Queen Elizabeth Cake

1 cup boiling water
1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
¼ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup chopped walnuts (I put ¾ cup)
1 cup flaked coconut
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter
¼ cup cream

Pour boiling water over dates in a small bowl, and let
stand until cool.
Measure flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and nuts
into a small bowl.
Stir to mix.

Cream 1/4 cup butter or margarine and white sugar
together in a mixing bowl;
beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture to 
creamed mixture in three
parts alternately with date mixture in two parts,
beginning and ending with dry mixture.
Spread batter into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan.

Bake at 350F for 30 to 40 minutes, or until an 
inserted wooden pick comes out clean.

To Make Topping:
Mix coconut, brown sugar, 6 tablespoons butter and
cream in a small
saucepan over medium heat. Boil for three minutes.

Take a toothpick or a knitting needle, and make 
little holes all
over the cake, pushing down all the way,
without damaging the cake.
Spread the topping over the warm cake, and
brown under broiler.

tuna snack sandwiches

Below is the recipe for the little buns. 

I used cheddar cheese & parmesan.  

I have made them without cheese.
There is also a link to the video of Lovetocookalot making them at
http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/mini_gougeres

Mini Gougeres
By Lovetocookalot
Created 20 Jun 2007 - 1:16pm

Recipe English Name: Cheese Puffs
Cook Time: 30
Preparation Time: 15
Health Index: Average
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 6
Recipe Description:
These delightful, mouthwatering cheese pastries are based on the classic choux pastry.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbs unsalted butter
3/4 cup flour
3 eggs
1.5 cups grated gruyere cheese (or other hard cheese)
Directions:
Combine water, salt and butter in a medium pan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the flour stirring
constantly until combined. Return pan to low heat and stir well until mixture is smooth and pulls away from the sides of
the pan. remove from heat, add eggs - one at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition, beat until mixture is smooth and
glossy. Add cheese and stir to incorporate. Drop by teaspoonfuls on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350 for 30 mins. Serve warm.
You can bake these ahead and freeze for up to 3 months, then defrost and crisp in a preheated 400 oven for 3 mins.


Tuna salad: I never measure anything – just add and mix till I like the consistency. I add flax seed to everything b/c of it’s supposed cholesterol lowering benefits. I used a food processor to chop the dill pickles, nuts, & olives.

Tuna- I use albacore packed in water
Eggs- hard boiled – usually about 3
Chopped dill pickles
Chopped green olives
Chopped English walnuts
Dill weed
Celery salt
Flax seed
Black pepper
Helmans mayonaise

Loyce suggested adding celery – I have done that and it adds a nice crunch.
I just forgot this morning.