New Blog...New Recipe - Rice Cooker Cake

I've decided to combine my love of food and trying new recipes with my desire to try out this whole "blog" thing. Thus, RecipeGirl's Adventures in Food (and Life) is born.

Anyway, last night I tried out a new recipe for a cake made using a Pampered Chef microwave rice cooker. I know, it sounds strange and I was skeptical at first, never having tried or even seen the finished product. The rice cooker was actually a gift from my in-laws (my sister-in-law sells Pampered Chef; thus, everyone received something from P.C. for Christmas - I got a rice cooker, my husband received a multi-purpose BBQ tool). After opening the gift, they all went on to tell me about this recipe and raved about how great the cakes turned out. Since my husband and I were having people over last night to watch the Cougar vs. UCLA basketball game on TV (and being that I have a multitude of cake mixes in the cupboard, but rarely make cakes) I decided to try this out. It's actually very simple. The recipe is as follows:

1 boxed cake mix (any flavor)
ingredients listed on box to make cake
1 container frosting

Empty boxed cake mix into rice cooker. Add ingredients listed on box to make cake and mix. Spoon entire container of frosting onto center of cake batter. Microwave on high for 10 minutes, then allow cake to sit for approximately 25 minutes before releasing lid. Release lid. Place plate, platter, etc. upside down over top of rice cooker and flip the plate and rice cooker over at same time so that plate is upright and rice cooker is upside down. Remove rice cooker from cake.

The great thing about this cake is that it's so quick and easy. The frosting makes the cake moist and also creates a glaze over the top. I made lemon cake with lemon frosting, but I've heard that the chocolate with chocolate is amazing (served warm or cold). Everybody loved the cake and I think I will definitely be making this again (I have to use up all those cake mixes somehow!). The only thing that was a little disappointing was the fact that the cake turned out a little lopsided; however, I kept the cake in the kitchen and served it in the living room so my guests never even saw anything but the slices...and the taste definitely made up for this rather minor flaw. One more plus in my book - the whole rice cooker can be put in the dishwasher!

Have fun experimenting with this one...I know I will!!!!