any leftovers.

I cannot find it!!

Someone has asked for my recipe for my strawberry tofu pie. I have looked and looked through here and I even added a search engine to try to find it. Nope. No luck. It's at the original Veggie-Bistro cookbook site, but I guess it never migrated over here. And so... I post it ... again. I think :) The texture is more like custard than pudding and if you don't tell people what they're eating, they'll never know it's tofu. Top it with Cool Whip and it's even better, but I digress. :) Someone told me once that it's not really vegan because it uses gelatin. My response to that is yes, it can too be vegan. I've been to the health food store enough to know there is a vegan gelatin alternative. Use the vegan alternative and fresh strawberry juice for color and flavor and viola!! Perfection in a pan. Also, just to kick it up to something amazing, try adding in the zest and juice of 2 limes. Oh my goodness is that good! The sweetness of the berries with the contrast of the tang and tart of the lime.... OH! DD 2 doesn't like it as a pie; she eats it in a cup as a custard.

Ok Ok... enough chatter. Here's the goods. Enjoy! :)



Strawberry Custard Pie

1 graham cracker crust
1 medium banana, broken into chunks
1 box silken lite tofu
1 box strawberry gelatin, or vegan alternative if you prefer.
1 cup HOT water

Dissolve gelatin into the hot water and set aside. While that sets, blend together the tofu and the banana until the texture is smooth and creamy. Then add in the gelatin mixture to the blended tofu and whiz again. Blend it thoroughly, then pour into the ready and waiting crust. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. It is delicious and light and good for you. Who can beat that?