Italian Love Cake becomes 'sinfully good' with ricotta

Mary Hildebrand wrote awhile back in search of an Italian cream cake sold at Sam's Club during the holidays.

The outpouring of replies continues.

Our favorite this week comes from Joanne Miller of Lutz, who sent an Italian Love Cake recipe.

"It is sinfully good and anyone on a diet should avoid it!" she writes.

Her Italian family did not make cake very often - cannolis were their favorite. They also made great spaghetti sauce and "meatballs to die for," she writes.

The Love Cake recipe runs here.

Looking for beans

"Does anyone have the recipe for Lee Roy Selmon's baked beans?" asks Debbie Morden of Tampa. "I would love to have it!"

Winning pie recipe

A few weeks ago, Andrea Spring, co-owner and baker at Sign of the Mermaid restaurant on Anna Maria Island, took Best In Show in the professional division at the Crisco National Pie Championships in Celebration. This is the second time Spring has taken top honors in that division.

The recipe for her winning Chocolate Raisin Walnut Pie from this year's competition, conducted by the American Pie Council, runs here.

Leftover requests

Sue Walker of Temple Terrace wants the recipe for Chicken a la Rosa served at Cafe Don Jose in Temple Terrace.

Alaine Gentner of Lithia wants to make the Lobster Bites appetizer from the now-closed Rock and Pineapple restaurant in south Brandon. She also wants a Cream Cheese Hazelnut cookie made by the Jackson Cookie Co. on Lumsden Road in Brandon.

Leslie Hudson of New Port Richey remembers sweet potato pie from Morrison's Cafeteria at Countryside Mall in Clearwater.

Danine Perdue of Weeki Wachee wonders whether anyone has the barbecue sauce recipe from the former Henry's Round Up restaurant on Hillsborough Avenue during the '60s.

Jane Agan wants a recipe for the chocolate cake served with fudge sauce at J. Alexander's.

Pat Calafell of Tampa wants the carrot cake recipe from J. Alexander's.

Bill Heatherington says he misses filled cookies and sunshine cake from the now-closed McIntyre's Bakery in Pittsburgh.

ITALIAN LOVE CAKE

1 Duncan Hines Marble Cake mix, as directed

1 2-pound tub ricotta cheese

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sugar

1 small box instant chocolate pudding, as directed

1 8-ounce tub Cool Whip

Prepare cake mix as directed. Place in a greased 9-by-13-inch pan.

Whisk ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Pour evenly over cake batter. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Cool cake completely.

Make pudding as directed. Fold in one tub of Cool Whip. Spread on top of cake. Refrigerate until serving.

CHOCOLATE RAISIN WALNUT PIE

For the crust:

1 1/2 cups Crisco shortening

1 teaspoon white vinegar

2 tablespoons milk

½ cup hot water

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Combine shortening, vinegar and milk. Pour in hot water. Mix well. In separate bowl, mix together flour, salt and cornstarch. Combine flour mixture with shortening mixture until dough forms. Separate into four equal balls. Wrap in film wrap and refrigerate 1 portion and freeze remainder for future use. Refrigerate for at least one hour before rolling out.

For the filling:

3 eggs

2/3 cup granulated white sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup dark corn syrup

¾ cup milk chocolate chips

1 cup dark raisins

¾ cup chopped walnuts

Mix eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, cinnamon, butter and corn syrup until well blended. Add chocolate chips and walnuts, mix well. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out one portion of pie dough. Place in 10-inch pie pan. Sprinkle raisins over bottom of pie shell. Carefully pour filling over raisins. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until center of pie is just set.