Hi Friends! It’s another Tasty Tuesday and I am sharing sweets for the sweet!I have a  special dessert for Valentine’s Day! Fiesta Cake! This recipe was given to me by my Mother-in-law shortly after I married my husband Troy (almost 35 years ago now, Wow!)

My Mother-in-law is Joyce Kennedy, (my mom’s name is Joyce too, isn’t that cool?) Joyce Kennedy is from Nebraska, and is a fine cook. She has oodles of great recipes to feed a hungry family and she is the sweetest, kindest lady. You know in two seconds you are visiting with an angel when you are with her.

So let’s get this Fiesta Cake started!

Ingredients:

• 1 Cake Mix (I use Yellow)
• 3 eggs (or per cake mix directions)
• 1/2 cup oil (per cake mix directions)
• 1 cup water (per cake mix directions
• 1 small box (3.4 oz) of Vanilla Instant Jello Pudding
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• 1 8 oz bar of cream cheese
• 1 can cherry pie filling
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut (or enough to sprinkle a small amount on the top of the cake)
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or enough to sprinkle a small amount on the top of the cake)
• 1 small tub of Cool Whip

Preheat oven to 350° (or whatever your cake mix calls for). Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray and put the cake mix, eggs, oil and water in large bowl.

Beat according to package directions.

Pour in your pan and bake according to package directions.  Cool completely.

Prepare pudding by adding the milk and pudding mix in bowl and beating for 2 minutes.

Add in the softened bar of cream cheese.

And beat together. At first the mix will have little lumps from the cream cheese.

But it will become smooth if you mix a little longer. Dollop the pudding mixture on top of the cooled cake.

Using a spatula, spread it evenly.

Next, using a teaspoon, take the cherry pie filling and spoon small amounts all over the pudding mixture. You want to disperse it evenly to try and avoid having to spread with spatula.

Next, dollop the Cool Whip in small amounts all over the cherry layer.

Now using a spatula, gently spread the Cool Whip making a smooth layer.

Now sprinkle a light layer of coconut on the Cool Whip.

And now a light layer of walnuts on the Cool Whip and coconut.

Refrigerate for an hour or so. And Voila! Our Fiesta Cake is ready!

Can you see the layers on the side?

Ok! Let’s serve it up!

Look at how pretty this cake slices up.

I love buying pretty dishes. I actually have only one of each place setting. They come from places like Cost Plus World Market and Pier 1.

This dessert is light and delicious! The cream cheese layer is so scrumptious! And then the cherries just put it right over the edge!

Keeping it chilled is important with the Cool Whip and pudding layers. And it really adds to the Fiesta Cake experience!

This might be a lovely addition for your Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day holds a special meaning for us as it is my husband’s birthday! Troy loves a nice simple birthday at home with a good meal and family around. It really warms our hearts to celebrate this day with Troy! He does not ever ask for much, prefers to be helping others and working hard, and he is such a humble person. I stop and think of what a special place Valentine’s Day means for my mother-in-law! Imagine having a baby on that day! Goodness it gives me goosebumps to think about how precious that would be!

Valentine’s Day is a great reminder to all of us what a precious thing it is to be able to love one another. Every person we look in the eyes is a gift to this world, and worthy of our love and respect. Love is the secret sauce of life! And at the end of the day, it is the most precious thing of all! I am so grateful for all of you! You inspire me and I so appreciate you letting me share my thoughts with you each week! You are my friend, and you are precious to me! And I wish you a Very Special and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Have a fantastic week!

I’ll be back Friday for another Fashion Friday!

Love Always,

Amy

Thank you for being a friend. Traveled down a road and back again. Your heart is true, your a pal and a confidant. I’m not ashamed to say. I hope it always will be this way. My hat is off, won’t you stand up and take a bow. 

~Andrew Gold, from the song “Thank You For Being A Friend”