MELBA’S SWAP SHOP

MOTHER’S DAY CALLS FOR MOUTHWATERING FOOD

DEAR READERS: Mother’s Day is Sunday, and looking forward to it reminded me of a recipe shared by my niece, Tami Durham, of Stillwater, years ago. It is delicious, and you don’t dirty all your mixing bowls making it.

Even better, your mother will love it.

HOT FUDGE SUNDAE CAKE

Serves: 8 to 10

1 cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup milk

2 tablespoons canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup cocoa

1 ¾ cups hot tap water

Preheat oven to 350 F. In ungreased 9-by-9-by-2-inch pan, stir together flour, ¾-cup sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, baking powder and salt. Add milk, oil and vanilla. Stir with fork until smooth. Stir in nuts. Spread evenly in pan.

Sprinkle with 1-cup brown sugar and ¼-cup cocoa. Pour hot water over batter, but do not stir. Bake 40 minutes. Serve while warm with ice cream.

— Melba

DEAR MELBA: I think readers will like to make this cake to serve their mothers. I don’t remember where I got it, maybe even from you.

POPPY SEED CAKE

1 box (18 ounces) yellow cake mix

1 box (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

½ cup vegetable oil

5 eggs

1 cup orange juice

1 teaspoon almond extract

¼ cup sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 F. In large bowl of electric mixer, combine cake mix, pudding mix and poppy seeds.

Beat on low speed while adding vegetable oil. Add eggs, one at a time while continuing to beat. Add orange juice and almond extract. With mixer set on medium speed, beat 5 more minutes.

Spray a Bundt pan generously with nonstick spray. In small bowl of mixer, mix sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle half of mixture in pan. Add half the cake batter.

Sprinkle with remaining sugar-cinnamon mixture and layer with the remaining batter. Bake for 60 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before removing from pan. — Carol

DEAR MELBA: You can make this salad the night before serving it.

HAM-MACARONI SALAD

Makes: 6 servings

1 package (8 ounces) macaroni

½ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing

2 tablespoons prepared mustard

1 small onion, minced

2 cups cooked ham, chopped or diced

2 ribs celery, chopped

1/3 cup sweet pickle relish, drained

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Cook macaroni by package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain again. Set aside.

In large mixing bowl, stir together mayonnaise and mustard. Add onion, ham, celery, pickle relish, salt and pepper. Mix well and add macaroni. Toss gently.

Cover and chill several hours or overnight.

— Dave Farrington, Midwest City

DEAR MELBA: This salad is good any time, including Mother’s Day. One thing that makes it special is white pepper.

AVOCADO SALAD

Makes: 6 servings

3 avocados

Juice of 1 lemon

1 ½ cups cottage cheese, drained

1 tablespoon minced green onions

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

¼ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper Pimiento strips

Lettuce

French salad dressing

Peel avocados. Cut lengthwise into halves and remove stones. Sprinkle with lemon juice.

Cover and set aside.

In medium mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, green onions, parsley, salt and pepper.

Mix together and use to fill centers of avocado halves. Garnish with pimiento strips.

Place on large plate and surround with crisp lettuce. Drizzle with French dressing and serve immediately.

— Bette, Oklahoma City

DEAR MELBA: We are having a Mother’s Day Merchant Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday in the Town Center at The Fountains at Canterbury, 1404 N.W. 122, Oklahoma City.

We will have clothing, jewelry, accessories, woodworking items, gift baskets, homemade baked goods and snack foods.

There will be a table of assorted gifts for sale and a baked potato bar with proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s open to the public.

— Becky Strong, Community Life Director, The Fountains @ Canterbury Senior Living Community

If you have a problem other readers might help solve or an idea you’d like to share, email mlovelace@oklahoman.com or write to Melba’s Swap Shop, Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125. Please include your name and address.