A Recipe to Try

This cake looks soooo yummy!  I love lemon cake and this cake is not only a lemon cake but also has a lemon filling with lemon butter frosting. Mmmm!  It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  I found the recipe here.   One of the reviews recommended increasing the filling and frosting by one-half and for the cake, subtituing 1/4 cup of the milk with lemon juice to make it really lemony.  I'll post an update once I do have a chance to try it.  :)

Lemon Cake with Lemon Filling 

& Lemon Butter Frosting

 Cake Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

1 1/4 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk (can sub 1/4 c lemon juice for 1/4 c of milk for extra lemon flavor)
Filling Ingredients:
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup white sugar
4 egg yolks, beaten
Frosting Ingredients:
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons milk

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8 inch round pans. Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated.

Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.

To make filling: In medium saucepan, mix together 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth. Mix in 6 tablespoons butter and 3/4 cup sugar, and bring mixture to boil over medium heat. Boil for one minute, stirring constantly. In small bowl, with a wire whisk, beat egg yolks until smooth. Whisk in a small amount of the hot lemon mixture. Pour the egg mixture into the sauce pan, beating the hot lemon mixture rapidly. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes, or until thick (not to boil).

Pour mixture into medium bowl. Press plastic wrap onto surface to keep skin from forming as it cools. Cool to room temperature. Refrigerate 3 hours.

To make frosting: In large bowl, beat confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 teaspoon lemon zest until smooth. Beat in milk, and increase speed and continue to beat until light and fluffy.  (Recommended to increase by one-half and to do a "crumb layer" - frost the cake very lightly and pay no attention to all the crumbs that will fall of fthe cake and mingle in the frosting.  Refrigerate for 30 min and finish frosting.)

To assemble: With long serrated knife, split each cake layer in half horizontally, making 4 layers. Place 1 layer, cut side up, on a serving plate. Spread with half of the lemon filling. Top with another layer, and spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Add third layer, and spread with remaining half of the lemon filling. Press on final cake layer, and frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Refrigerate cake until serving time.

Happy Easter

"The Greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him..... He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today."
♥ I believe this with all my heart! Happy Easter!

“He is our King, our Lord, our Master, the living Christ, who stands on the right hand of His Father. He lives! He lives, resplendent and wonderful, the living Son of the living God. Of this we bear solemn testimony this day of rejoicing, this Easter morning, when we commemorate the miracle of the empty tomb, in the name of Him who rose from the dead, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen. “ President Gordon B. Hinckley

Here are a few Easter videos I really enjoyed and wanted to share.  Happy Easter to all my dear friends and family!!

The real reason we celebrate Easter.

A collection of photos called "Reflections of Christ."

This beautiful song called "His Hands."

This touching performance by Carrie Underwood singing "How Great Thou Art."

Spring Snowman

When we woke up to snow this past Saturday, I decided to make the most of it and asked Winston if he wanted to make a snowman.  Winston jumped at the chance so we got our snow clothes on and headed out.

He started out bombarding me with snowballs and laughing hysterically about it.  Then we got to work.  He packed snow into his wagon while I rolled the snowball parts for our snowman. 

Look at the big smile in this picture - isn't he adorable?

Here's Winston and Snowy, the snowman.  He was so proud of our accomplishment and we had lots of fun playing in the late spring snow. 

Watch out for the snowball!  :)

The snow was really wet - on the verge of melting - and our snowman started to lean shortly after we'd finished making him.  Winston and I tried to straighten him a little and we ended up losing the top half. 

Winston wasn't happy about that so we decided to rebuild.  He wanted to give Snowy II a funny face so he put the eye pieces in crooked.

I couldn't get Winston to give me one last smile before heading in - he was starting to get cold and lose interest (and so was I.)  I think this will be the last big snow storm and our last time making snowmen this season (hopefully!)

Another Place to Visit

Here's another place I'd like to visit.  I've always wanted to see the Redwood forest and Sequoia National Park.  I'm sure pictures don't do justice to these marvelous trees, how could they?  These trees must be magnificent in person.  I love the cinnamon color of their bark.

Here's a little trivia: Many of the redwoods are 300+ feet tall. The redwoods are the tallest trees in the world. They're also several thousand years old.  

