Easter Cake

Easter this year found us without family in the area. But never fear, we have good friends who invited us over. I asked what I could bring and Elizabeth said a dessert would be fine. I knew immediately I wanted to bring a coconut cake like my Grandma Nellie Belle used to make. Only problem was I didn't have her recipe. When I need a recipe I most always go to All Recipes. When I tried their site they had these cute chocolate nests pictured so I decided that since there would be children for Easter dinner they would be fun. Here's how I decorated the cake (had to use Peeps, don't you know!).

The nests were easy: Over low heat, melt together:

• 1 pkg chocolate chips


• 1 TBL shortening

Gently mix in

• 1 can chow mein noodles
  


• 1/2 cup coconut
  

Drop onto wax paper and form little nests. Fill immediately with jelly beans.

The Coconut Cake was actually easy too.

• 1 box white cake mix


• 4 eggs


• 1/4 C oil


• 1/2 C sour cream (I used light)


• 1 C cream of coconut

Mix together & cook at 350 degrees for 35 minutes (two 8" rounds). Cool 15 mins and remove from pans. Cool.

The recipe called for a cream cheese frosting. I made a buttercream & coconut filling and used a can of whipped cream frosting. I didn't even know they made that in cans. Then I pressed coconut onto the sides and top of the cake.

There was no cake left and only a few nests....the kids, as predicted, preferred the chocolate nests to the cake.