Friday, February 6, 2015

Rosie Gets Two Birthday Cakes!

 Last week, the Hawthornes celebrated Rosie's birthday.
Youngest Hawthorne left that afternoon and returned home shortly
with a Food Lion bag full of ingredients.
He's making me a cake!
All by himself!

And it was delicious!


MANDARIN ORANGE/PINEAPPLE DELIGHT CAKE

1 box Duncan Hines butter cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 c. Crisco oil
1 can mandarin oranges with juice
1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip
1 sm. pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1 can crushed pineapple, drained
Mix cake mix, eggs, oil and mandarin oranges, undrained. Pour into greased and floured 2 or 3 (8") round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. After cake is cool, frost with Cool Whip, pudding and crushed pineapple mixed all together.

Mr. Hawthorne was busy making me a cake too.
After agonizing for days over what type of cake to bake
and knowing my love of lemons,
chose Ina Garten's Lemon Cake.
Excellent choice, Mr. Hawthorne.



Mr. Hawthorne halved the following recipe.

Lemon Cake
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup grated lemon zest (6 to 8 large lemons)
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided
3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the glaze:
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch) loaf pans. You may also line the bottom with parchment paper, if desired.

Cream the butter and 2 cups granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the lemon zest.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them. Allow the cakes to cool completely.

For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and the lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.

Don't worry, Daughter Hawthorne;
we froze and saved some for you.

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