Two down, 50 to go...

Second cake of my 52 is the:

Easy Lemon Cake with Marshmallow Frosting + Toasted Coconut

Yield: serves 4-6
Total Time: 1.5 hours

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
the zest of 4 lemons
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (this was 3 lemons for me)
3 tablespoons milk
marshmallow frosting
4 large egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened, flaked coconut, toasted if desired

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a round 9-inch cake pan  with nonstick spray liberally.

In a small bowl, whisk together sifted flour, baking powder and salt.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add in cooled butter and vanilla extract, whisking until combined. Stir in all of the lemon zest. Add half of the flour mixture, stirring well, then add in the lemon juice and milk. Stir in remaining dry ingredients until batter is smooth. Pour into the greased 9-inch pan and use a spatula to even out the batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cake is set and springs back when touched. Remove and let cool completely.

Marshmallow Frosting

To make the frosting, combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in a heat-proof bowl, preferably the bowl of your electric stand mixer. Place over top of a double-boiler that contains simmering water, and whisk constantly for 3-4 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the egg whites are slightly warm. Immediately remove the bowl and place it on your stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beating slow at first and gradually increasing the speed to high. Beat for 6-7 minutes until glossy and thick, then beat in vanilla extract for another minute until combined. Frost cake as desired, then top with coconut!

 

 

This is a delicious cake if eaten right away and ONLY a small piece.  It is rich and a small peice does it.  Tasting it the next day, it was much drier than the first day.   When I made the icing I asked Lanie to try it because she loves marshmallows.  At first she didn't want to and then I told her it was marshmallows and she tooke a small spoonful.  Everytime I turned my back she had taken a clean spoon and got another spoonful.  At least she was getting a clean spoon everytime, but since I did not want to wash a dozen more spoons I just got a small cup and put a bit of the wondrous fluff in there.  She loved it!!

 

Today I have my co-workers taste it...so far two have tasted it and have thought it was delicious.  Another one thought as I did that it was too rich and the fourth stated that it was dry.  I probably would not make this cake again.  The icing I will probably try again with a few different twists.

Now a few things about home and Lanie.  I am going to see an attorney on Friday to discuss my options in adopting Lanie.  We always wanted all three of us to adopt her but have found out that is not an option.  So, after talking with Nonnie and John we have decided that I will adopt her but she will have the Adams name. We have told her for 5 years that she will be an Adams and changing that now would just cause undue stress to her especially since she was so upset about the name Jacquez.  I know that it is going to cost way more money than I have so I am planning on doing a "gofundme" page and hope that I do not offend anyone.  And if I do offend, I apologize because short of winning the Lottery, I don't know of a way to come up with $10,000 and I don't play the lottery!  Lanie just does not follow directions well enough to put her in commercials...although she is cute enough!

 

52 Cakes in 52 Weeks

I know last time I blogged I said it was 50 cakes in 50 weeks but that is just so weird, why 2 weeks short of a year.  I then realized I had to put My favorite everyday cake recipe in there so it would be 51 cakes in 51 weeks.  That was even more weird so I have settled on 52 cakes in 52 weeks.

I will include the recipe in this blog, a picture if all goes well and the comments made by my taste tester, those of which may vary from week to week.  So the first one is my recipe, well, actually I got it from my brother in law's mother Sharon Adams and we all really like it so it is now the "Family Recipe".

DOUBLE RICH CHOCOLATE CAKE

Ingredients:

1 package chocolate cake mix

1 package (4 serving size) jello pudding-chocolate
4 eggs
¾ cup water
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup oil

Combine all ingredients in large mixer bowl.  Blend at medium speed for 4 minutes.  Pour into greased and floured bundt pan.  Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly pressed.  Sprinkle with confectioners sugar or glaze if desired. Makes 22-24 cupcakes, bake at 350 for about 20 minutes

Can also bake as a 2 layer or rectangle.  Use different flavors cake mix or pudding mix as desired.  

 

For the frosting I used a basic butter cream, although put in 2 tablespoons of JIF hazelnut chocolate spread and only 1 teaspoon of chocolate powder. 

 

Comments made were: yum, can I have another, very moist, not too chocolaty, creamy frosting. 

 

 



So all in all I think this was a big hit.  No one had anything bad to say about it. 

 

Next one up is Easy Lemon Cake with Marshmallow Frosting and Toasted Coconut.  I am looking forward to it very much!

 So update on Lanie.  Since my last entry she has been sent home from Pre-School twice for defiant behaviour!  She will not do as she is told.  She will do the complete opposite.  The headmaster of the school has had to go into the room and remove a table that she will not quit getting up on...TWICE!  We are now in the process of looking for a counselor.  If this behaviour is starting in pre-school what is she going to be like as a teenager?!

Other news...Great Grandma is moving out next Friday.  Lanie is quite upset about this because Great Grandma is a part of our family and she does not understand why she is leaving.  And, since I am determined that this will be a positive blog, I will not comment further!

 

Post Accident

April 25 I had a car accident.  NO IT WAS NOT MY FAULT!!  Some guy ran into the back of me when I was stopped behind traffic that was turning left. He came up behind me and smacked into me.  I have a cracked collar bone but nothing too much else although I am very sore.  I have been seeing Dr. Brust, my wonderful Chiropractor for 2 weeks now and am slowly getting better.  I have to wear a sling on my left arm to try and imobilize my my shoulder so it does not do more damage.  I have a follow up with the orthopeodic surgeon next Tuesday to see how it is healing.  Now even more good news, the guy did not have insurance!  Thankfully we had non insured motorist on our policy so it is covering.  Nonnie and John have their new (used) vehicle now and hopefully I will be back to normal soon. Since I know you cannot wait to find out all about my life, (hahaha) I will keep you updated!

Update on Lanie-since she is the whole reason for this blog!  OK, the whole reason for my life!!  She is growing up so fast.  She is 5 years old now and will be in kindergarten next year.  She is already registered and excited about going.  She has been in preschool for the past year and a half.  We are working with her daily on writing her name, learning her letters and numbers but the biggest thing we need to work on is her stubborness!  She is one stubborn little child and so bull headed.  She has her ideas and no matter what anyone says, she does not bend on those!  This last winter one of her teachers made a comment that she needed to wear and undershirt so she does not get cold...she will not get dressed in the morning now unless she has two shirts on!  But if I tell her to stop throwing the ball in the house because she might break something, she cannot remember it two minutes later!  She will listen to whatever the teacher tells her but I can say it over and over and over again and she can't remember me ever telling her once! The little turd!  Yes, I am using a lot of !!!!

 

 

I was finally able to upload this picture of her and Lillie.

 

Over the next few weeks I am going to be trying some new cake recipes.  The goal is to try the top 50 recipes in 50 weeks and then blog about them.  My family will not be all that daring I am sure but I have some people at work who have volunteered to be taste testers.  We'll see how long that lasts and how long I can do this.  I know that one cake a week is not difficult but I have not ever tried anything like this before.  My first one will be this weekend and it will be "Easy lemon Cake with marshmallow Frosting and Toasted Coconut."  I will make it exactly as directed and then post online the recipe and hopefully a picture of it, if I can get it to upload, and how we rated it.  Then if you want you can try it and tell me how you liked it!!

 

That about does it for today.