Cookies

• Use any flavor of boxed cake mix to make these soft, chewy cookies. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Beat together on medium speed 1 box of cake mix, 1/3 cup shortening, 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine and 1 egg. Continue mixing for about 2 minutes or until the ingredients are well blended. Drop tablespoons of cookie dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges. If you wish, allow the cookies to cool completely and top with frosting.

Campfire Cakes

• These individual cakes are perfect for backyard fire pits and camping trips. Slice the tops off of 10 to 12 large oranges. Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh, leaving behind a hollow orange shell. Prepare the boxed cake mix according to recipe directions. Fill each orange about 3/4 full. Place the tops of the oranges back on and wrap each one in heavy duty aluminum foil. Place the foil-wrapped oranges directly into the campfire, rotating once for even cooking. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

• You can even eat the wrapper with these fun cupcakes. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare any flavor cake mix according to package directions. Place 24 flat-bottom ice cream cones into two 13-by-9-inch baking dishes. Fill each cone about 3/4 full with cake batter. Bake each sheet separately for about 30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. It may require up to two 16-oz tubs of frosting to complete each cupcake.

Fruit Crisp

• This easy fruit crisp is oven-ready in just five minutes. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, mix together one box of yellow cake mix and 1 cup of melted butter or margarine. Fill the bottom of an ungreased 13-by-9-inch baking sheet with one 21-oz. can of cherry, blueberry or apple pie filling and one 8-oz. can of crushed pineapple (undrained). Crumble the cake mixture evenly over the fruit and bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.