Sweets For The Kiddos

When the kids returned home for a long weekend in the midst of visitation with their father, we wanted to make them a dinner they would like. It was Pie's turn to choose & he wanted steak, so J made that, along with curly fries and steamed broccoli for the main meal. I was in charge of sweets. I made a couple pitchers of lemonade with fresh fruit floating in it and a hot fudge cake. While not as yummy as the stuff at Frisch's, it was pretty darn good.

Fresh Fruit Lemonade

6 c. cold water
1/2 c. + 2 tbsp. superfine granulated sugar (and I do recommend you use the superfine)
3/4 c. fresh lemon juice (or more, if you like it more tart...and the fresh part really matters)
1/4 c. fresh lime juice
4 c. mixed fruit, cut in 1/2" cubes (I picked up strawberries, pineapple & watermelon from the grocery store salad bar)

Mix everything but fruit in a pitcher until the sugar dissolves. Add fruit and chill for 1 hour. Serve over crushed ice. The fruit can get kind of odd the next day, so drink it up!

Hot Fudge Cake

1 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
6 tbsp. cocoa
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
2 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. brown sugar
1 3/4 c. hot water

Mix flour, sugar, 2 tbsp. of the cocoa, baking powder & salt. Add milk, oil and vanilla. Mix well and pour into ungreased 9" square baking pan. Mix brown sugar and remaining 4 tbsp. cocoa. Sprinkle over batter. Pour hot water over the whole shebang & do not stir. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven 35-40 minutes. Serve warm. Best with some vanilla ice cream. I used Breyer's Sugar-Free Vanilla & it was great!