Check out how huge this tree is.  More Trivia:  The General Sherman Sequoia Tree, while neither the tallest nor the widest tree, is considered the largest living tree in the world because of its volume.  It weights approximately 2.7 million pounds and is believed to be around 2,100 years old.  Its height is 274.9 feet and its circumference at ground level is 102.6 feet.  Isn't that amazing?   Here's a few more pictures of these massive and elegant trees.

Look how beautiful these trees are in the snow?  Here's my last bit of trivia:  Measuring 267.4 feet tall and 107.6 feet around, The General Grant is the earth's third-largest tree.  It's called "The Nation's Christmas Tree," and special Yuletide celebrations are held under its snow-laden branches every year.  

I'd love to attend a Christmas party among these magnificent trees.  It'd give new meaning to the carol "O Christmas Tree."  One of these days we'll go for a visit...

Phineas and Ferb

Winston LOVES Phineas and Ferb on the Disney channel.  I have to admit, I do too!  It's such a cute show.  I love that the two main characters Phineas and Ferb - brothers - are always positive, polite, happy, honest, willing to help, kind to others, smart and inventive. 

The premise of the show is the two boys coming up with ideas to do each day of their summer vacation.  They also have a pet platypus named Perry who, unknown to them, is a secret agent fighting the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz.  Good entertainment and a great example for my little man at the same time.  Gotta love that!  :)

Wishing for Warm Weather

Having had only a handful of warm , sunny days during the last three weeks has left me wishing for warmer weather.  My wall calender's picture for April is a beautiful sunny field - I can practically feel the warmth of the sun when I look at it.  *Sigh!* 

I decided to try and find this picture online to set as the wallpaper on my computer.  I wasn't able to track it down but I did find these other beautiful, warmth inducing photos of sunny fields.

Aren't these beautiful?  Don't you feel warmer and brighter after looking at them?  I sure do.  Ahhh!

Snickerdoodle Pie

What could be better than snickerdoodles and pie?  A Snickerdoodle pie!  I found it here and made this over the weekend.  It turned out absolutely delicious!  The flavor was a little more like a cinnamon roll than a snickerdoodle but great nonetheless.  Here's the recipe for the other snickerdoodle lovers out there.  Yumm!!!

Snickerdoodle Pie

Single crust Pie crust (I used one of the rolled kind you find in the biscuit section of the supermarket) OR make your own..which ever you prefer.

2 Tbsp melted butter
Cinnamon sugar - 2Tbsp. sugar + 2 tsp. cinnamon combined and divided in half

Prepare pie crust.  Spray a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray and line with pie crust.  Brush 2 Tbsp melted butter over crust and sprinkle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture.  Preheat oven to 350°.

Syrup Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 Tbsp water
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla

In saucepan combine butter, brown sugar, water, cinnamon and corn syrup.  Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil gently for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 tsp. vanilla. Set aside.

Filling Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cream of tarter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups flour

In mixing bowl beat remaining 1/4 cup butter with mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in granulated sugar, powdered sugar, baking powder, salt, and cream of tartar until well combined. Beat in egg and the other teaspoon of vanilla. Gradually beat in milk until combined. Beat in flour. Spread evenly in crust-lined pie plate.

Slowly pour syrup over the filling in pie plate.  Sprinkle top with remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture (1 Tbsp + 1 tsp).  Cover edges of pie with foil.  Bake pie 20 minutes; carefully remove foil.  Bake about 20 minutes more or until top is puffed and golden brown, and a toothpick inserted 2" from edge comes out clean. Do not over cook!

Cream Cheese Glaze
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 to 1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons  milk
1 tsp vanilla

In bowl mix all ingredients together.  (You can adjust amounts based on the consistency you prefer)

When pie is cooled drizzle you glaze over the top, or if you prefer leave the glaze off and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Happy Birthday Daddy! Love, Winston

 For Brad's birthday, I took him out to an early dinner on Friday night.  Bo watched Winston for us and while we were gone, he helped Winston write a birthday message for Brad using sidewalk chalk.  We saw it as soon as we got back - they had written his happy birthday wish right at the front of the driveway so we wouldn't miss it.

Winston was really proud of his handy work.  Bo did help him with the spelling but said that Winston wrote most of it himself.  I love the drawings of Brad and Winston right in the middle.  It's kind of hard to see in the picture but he drew them with big smiles.  What great boys we have!  :)