During the ‘80s, I lucked upon a cookbook entitled “Quick and Easy Baking with Cake Mixes.” Each recipe was created using Duncan Hines cake mixes, Crisco oil and/or Puritan oil.

This recipe for strawberry parfait cake comes from that book; however, there are many great mixes out there, so in this recipe, use the mix of your choice.

So many of these specially formulated recipes were designed so baking cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, fruit desserts, muffins and coffee cakes would require minimum time and effort. Made-from-scratch cakes and other desserts are always delicious, but these quick recipes will save a lot of time and are delicious, too.

Try this strawberry recipe — it is a treat.

Strawberry Parfait Cake

Ingredients

• 1 package white cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1¼ cups water
• Several drops green food coloring
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1 egg white
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 10-ounce package frozen strawberries, thawed (or 1 pint fresh, sliced strawberries with ½ cup sugar)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour one 8-by-12-inch pan.

Combine dry cake mix, eggs, oil and water in a large mixing bowl. Mix cake as directed on package. Add green food coloring to batter and pour into prepared pan. Bake and cool as directed on package.

For frosting, heat corn syrup to boiling in small saucepan. Combine 1 egg white, salt and vanilla extract in small bowl. Beat at high speed until stiff. Slowly beat in hot syrup; beat 5 to 7 minutes or until frosting holds shape. Spread frosting on cake and set aside.

For strawberry glaze, drain strawberries, reserving syrup. Blend reserved syrup and cornstarch in small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens. Stir in strawberries. Cool. Pour over top of cake, letting some run down sides. Refrigerate until glaze sets.

This recipe can also be baked in two 8-inch round layer cake pans.

From the scriptures

Spiritual food is essential for all of us, as well as physical food. We should nourish our mind and feed our spirit daily just as we feed our body. To memorize a weekly Bible Verse is a fabulous spiritual food. Try it, and you will see how easy it is to memorize scripture.

Our memory verse for this week is 1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."