Denise's Poppy Seed Cake

Carrying on with recipes from my friend Lauren's family, I'm sharing her mom Denise's Poppy Seed Cake recipe.  Lauren and I met during our first week as freshman at Texas A&M University and we've pretty much never been apart since, building what is now a wonderful friendship with lots of stories to tell - many of which I can't tell my mother.  Over the past 13 years that I've known Lauren and her family, I've never had anything Denise made that I didn't love.  My very favorite thing she makes is her potato salad.  But, this cake comes in a close second and is good pretty much anytime of day - including for breakfast!

Denise's Poppy Seed Cake

1 box Duncan Hines Butter Recipe Golden Cake mix
1/2 cup sugar (baking Splenda works also)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 8oz. container sour cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
3 tbsp. poppy seeds

Mix well the cake mix, sugar, oil, sour cream, and vanilla.  Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until batter is smooth.  Fold in poppy seeds.  Pour into a well greased (Crisco) and sugared Bundt pan.  (The sugared Bundt pan makes all the difference.)  Bake at 450 degrees for 45 minutes.  Allow to cool a few minutes before removing from the pan.  You can sprinkle powdered sugar on the top for fun.

Howie's Jalapeno Dip

Some of our very best friends, Lauren and Josh, are also our daughters' Godparents.  We try to get together with them often and that sometimes includes Lauren's family as well, who we consider our family.  We love spending time with them because they are true friends...friends that you can really be yourself around.  We love getting together to cook and hang out at Lauren and Josh's pool.  Last weekend, we enjoyed some Aggie football and fajitas together.  Lauren's dad, Howard, made a dip that was so good, a second batch had to be made because the first one was gone so fast.  It's super easy and so good with Fritos Scoops!

Howie's Jalapeno Dip

Two to Three days ahead of time - drain the juice off a glass jar of jalapenos.  Layer the jalapenos back into the jar with sugar.  Put a layer of jalapenos, a sprinkling of sugar to coat them, and repeat until the jar is full.  For two days, leave the jar on the counter and turn it back and forth until the sugar is completely dissolved.

To make the dip -
Let 2 blocks of cream cheese come to room temperature.  Whip the cream cheese with an electric mixer.  Add approximately 1/8 cup of the sugared jalapenos, chopped and mix well.  Howard likes to chop his in the food processor.  Add some juice from the jar until you get to the taste and texture that you want.  Put back in the fridge until ready to serve.