FILLING:
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch
2/3 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons water
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/8 teaspoon salt

SYRUP:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange extract

FROSTING:
1 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoon orange extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange juice and peel. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.

Transfer to two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For filling, in a small saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Stir in orange juice and water until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Remove from the heat.

Stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat; gently stir in the lemon juice, orange peel and salt. Cool to room temperature without stirring. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

For syrup, in a small saucepan, bring the sugar, water and orange juice to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Remove from the heat; stir in extract. Cool.

For frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy. Add the remaining ingredients; beat until smooth.

Cut each cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; brush with 2 tablespoons syrup and spread with 1/3 cup filling. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining cake layer; brush with remaining syrup. Frost top and sides of cake. Yield: 16 servings.

FILLING:
6 tablespoons butter, cubed
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

GANACHE:
10 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

In a large saucepan, cook the milk, butter and chocolate over low heat until melted. Remove from the heat; let stand for 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, beat eggs and vanilla; stir in chocolate mixture until smooth. Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into the mixture (batter will be thin). Transfer to three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 325° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For filling, in a small saucepan, melt butter and chocolate. Stir in confectioners’ sugar and cream until smooth.

For ganache, place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool, stirring occasionally, until ganache reaches a spreading consistency.

Set aside 1/2 cup filling for garnish. Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the remaining filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. Spread ganache over top and sides of cake. Decorate with reserved filling. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 16 servings.

Cut bananas in half; insert popsicle stick in end that was cut. Place on tray lined with wax paper, and put in freezer for about 30 minutes – just to make them cold.

Melt chocolate with vegetable oil in microwave for 2 minutes. Dip banana halves in chocolate, spooning chocolate over the bananas to coat. Roll in chopped nuts.

Place the chocolate bananas on the same tray and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.

Bake cake according to directions on box in a 13×9 inch pan. After the cake is cooled completely, frost it generously. Then sprinkle generously the crushed Oreos. Cut a few Gummi worms in half and put in the “dirt” to look like they are coming out, and the rest to lay on the cake. You can purchase a black tombstone candle to put as the headstone.

*Mint filled Oreos work good because the green makes it look like a little grass in the dirt.

From Kim’s Recipe Collection