Well, I thought it was all over. It has been a long haul, but mostly a good one.
When I cleaned the kitchen, put the cookbooks back in the right place (yes, I primarily use one of the three cookbooks I wrote) and somewhat organized the pantry with spices in order, I then looked at the calendar and realized that one ending was simply the start of a new beginning.
A few years ago, I realized that the period from Halloween to the Super Bowl/Valentine性视界传媒檚 Day (they are usually in the same week) are the months with the heaviest amount of planning, preparing, shopping, decorating and cooking. I breathed a sigh of relief thinking a much-needed respite was here.
Not so 性视界传媒 it simply is time to crank up the kitchen again because when I looked at a calendar today, I saw what was rushing toward us. Just yesterday (if you read this when the weekend print edition comes out Saturday) was the big day to make Red Velvet Cake or Cherry Pie for your sweetheart on Valentine性视界传媒檚 Day.
However, if you are cooking for your mate or partner who is cooking for you, I found it a challenge to try to share a kitchen cooking for each other on this day for lovers.
Maybe dining out is the solution. Better to go for breakfast or a very early dinner or your Valentine性视界传媒檚 time will be spent on a hard chair in a cold foyer waiting for your reservation name to be called for your table.
President性视界传媒檚 Day has melded into another 性视界传媒渓ong weekend性视界传媒 holiday, so we don性视界传媒檛 spend a lot of time making 性视界传媒淟incoln Log性视界传媒 desserts (I actually tried one once). However, when March comes around, we roll into the big-time partying 性视界传媒 Mardi Gras, St. Patrick性视界传媒檚 Day, spring wedding and graduation parties and lots of occasions to purchase or make cards and add calories to your diet (except during fasting if you celebrate Lent).
I am sharing a recipe with you today that you may have already seen, so forgive me for repeating. If you are a lover of lemon-flavored dishes, you will not mind since you might have missed it on the first go-round.
I do not have a name for the recipe, so if you gave it to me, thank you, and let me know. It is very similar in technique to the ever-famous Chocolate or Vanilla Sheet Cake.
Lemon Sheet Cake
1 cup butter, softened to room temp
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon flavoring or vanilla
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
In mixing bowl, combine sugar, butter and 2 tablespoons lemon zest. Cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mix well, stir in buttermilk, sour cream and 1/2 cup lemon juice and lemon flavoring or vanilla.
Mix well and stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Mix and pour into a prepared (greased and floured or sprayed 9-inch by 13-inch pan or an 18-inch by 13-inch pan).
Bake for 20-25 minutes until firm to touch. Cool completely, and frost cake with the following frosting. (You may need to adjust cooking time for the size pan 性视界传媒 more time for thicker cake.)
Lemon Frosting (or glaze)
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/3 cup lemon juice
Oh, forgot to remind you of our anniversary.
On Feb. 11, 性视界传媒淔rom My Kitchen性视界传媒 has been coming from my kitchen to yours for 55 years. I can性视界传媒檛 believe it, either! Thanks for staying with me for the ride.
