Skinny Mountain Dew Cake with Whipped Topping and Strawberries

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I am not even kidding when I say this cake is so DANG good!

It could quite possibly be one of the lightest cakes I have ever eaten.  If you served this cake to someone, they would have no clue it's a skinny cake.

There are only FOUR total ingredients - A cake mix, a can of soda, light whipped topping and strawberries.  That's it.

The cake is made with a cake mix and a can of soda.  No oil and no eggs, just soda.  It creates the softest, lightest cake and I am blown away by the result.

I love Diet Mountain Dew and that is what I used, but you can't actually taste the soda in the finished cake.  If you are against diet sodas, regular works great too.  Or if you don't drink caffeine,  Sprite is another great option.

This is the perfect light cake for Summer and think of all the different versions you can make by switching up the flavor of cake mix and soda.  You will be seeing more versions of this on Eat Cake For Dinner, so be prepared :)  

Skinny Mountain Dew Cake

From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

1 (15.25 oz.) yellow cake mix

1 (12 oz.) can Diet Mountain Dew, room temperature 

1 (8 oz.) container light whipped topping, thawed

16 oz. strawberries, hulled and chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13-inch cake pan; set aside.  In a large bowl, combine the cake mix and can of soda.  The soda will foam up a bit.  Whisk together until just combined.  Do not overmix.  Pour into cake pan and spread out evenly.  Bake for 30 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool completely.  Serve with whipped topping and chopped strawberries.  

Jenn's Notes:  The cake is so soft and it cuts cleanest when using a serrated knife.  Regular soda can be substituted for diet or a different flavor can be substituted for Mountain Dew.  I have also tried this cake with vanilla frosting and the whipped topping is a much better option for this light cake. 

Linked up at Weekend Potluck! and Strut Your Stuff Saturday! and Saturday Night Fever!

Weekly Menu Planning Saturday #10

SUNDAY
Chicken, Bacon, Ham, Asparagus and Cheddar Pasta with Easy and Fabulous Focaccia Bread
You can also add spinach to this dish and use the leftover for the Chicken Florentine Red Pepper Sandwiches.

Easy Fabulous Focaccia Bread

MONDAY

Meatball Gyros

TUESDAY
Ground Turkey Tacos
Top with extra lettuce and tomatoes from the Meatball Gyros

WEDNESDAY
Chicken Florentine Red Pepper Sandwiches

THURSDAY
Fluffy Cornmeal Pancakes

FRIDAY
Mexi-Chicken

SATURDAY
Menu-Plan Day and Take-Out Night


FOR DESSERT
Reese's S'more Magic Layer Bars

Mrs. Sigg's Snickerdoodles

My neighbor made the best Snickerdoodles I have ever had.  They were so soft and had so much flavor.  Months went by and she moved away.  I talked to her the other night and finally remembered to ask her about them.

All she remembered is the recipe came from All Recipes and she thinks they had shortening in them, which was interesting to me, because I remember them tasting buttery.  She also said that she didn't have cream of tartar on hand, so she left it out.  So, I searched Snickerdoodles and they have 25 recipes.  Guess, I better get working on that :)  First, I picked the recipe with the highest reviews.

The outside is crisp and the centers are soft and chewy.  These are a delicious snickerdoodle, but not my neighbors recipe.  Cross one off the list, 24 more to go.  

Mrs. Sigg's Snickerdoodles

adapted from: All Recipes
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. shortening

1 1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs 

2 tsp. vanilla

2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

4 Tbl. sugar

4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cream together butter, shortening and sugar.  Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.  In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt and add to creamed mixture.  Mix until combined.  In a small dish, stir together 4 Tablespoons sugar and 4 teaspoons cinnamon.  

Form dough into 1 1/2'' balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture.  Place on a lightly greased baking sheet.  Bake for 7 minutes.  Remove immediately from baking sheet and cool on wire rack.  Makes around 4 1/2 - 5 dozen cookies.  

Linked up at Saturday Night Fever and Weekend Potluck!

Crispy Cheddar Baked Fries

With Summer coming, I will be eating a lot more grilled burgers and grilled chicken and I'm always looking for delicious side dishes.

Baked fries are always a crowd favorite and these turned out so yummy.

The outside has a nice crunch and the inside is so soft and tender.

Serve with Ranch dressing.

Potatoes, Cheese and Ranch.  Does it get much better?

