TEXAS FLAG CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 12 by 18 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.
• To make the cake, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then the sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix well. Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir just until smooth. Finish mixing by hand to be sure the batter is well mixed. Pour evenly into the pan, smooth the top with a spatula, and bake in the center of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan to room temperature.
• For the frosting, place the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until the chips are completely melted. Off the heat, add the corn syrup and vanilla and allow the chocolate mixture to cool to room temperature. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the chocolate mixture and softened butter on medium speed for a few minutes, until it's thickened.
• Spread the frosting evenly on the cake. Have the children decorate the cake with chocolate candies.

Steps:

• Rinse the ribs under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Carefully remove the silverskin from the back of the ribs. Discard silverskin.
• Place ribs in a foil lined baking pan.
• Add 1/4 cup salt to one corner of the pan, not on the ribs.
• Add enough water, over the salt, to bring water up to one inch deep in the pan.
• Stir the salt into the water if needed until salt is dissolved.
• Cover the pan with aluminum foil, shiny side up, and secure tightly around pan.
• Bake at 250F degrees for 2 to 2-1/2 hours.
• Ribs should cook to an internal temp of 175F degrees to be juicy and tender.
• Remove from oven when done. Carefully drain off the remaining water.
• Coat the ribs on both sides with BBQ Sauce while ribs are still hot.
• Let ribs cool.
• Cover the pan once again with aluminum foil.
• Refrigerate the ribs overnight.
• Remove ribs from refrigerator about one hour prior to serving.
• Brush another layer of BBQ Sauce on both sides of the ribs.
• If you like, drizzle about 1 Tablespoon of Honey over the ribs. Let them return to room temperature.
• Thirty minutes before serving, place the ribs, UNCOVERED, on the middle rack of a 250F degree oven.
• Ribs are already cooked, we’re just heating them up to about 145F degrees in order to serve them.
• Enjoy!