Dinner with the Parents

My parents are going to Washington, DC for the weekend to see the monuments. So I rationalized that if they came for dinner on Thursday night they wouldn't have to worry about any leftovers sitting in the fridge for the weekend. What to make, what to make??? WAIT!! Last Friday we made homemade lasagna. This is the perfect opportunity to share it.

Dinner Thursday night:
Lasagna
Homemade Garlic Bread (Artisan Breads in 5 minutes a Day)
Tres Leches Cake (recipe from Southern Cakes, slightly modified)

I've never made Tres Leches Cake but it sure turned out to be easy. I didn't have all the ingredients that it called for like I thought I did, but the simple changes I made don't seem to have affected the flavor and texture. Oh, I didn't have the size pan it called for either so I made two small ones. Yes, we cut the one tonight and had it as a snack. But come on, did you really expect me not to sample what I made BEFORE I served my mom and dad?

Okay, here goes the recipe for Tres Leches Cake

3 cups flour
1 tblsp. plus 1 tsp.baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup milk (I didn't have regular milk, so I used goat's milk)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla, optional (I used the stuff that I made with rum)

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees, grease and flour a 9x12 inch pan.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour and baking powder, set aside.

In a large bowl, combine butter and sugar. Beat well with a mixer on high speed until well combined. Add eggs one at a time until completely combined. Add vanilla.

In rotation, add flour and then the milk. Beat well until well combined and batter is smooth.

Pour well beaten batter into pan and spread evenly. Bake approximately 35 minutes or until golden brown and cake springs back when touched.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, gently poke holes in the cake with either a fork or toothpicks and sprinkle the lime zest over the cake, then ladle Three-Milk Sauce over cake in steps allowing the sauce to soak into the cake before adding more. It is possible that you will not need all of the sauce.

While the cake is baking, prepare Three-Milk Sauce.

Three-Milk Sauce
1 1/2 cups milk (again, I used goat's milk)
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
One 12 ounce can evaporated milk *(I didn't have this either, so I used a canned coconut milk)
1 tblsp. lime zest (optional, I didn't use it, you'd understand why if you saw the limes on my counter...lol)

In a heavy bottomed pot, combine all ingredients except zest. Cook on medium heat till all is combined and a sauce consistency is achieved. Do not allow this to boil.

*I think this took a little longer than average because the coconut milk has a section of thick white coconut like butter in the top of the can and then liquid in the bottom. The buttery type stuff takes a little while to melt and incorporate into the rest of the mixture.

I can't wait till dinner tomorrow night. I think I might pick up some chocolate ice cream to go with the cake. No, we don't need it, but come on, what's a dinner part without cake and ice cream. No that is not just a birthday party. Do not judge me :O).

Come back tomorrow...my friend Nanette is visiting from Phoenix on Friday and I'm making lunch. Roasted Red Pepper Chicken Parmigiana, roasted rosemary potatoes and a vegetable yet to be determined :O).

hugs,
dina