You might also like:

Spicy Baked Chili Fries

Oven Baked Steak Fries
Roasted Ranch Veggies

Grilled Ham and Pimento Cheese Burgers

Smokey Mesquite BBQ Bacon Burgers

Crispy Cheddar Baked Fries
adapted from: Simply Gloria
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

6 medium red potatoes, scrubbed,
   leave skin on and cut off the bad parts
2-3 Tbl. olive oil
1/2 c. Panko bread crumbs
3/4 c. grated Cheddar cheese
salt and pepper
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 Tbl. Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cut potatoes into wedges and put in a large bowl.  Drizzle the olive oil over the top of the potatoes and toss to coat.  All of the potatoes should be evenly coated, if not, add a little more oil.  Add the remaining ingredients and stir together until all the wedges are coated.  Pour onto a greased baking sheet.  I find a dark baking sheet works best to get a crispy fry.  A lot of the coating might fall off when poured onto the baking sheet.  Scoop it up and press it onto the wedges.  Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown and potatoes are tender.  Cool for a few minutes before serving.  Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.  Makes 3-4 servings.  

Linked up at Saturday Night Fever and Weekend Potluck!

Weekly Menu Planning Saturday #9

SUNDAY

Aussie Chicken with Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Potatoes

Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Potatoes

MONDAY

Chicken Caesar Pita Pockets

TUESDAY

Easy Weeknight Chicken Tacos

WEDNESDAY
Pioneer Woman's Frito Chili Pie

THURSDAY

Mediterranean Turkey Panini

FRIDAY

Easier Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta

SATURDAY
Menu-Plan Day and Take-Out Night


FOR DESSERT (Mother's Day)
Super Easy Microwave Rocky Road Fudge

Grilled Ham and Pimento Cheese Burgers

Do you remember when I posted a recipe for Bobby Deen's Lighter and Leaner Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwiches?  Well, I LOVE that sandwich and I eat it often.  Last time I made them, I had some pimento cheese leftover and there was NO WAY I was going to throw that goodness away.

Fast forward to the next night when we were making hamburgers for dinner.  I had this idea of topping my burger with the leftover pimento cheese instead of regular cheese.  Then, I thought about how good ham and cheese are together, so I threw some of that on there too.  That is how this Grilled Ham and Pimento Cheese Burger was created.

I have eaten it a few times and you can never have too much of that pimento cheese.  I know it sounds strange, but don't be afraid of it.

This, my friends, is a GOOD burger.

Grilled Ham and Pimento Cheese Burgers 

From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

3/4 lb. ground beef

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp. Johnny's Garlic Seasoning (or garlic powder)

1/2 tsp. Mrs. Dash Original (yellow lid)

salt and pepper

1 Tbl. ketchup

1/2 tsp. hot sauce

1 tsp. Worcestershire

1 Tbl. chopped green onions

3/4 Lb. thinly sliced deli ham

1 batch Lighter and Leaner Pimento Cheese 

4 hamburger buns, toasted

Combine ground beef, Italian seasoning, Johnny's Garlic Seasoning, Mrs. Dash, salt, pepper, ketchup, hot sauce, Worcestershire and chopped green onions and mix together until combined.  Divide into four even portions and form into patties.  Grill on the George Foreman until done.  Grill the ham on the George Foreman for a minute until it's warmed through and you have a few grill marks.  Top each bun with grilled ham, a cooked hamburger and pimento cheese.  Makes 4 hamburgers. 

Linked up at Saturday Night Fever 

Serve with:

Crispy Cheddar Baked Fries

Roasted Red Pepper and Cilantro Lime Rice

This was a make up as you go recipe that turned out so so GOOD!  I was starting to get a little burned out on Mexican rice.  I eat Mexican food about once a week and serving the same old rice was getting old fast.    

I buy my roasted red peppers at Costco.  You get a huge jar full of what seems like a million roasted peppers for less than $10.  Way way cheaper than if you were to buy each pepper individually and you don't have to spend the time roasting your own.  It is so nice to always have peppers on hand and I have been throwing them in pretty much everything (as you probably noticed).  The jar usually lasts a few months.

You know what else would be good in this rice, that I decided just now as I was typing?   Some cheese!  I'm so adding cheese next time :)

Serve alongside:
Baked Honey Lime Chicken Taquitos
Cilantro Lime Fajitas with Mexican Slaw
Crunchy Shredded Pork Tacos
Easy Weeknight Chicken Tacos

Roasted Red Pepper and Cilantro Lime Rice

From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner
(Printable Recipe) or (Printable with Picture)

2 Tbl. unsalted butter

1 c. long-grain white rice

1 large roasted red pepper, chopped (from a jar or homemade)

2 c. water

1 tsp. chicken bouillon powder (I use Shirley J)

2 Tbl. chopped cilantro
juice of 1/2 a lime

1 Tbl. chopped green onion

pepper, to taste

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is slightly toasted, about 5-8 minutes.  Add the chopped red pepper and cook for another minute or so.  Stir in the water and chicken bouillon powder.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until rice is tender.  Stir in the chopped cilantro, lime juice, green onion and season with pepper.  Serves: 4