I remember some of the most wonderful snow days where the snow plow would come by and there would be a mound across the end of the driveway that was at least 5 feet high. It was really more like 2 feet, but to us it was a mountain. We would shovel the driveway... no snow blower for this family! We didn't even have a power mower for the grass, why would we have a snow blower? Shoveling snow was usually back-breaking work. It was heavy or icy and even though the driveway wasn't extremely long, it took a lot out of you! But, we would shovel and pile a lot of the snow at the top corners of the driveway and then build a fort into the backside of each mound and if the snow was real sticky, we would have the most amazing snowball fights across the driveway! We didn't build a whole lot of snowmen, but those snowball fights are (mostly) a happy memory. I wish we could have a snow like that in Tennessee!!
Ali's birthday recipes end today with her requested dessert. I am not a cake decorator. I did a few when they were really little, but every time I did, they looked like a first grader had gone crazy with the frosting tubes, so I decided that I would either pay someone to decorate future cakes, or they would get to choose a birthday dessert - only they are not allowed to choose a pie (more on that trauma some other time). Ali is not a huge dessert person. She loves her dark chocolate, but she is not fanatical about much else. She does love fresh fruit/berries and requested a pound cake with berries and whipped cream. I was happy to oblige. Following is the pound cake recipe and the berry coulee recipe that I used for her delicious dessert. I cut up some fresh strawberries to go along with it and whipped 2 cups of heavy cream with a tablespoon of vanilla and about 1/2 c. powdered sugar. Her three best friends, Lily, Jessica and Bonny Kate, all surprised her and showed up for dinner. Bonny Kate is working at a bakery and brought along some snowflake cupcakes. They ate both :) Breakfast was rich. Dinner was richer. Dessert, well... it's dessert!
BUTTER POUND CAKE
1 c. butter (2 sticks)
6 eggs
3 c. white sugar
3 c. flour
2 c. heavy cream
1 T. vanilla
2 t. lemon extract
Preheat oven to 325' and grease a 9- or 10-inch tube or Bundt pan. Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, blending well after each addition. Add flour, one cup at a time, alternating with the cream until flour and cream are well incorporated. Add in the vanilla and lemon extract, mixing well. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and set on cookie sheet in the center of the oven. Bake at 325' until set. Cool 10 minutes in the pan then remove from the pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
BERRY COULEE
1 bag frozen mixed berries, thawed or not
1/2 c sugar
1 lime, zested and juiced
In bowl of food processor, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Pour mixture through wire strainer to remove seeds. Serve over cake with additional fresh strawberries or other berries and fresh whipped cream. You could do this sauce with lemon and it would be lovely. I just like lime with berries!
Happy weekend. Stay warm and be loved!!
Is that AP or SR flour?
ReplyDeleteall-purpose. I rarely use self-rising flour. I didn't grow up iwth it (did they sell it in New England?) and have few, if any, recipes that use it. In fact, I bought a bag that has been sitting in my cupboard for who knows how long!
ReplyDeletebe careful what you wish for.
ReplyDeleteThat cake looks very yum. Sometimes I miss things like cake!!