I apologize for waiting until the eleventh hour, or actually the 23rd hour, to post today. I promised you four faithful readers that I would post today, and I MUST keep my word. I have been busy Christmas shopping all day, and believe me, it has absolutely finished me. What little energy and strength I have left, I am expending upon this little blog ‘o mine.
I wanted to share this post sooner, but well, you know why I haven’t.
My family and I have very few Christmas traditions. A few of our traditions include, but are not limited to: eating turkey and the trimmings for Christmas dinner, watching as many classic Christmas shows on TV or DVD that we can, and making my favorite Christmas “Poke” cake. I wanted to share with you this simple pleasure. You all know my culinary abilities are lacking, to say the least, but even I can make this cake!
First, whip up a white cake mix, any brand will do. I personally endorse Duncan Hines. Not that Duncan Hines pays me or anything, I simply endorse them out of the goodness of my heart.
Pour the batter into two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans and bake according to the package directions. (I just love package directions. That means that there is a package, which means that I don’t have to do very much.)
Let the cakes cool for 15 minutes, then remove them from the pan. Then put them back again. Hey! That sounds like a nursery rhyme! Remove ’em and put ’em back again! Uh-hem. Sorry. Anyway, after you place them back into their cozy little pans, let them cool completely.
Now here comes the fun part! Take a fork and poke the cakes all over while it’s in the pan. Go ahead and go crazy, it’s okay!
See? Doesn’t this look like fun? Next, boil some water. Yes, Virginia, I can boil water, despite those vicious rumors you’ve heard. In fact, I can do gourmet boiled water! Betcha hadn’t heard that, huh?
Pour in a packet of red Jell-O. And stir, like so, for two minutes.
Because I’m a little OCD, I set the timer on my microwave for TWO MINUTES. Got that? TWO.
Oh my! Only 12 seconds to go!
After the TWO MINUTES have expired, you can then pour your red JELL-O onto your cake. Make sure you pour it right over all those little holes you’ve made!
Pour in all the JELL-O. Your cake should look like this. Actually, yours will probably look better.
Next, mix up some green JELL-O the same way you did the red. See the steam coming off of this one? Steam is an indication of good boiled water. But it takes an expert, so be careful.
OH! Be sure you set the timer! It would be terrible to only stir this mixture for 1 minute and 47 seconds!!
What?
You’re not worried about timing it?
oh.
Well, hey! Whether you time yourself or not, be sure the JELL-O is dissolved in the boiling water that you whipped up like a pro. Then, pour the green JELL-O over the top of the other cake.
After your JELL-O is neatly and sweetly poured over your two cakes, pop them into the fridge for three hours.
After the cakes have relaxed for about three hours, remove them from their polar spa and smother them with Cool-Whip. It’s good for their pores. I wished I had used more for this cake, but hindsight is 20/20. Learn from my mistakes, PLEASE!
TADA! It’s done!
When your all done slathering on the Cool Whip, go ahead and cut a sliver, or twelve. You won’t be sorry!
Oh, and for you real chefs out there, you could decorate this with little red and green gumdrops made in the shapes of holly leaves and berries. You could also write “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” on the top with butter cream or store bought frosting. The possibilities are endless!
My daughter and I were able to begin a new tradition this year. We got to go out with one of the ladies in our church to deliver goody baskets to some shut-ins and widows. It was a joy to visit these dear folks in our church and show some kindness. I was honored to get to take my nine year old Lauren with me.
My husband snapped this photo of us before we left. I’m sorry I didn’t get one of the goody baskets that our church ladies made! They were so cute!
I love serving the Lord! I love serving Him more, however, with my wonderful family! I love making Christ-centered memories with my kids, all year long.
I wish you a Merry Christmas this week, and happy memories that will last a lifetime!
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
valeriewritenow.com 
Oh my goodness Valerie, how beautiful! I'm so glad that you put this in a post too instead of on the side. For people like me who want a recipe at the last minute and has a blond Oh…wait brunette :] moment and doesn't write it down, before it's removed!
I made the punch for Thanksgiving and only made one batch.:[ I didn't make the same mistake twice. I came prepared for the Christmas Celebration though. It was all gone before my famous Iced Tea and that's saying something. :]
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful recipe with !!pictures!!
The only problem now is, I'm going to have to take ANOTHER run to the store….”Thanks to you”. lolol Your pictures of this mouth watering delectable cake looks too good to pass up making.
Gracie is sitting next to me and said, “I want that cake for my Birthday”! lol
Gracie also noticed that Laurens hair has gotten really long and she says to tell her “Merry Christmas”.
From our Family to yours, We wish you a joyous Christmas and a wonderful Brand New Year.
Love, The Rowell's
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I love the picture of you and Lauren. I made this cake after reading about it prevously..for our Christmas get-together with my moms side of the family! Yummy…:)
Merry Christmas to you all..hope to see you really soon 🙂
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Seems like the comment thing is working for me now so let me say what I was trying to say earlier:
Merry Christmas!
I love the new pics of your kids.
We usually bake a cake for Jesus every year but this year He gets a pumpkin crisp! YUM! But I want to try your poke cake recipe soon. It looks like fun!
I will be looking for the next chapter in the love story and I know Wendy will be!! We won't forget!! LOL!
Laura 🙂
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Beautiful cake and beautiful hair! I'm growing my hair out this year to look just like yours!
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The pictures were great!
Love you,
Melanie
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