Lots of cakes

I know its been forever since I last blogged about my cakes.  It just kind of took a back seat to some health related issues for a while.   So now that things are getting better I can refocus and write again.  You know the brain and body and can only do so much at once.  And some times you gotta just take life down a notch or two and do only what is absolutely necessary.  I found I could bake a cake but had nothing extra to give to be able to write.  Silly I know but just the way things are sometimes. 

But I still love making cake.  I love eating cake.  I love sharing cake.  They're so pretty and joyful.  They just add a bit of sunshine to a kitchen when sitting so nicely on their little cake plate.  It kind of reminds me of going into a mom and pop cafe and seeing little donuts and treats and pies so sweetly arranged on the counter top in glass cake plates with covers.  It just warms my heart and makes me think of simpler times.  I think I could have truly loved growing up in the 50's.  What a  great era.  I know I am probably a bit idealistic about that but I still like to imagine it all pure and innocent.  I like to imagine happy people eating healthy, whole, real food in their homes and making cakes and cookies were apart of everyday life.  I would have been a happy homemaker in the 50's.  I'm thinking this was also the time packaged food became so popular so we will just skip that note and pretend every one cooked from scratch and ate real food.  I would also live in a small town like Mayberry and wear a dress everyday.  I do like dresses.  In fact I think I might just skip shorts altogether this summer and wear dresses and skirts.  I know that was a random side note but it applied. :)  Pretty dresses do make me happy and feel so feminine and free.  And you know, they cover up all the lumps and bumps so nicely.  I have a bit of an extra bump lately.  Too much cake and not enough sit ups.  Actually I have been pretty good on my cake intake.  And I have also been getting better at my exercising.  Yay for me.  And I have also been eating way more vegees and fruits.  Which makes me want to tell you about my healthy food home group I'm in.  It's so very exciting.  It seems kind of ironic that I would be in a such group but really I am quite a food snob.  I love whole, real food.  But a cake made with good quality ingredients can still be in the mix of life as long as you balance it with lots of good home made food and lots of raw vegees and fruits.  Not to mention a ton of other important things but you can read Katie's blog for all that info. :)  She's amazing.  And I learn something new every time I'm with her.  Like for instance, the last time she was over the house she pointed out that I have a grape vine growing in my backyard and some rosemary.  Who new?  Not I that's for sure. 

Ok now time to tell you about at least 5 or 6 cakes.  And sorry I am not going to post all the recipes but if you want any of them just let me know and I will send it to you.

Cake # 14 was called Cardamom Coffee Cake.  It's from the Moosewood Cookbook.  It was tasty but I undercooked it and it totally fell apart when I was trying to take it out of the bundt pan.  And I had to take it to RTL. that next morning.  I was bummed.  I managed to salvage some of it but I did not take any pictures.
Sorry.  It was really sad looking.  :(  Also just in case you make this cake,  I did not have any cardamom but used other yummy spices instead.  It was pretty much just a coffee cake. 

Cake # 15 was another bundt cake of some sort.  And now for the life of me I can't remember what it was.  I have a picture of it but seriously can't remember what it is.  I think it was good.  I will post its pic. 
My son thinks I only make bundt cakes lately.  At first I said I do not.  But now I'm thinking I have made quite a few.  O-well.  Sometimes you just get on a kick of some sort and you gotta go with it.  

It looks so familiar.  I'm sure I liked it. :)


Cake # 16 Lemon Cake.  This is one of my favorite cakes.  It is so simple and delicious.  And very pretty too when baked in my cutest ever daisy cake pan from Williams Sanoma.  This pan was a gift from a friend and I just love it.  You really should make this moist scrumptious cake soon and have some friends over to share it.  If you want the recipe let me know.   You may be able to find it on a Williams Sanoma website.  It is quite a few year ago though so I don't know.  It was the recipe that came with the pan.  Man alive it is good.  

Oh my cuteness



Yummy

Cake # 17 Short cakes.  I know these are pretty basic but I saw a recipe in my Country Living magazine (April edition)  for Easter time and thought I would give them a try for our Easter dessert.  They were yummy.  I made them the night before and I think they would have been better fresh out of the oven.  Also, before I baked them I did not brush the top with heavy cream and turbinado sugar.  Just trying to cut out some sugar. 
But their official name was Turbinado Shortcakes with Strawberries and Whipped Cream. 
I love strawberry shortcake.  It just has that summer time is finally here feeling.  We eat it often in the summer
and it is such a crowd pleaser.  I never saw someone turn them away.  I mean who would do that?  A crazy person maybe.  I don't know people like that. 


Happy little shortcake

Cake # 18.  Vanilla cupcakes and Carrot Cupcakes.  The first one was a vanilla cupcake from the Gluten-free Almond flour cookbook.  I don't know what I did wrong but I took one bite and then proceeded to throw them in the trash.  It was sad.  Such a waste.  ugh.   So then I went to try another recipe from Country Living.  March issue. They were called Carrot Cupcakes.  And let me tell ya,  they were so so good.  Its always nice to have a success after a flop. I didn't even put frosting on them and they were just amazing.  Moist, fluffy, smooth, spicy, sweet, textured, and somewhat healthyish.  I mean after all, they do have raisins, nuts and carrots in them. :)

They were so moist and tasty. Pretty much carrot cake in
cupcake form.



great texture

Cake # 19 was also a success and quite yummy.  It was from the Moosewood cookbook again.  I like her cookbook a lot.  Fun and different food with quite a lot of healthy stuff.  Yes the cake had a pound of butter in it and two cups of sugar but other then that it was good for you.  Ha. ;)  I know it wasn't good for you but can we just pretend.  At least it is home made and has only quality ingredients with no preservatives.  And it was organic spelt instead of white flour and organic free range eggs from my chickens and organic sugar.  So thats gotta count for something.  I'm bringing it to my health food home group tonight.  Along with a plate of sliced red peppers and hummus.  Balance is the key.  lol.  By the way,  I reduced the sugar to two cups instead of three and it was still quite sweet and tasty.  I almost always cut my sugar in recipes and they seem to be fine.  Also, this was made in a bundt pan too. :)  I guess I do make them a lot. 


Cooks for over and hour till quite golden brownish but
surprisingly moist and perfectly done.




We ate it with fresh berries and creme fraiche.
Oh so good.




I know I'm a terrible photographer


If you like interesting, different, healthy food and want to try some new things you should get the Moosewood Cookbook.  You will like it. :)

I think this gets me up to date minus one cake for this week.  The pound cake was actually counting for last week.  I can do that.  I'm in charge.  If you want any recipes let me know.  You can obviously find a couple of them in the Moosewood and one in April and one in March editions of Country Living.  As for the mystery bundt cake, I don't know what to tell you.  Make a bundt cake. :)

Hope you are all happy and healthy and eating cake.