If I knew you were coming I’d have baked a cake.

So you didn’t show up, but I baked a cake anyway.  Sunday just seemed like a good day to bake a cake. I didn’t have to leave the house all day, which was a good thing because this cake took me the better part of the day to make. It’s not that the cake is complicated, it’s just me.

For starters, I only have one of this particular size cake pan. But I love the size.  One cake mix or one cake recipe will make three of this size.  So take 25 minutes of baking time times three plus 10 minutes of cooling in the pan times three.

Then I needed to make a double batch of frosting.  Whew! That’s a lot of powdered sugar, butter, and shortening.  And without a stand mixer, that’s a lot of beating with the handmixer to get a fluffy frosting.

Oh yes, and then I decided I should make a simple syrup and then use a fork to poke holes in each layer in order to absorb the syrup better. Not too much syrup, just enough to keep it moist.

And theeeeen….I had to watch a YouTube video on how to make frosting roses.  But of course it took lots of time trying to find the right video.

And of course there’s all of the cleanup involved afterwards. Don’t you just love the baggie turned pastry bag drying rack? A sweet friend made it for me for Christmas.

And finally…….

And I may or may not have put an extra thick layer of frosting on this cake.

Yum!

I had fun being creative in the kitchen.  I was going for a shabby chic/vintage look.  I also love the the look of a cake on a cake stand.  There’s something so homey and domestic about it.

I bet you wish you would have come by. Well, maybe next time. Don’t worry, we were blessed to get to share it with friends. We didn’t consume the whole thing ourselves. Although I may have been seen eating some for breakfast. What?

This was a simple, homemade yellow cake with buttercream frosting.

Do you have a favorite cake? Please share.

Sunday ramble…..what we did this week.

Took kids the kids to get their driver’s permits.  Yikes!

Tore up the ugly, dirty carpet in foyer in preparation for selling our home soon.

Watched spring burst forth.

Created a Honey Ricotta Fig scone recipe. Yum!

Tried a new method for hard cooked eggs. Hmm….

Made a”Shabby Chic/Vintage” looking cake. 

And a deep dish, stuffed crust, ham and pineapple, skillet pizza.  I found the recipe at A Beautiful Mess.

And with the help of my brother, scheduled flight to New York for my oldest daughter and I. She will be attending a summer intensive at American Ballet Theater. Exciting!

Next week, Lord willing……
Meetings for work.
Try making molasses scones.
Pay bills.
Make ham and scalloped potatoes.
Share a few recipes and other things here.
Shop for palm branches for Palm Sunday and Passover weekend.

What did you get to do this past week? What do you hope to do this coming week?

I hope you have a blessed week!

Stillmeadow Calendar, February

Stillmeadow Calendar, pg 61

    “We can learn much from the wisdom of childhood. My friend Lois called out the back door the other day to see what her grandson was doing.  He was sitting quietly in the shade with his Teddy bear and the Siamese cat, Mrs. Murphy.  When Lois asked what he was doing, he said, “I’m loving, Grandma.  Jus’ loving.”  Grownups, alas, often do not take any time out for “jus’ loving.”  Life is so busy, harried, confusing. But we ought not to go through life like express trains.”
                      Stillmeadow Calendar, Gladys Tabor,  pg. 56