My sister-n-law (SIL, as we both sign our emails) is like the ultimate hostess.  She is always timely with her invitations into her always crisp, clean, smelling-good home and serving menus that are always perfect and varied.

She has always made it easy on my husband (her brother) and me as we buzzed in and out of town for family functions.  But, since we have moved to Atlanta, I feel like it’s time that I ante up—maybe put forth, at least, a little effort—maybe make a cake!  Yup, that’s what I’ll do, I’ll bake a cake.

And today, during her birthday lunch, I told her just that.  It went something like this:

SIL:  Hey, I want everyone to come over my house for Easter lunch.

Me: I’ll only come if I can bring something.

SIL: (spoken in an authentic and sincere southern drawl) Noooooo….don’t be ridiculous….

Me: Nope, I’m putting my foot down.  If I can’t bring something, I won’t come. (I felt so tough.)

SIL: Of course you’re not bringing anything. (She waved me away with her lily white southern hand.) Just come.

Me:  Ya’ll are gonna believe me when I don’t show up!!  Cause if I can’t bring anything, I’m not coming.

SIL: OK, bring the pound cake.  My pound cake never turns out. (Not true.)

NOTE, that it is not a pound cake but, the pound cake.  The Dilbeck’s have their own pound cake recipe that, early on, I figured out how to master. (Yes, I said ‘master.’  Little old ladies have asked me what my secret is.)  I even have the rest of the women in the family snookered into believing that I can make it better than them.  I have cosmic brainwashing powers that obviously work.  But I digress…

Back to conversation.

Me: (SMH) Nope, no pound cake.  Have you ever seen a tie dye cake? (Not waiting for answer) I’ll bring a tie dye cake…IT IS WONDERFUL!!

I went into a detailed description of how to make one, but no one really cared at that point.  After all, there was real-time food right in front of us. So, I’ve decided to share this wonderful recipe with my 12 subscribers.

Tie Dye Cake

2 boxes of Duncan Hines WHITE cake mix

4-pk food coloring (I like the neon’s the best)

2 containers WHITE frosting (you know, the lazy kind in the paper cans)

Colored sprinkles (Optional)

Directions:

• Grease and flour four round cake pans
• Prepare cake mixes according to cake mix directions.  (Oh, you may need eggs…)
• Separate prepared mix into four medium sized bowls.
• Add ½ bottle (give or take) of each dye into one of the four bowls of the divided mix.
• Alternately spoon colored mixes into the prepared pans (note photos)
• Slip knife through mix in circles or zig zag motion.  Don’t over do this part.
• Bake according to instructions on box (either of the two boxes instructions will do…)
• Let cool 10 minutes and remove from pan.
• Cool till cool.  Soon it’ll be even cooler.  Get it??
• Frost with white frosting. Colored sprinkles permissible. (This adds to the anticipation of the presentation!)
• Take to your sister-in-law’s house for Easter!

PS Happy “and holding”

 Birthday, Susan! 

You’re the best!

 

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