GARDEN PATCH RECIPES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat oil, eggs, sugar and vanilla.
• Combine dry ingredients; add to egg mixture and mix well.
• Stir in vegetables.
• Add chocolate chips and mix well.
• Pour into a greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan.
• Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes or test done.
• For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy.
• Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth.
• Spread over cooled cake.
• Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat oil, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; add to egg mixture and mix well. Stir in vegetables. Add chips and mix well. Pour into a greased and floured 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. , For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread over cake. Store in refrigerator., Editor's Note: See below for decorating frosting recipe and directions., GARDEN PATCH CAKE DECORATING:, In a bowl, cream shortening, extracts and salt. Gradually beat in sugar alternately with milk until smooth and stiff. Cover with a wet paper towel and plastic wrap until ready to use., TO MAKE TRELLIS:, Lay 5 craft or Popsicle sticks on a sheet of waxed paper with 1/4 in between bottom of sticks (ends that are inserted into cake) and 1/2 in. between tops. Spread back side of remaining sticks with frosting; position across the 5 sticks 1 in. and 2 in. down from the top. Allow to dry, about 1 hour. Press bottom of sticks into upper left corner of cake., TO MAKE GARDEN PATCH:, Using a toothpick, mark a 5-1/2x3-1/2-in. patch in lower right corner. Lightly sprinkle with cocoa and gently press into cake., TO MAKE VEGETABLES AND BORDER:, Cut a small hole in corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert #10 round tip. Combine 1/4 cup frosting and red food coloring; fill bag. Holding bag straight up and down, form 8-10 tomatoes in front of the trellis. Prepare another bag, inserting #5 round tip. Combine 1/2 cup frosting and yellow food coloring; fill bag. Using the same procedure, form rows of small dots to create kernel of 8-10 ears of corn in upper right corner. Wash #10 tip and insert into a third bag. Combine 1/2 cup frosting and orange food coloring; fill bag. Using the same procedure, form 3 rows of 4 carrots on the garden patch. Add green food coloring to remaining frosting. Prepare a fourth bag, inserting leaf tip; fill with some of the frosting. Form husks on edges of ears of corn; add stems and leaves to tomatoes and carrots. Add vines to trellis. Prepare a fifth bag, inserting the star tip; fill with remaining green frosting. Form a border around base and upper edge of cake.