Simple Shortcut Recipes Cookbook Review and Giveaway Plus Strawberry-Coconut Pound Cake

*This giveaway is now closed - thanks to everyone who entered.  Click Here to see the winner*

Gooseberry Patch's Simple Shortcut Recipes
(Giveaway information is at the very bottom of this post)

This cookbook is awesome.  I knew it was going to be a keeper, before I even had a copy, just from browsing through the sneak peak pages that you can see on Amazon.  I have so many things flagged to try and each time I flip through the book, I find something else that sounds good(like the rabbit scones that I found just now - a carrot cake scone with a cream cheese glaze - yum).  I have already made four of the recipes with two more planned this week.  Each recipe in this book contains at least one ingredient that is a "shortcut" ingredient, such as crescent rolls, cake mixes, canned/frozen vegetables and store-bought roasted chicken.

Not only does this book have 225 simplified recipes, but it is full of fun tips on the bottom of each page and I love the pages of "Common Ingredient Substitutions" and "Common Herb and Spice Substitutions" in the back of the book, like what to use in place of half-and-half, whipping cream and cream cheese and how to make your own cake flour or self-rising flour.  I am always searching the web for both ingredient and spice substitutions.  Now, I can just pull out this book and have a whole list right in front of me.

   This Strawberry-Coconut Pound Cake was delicious and my house smelled amazing while it was baking, plus you gotta love that bright pink color!  It is dense and moist, yet it feels light while you are eating it.  I served it with some coconut flavored whipped cream and fresh blueberries.  

I can't wait to share with you some of the other great recipes I have tried out of this cookbook. Make sure to come back throughout the week to check them out!

Strawberry-Coconut Pound Cake

adapted from: Gooseberry Patch's Simple Shortcut Recipes
recipe submitted by: Janice Woods
(Printable Recipe)

1 (18.25 oz.) pkg. strawberry cake mix

1 (3.5 oz) pkg. instant coconut pudding mix

1 (3 oz.) pkg. strawberry gelatin mix

4 eggs, beaten

1 c. water

1/3 c. oil

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.  Pour batter into a greased and floured bundt pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake's center comes out clean.  Cool in pan for 20 minutes; invert onto cake plate.  Serve plain, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or with a dollop of whipped topping and some fresh fruit on the side.  Serves 12.

Finally, onto the Giveaway

Would you like a chance to win a free copy of this amazing cookbook?

How to Enter:

(Sorry - Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents Only)

• Mandatory Entry:  Leave me a comment letting me know what your favorite shortcut in the kitchen is!  

For additional entries:

(Leave me a separate comment for each one)

• Follow Eat Cake For Dinner via GFC, Facebook, Linky or E-mail (all are on the right hand side of my blog) 
• Follow Gooseberry Patch on Twitter  @gooseberrypatch
• Fan Gooseberry Patch on Facebook  www.facebook.com/gooseberrypatch
• Leave a comment on Gooseberry Patch's Blog gooseberrypatch.typepad.com

Giveaway will end Tuesday, May 22nd and I will announce the winner the next night!
**Winner must contact me within 72 hours or a new winner will be selected**

Gooseberry Patch provided me with a copy of this cookbook, but the opinions expressed here are my own.