Rum Cake

Posted on June 15, 2018 by blogsaraj

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Rum Cake by Alexis Zepeda
Story and Photos by Sara Jauregui

This delicious Rum Cake manages to create a home away from home for the amazing chef, Alexis Zepeda, senior English major at St. Mary’s University. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Alexis manages to bring some flavors from her family’s traditional recipes to San Antonio, where she now resides for school.

As she prepares for her future career as a graphic designer, her hobbies include art-making, photography, design, and just like any other talented foodie – eating!

“My favorite thing about attending St. Mary’s is that I am able to live in San Antonio, a city full of different flavors.” Cupcakes and ice cream are some of Alexis’s favorite sweets to try around town.

As a result, she spends a lot of time experimenting with traditional recipes by adding her favorite flavors to create new modern desserts. Alexis chooses to share this recipe because it holds a special place in her heart. This delicious Rum cake is a staple in every family function and is traditionally gifted to loved ones during the holidays from her mother.

She gives some tips on how to perfect the Zepeda family’s signature Rum cake such as pouring the glaze over the cake immediately after baking. “The warmth coming from the cake allows the glaze to seep into the cake which adds much more flavor”.

Another tip is to bake the cake for less time than the instructions from the box recommends. “Instead of baking the cake for an hour, I prefer to bake the cake for 45 minutes because it keeps the bread from losing its moisture.”

Finally, she suggests placing the finished cake on a decorative plate for visual appeal. “My family and I always gift Rum cakes to loved ones during the holidays, so every time I make one it’s like a celebration is waiting to happen!”

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1 box of yellow cake mix (~18 oz.)
  • 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix (3.5 oz.)
  • 4 whole eggs
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 cup Rum
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Glaze:

  • 1 1/2 stick of butter
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 3/4 cup of Rum

Makes 12 servings.

Directions

Begin by preheating your oven to 325 F. Grease a bundt cake pan with cooking spray or butter. Sprinkle crushed up pecans on the bottom of the pan. Follow instructions on the box on how to prepare your yellow cake batter. Pour the batter over the pecans and smooth out. Bake for about 45 minutes, until the bread is light golden in color. For the glaze, begin by melting the butter in a saucepan. Add in water and sugar and stir until boiling. Lower the heat and stir the rum into the glaze. After letting the cake cool for a couple of minutes, and while your glaze is still warm, invert onto a serving plate and drizzle part of the glaze on top. With the help of a fork, prick the surface of the cake and continue drizzling with the rest of the glaze. Cool to room temperature and serve.

 

Filed under: Class Projects, Desserts, Recipes, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Pizza Rolls

Posted on January 15, 2018 by alexisisabelzepeda

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Pizza Rolls by Sara Jauregui
Story and photos by Alexis Zepeda

Many college students grow tired of eating the same foods in the school cafeteria and often try and find recipes that are easy enough to cook in the kitchens located in the residence halls.
Sara Jauregui, a Sophomore art education major at St. Mary’s University, has found a quick and tasty recipe that many students may have the ability to replicate – pizza rolls. Jauregui has always loved Italian food, and anything that involves tomatoes, pasta, bread or cheese. Though these pizza rolls do not include pasta in the recipe, the other three ingredients make up for it!
Jauregui is from Alton, Texas, so she doesn’t have the privilege of eating home cooked food often. She began cooking in middle school when her mom started working. She says she isn’t the best cook, but does enjoy baking, so these pizza rolls are perfect.
Though she isn’t a professional chef, one thing Jauregui misses about cooking at home is the endless amount of supplies. Living in a dorm and figuring out what to cook with and where to cook the food is a difficult task. “Cooking is a privilege when living in a dorm. Most residence halls have ovens in the student lounges, but it’s hard to cook without a stovetop. Our ‘kitchens’ are definitely not equipped for everyday cooking,” she says.

Jauregui recommends purchasing a disposable baking sheet to bake the rolls on rather than spending money on an expensive baking sheet. As a college student, there is minimal space to store it, and it makes cleanup much easier!
This dish is one of Jauregui’s favorites to make because they only require a few ingredients, she loves pizza, and they are fun to make with the company of friends. They are the perfect snack to make either for a movie night, or even a study date because they are small, filling, and not too messy.

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