:: Lemon Bundt Cake

I made this lemon bundt cake for my son's 4-H shooting potluck this week, and realized I HAD to share it.  I have the best readers.  Really.  Friends I know and ladies I have never met have written some very sweet comments and emails.  And I just want to say thanks.  It means so much to me that you take the time to say those things.

So today I'm sharing a recipe with you that a lady shared with me awhile back after I literally BEGGED her (yes I did) for the recipe.  Not only does it look beautiful, it is fast, easy, and incredibly moist.  I make this a lot when I need to take food for an event or potluck.  And guaranteed, you will be asked for the recipe.

The pudding and applesauce in this cake make it melt-in-your-mouth moist, while the lemon makes is fresh.  And to mellow it all out, the cream-cheese frosting leaves you (and everyone else) coming back for more.  I usually try to keep these ingredients in my pantry, so I can easily make it at the last minute.  Just be prepared to be crowned the hero.  =)

LEMON BUNDT CAKE:

1 package Lemon Cake Mix

1 instant Lemon Pudding mix (regular size)

3 eggs

1/2 c. applesauce (I keep the individual snack size ones in my pantry - they are 1/2 c servings!)

1/2 c. oil

1/2 c. water

FROSTING:

4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature

2 T. butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 c. powdered sugar

a little milk - just enough till it's still a very thick consistency

 

Mix all cake ingredients together till mostly smooth.  Grease and flour a bundt cake pan* (see my tip at the bottom).  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.  Try to not over-cook this.  Flip out onto a wire rack to cool.  Once completely cooled, mix frosting (with electric mixer or Kitchen-Aid) till smooth.  Spoon over cake and let it flow over the edges.  Enjoy it (and I'm sorry!)

 

*My tip: use the Non-stick Baking Spray that has flour in it too.  Spray your pan really good, and your cake will flip out perfectly every time - no sticking!) 

 

:: So close - set 7

Today I bring to you another 10 Farmer's Wife blocks (from this book).  I began making these blocks back in February and have decided that I am not allowed to work on any other quilt until this one is all pieced.  It's so easy to start a project, and drop it about half-way through to start something different.  But this one is getting so close! 

Block 40 - Friendship Block

Block 71 - Puss in the Corner

Block 73 - Rainbow Flowers

Block 83 - Spider Web (I absolutely LOVE this one - something about those polka-dots)

Block 9 - Box

Block 61 - Northern Lights

Block 64 - Peace & Plenty

Block 97 - Waste Not
(this little block was a good lesson for me.  I didn't really like the pattern in the book, but once made, it became one of my favorites.  Lesson for me: do not pre-judge)

Block 70 - Prairie Queen

Block 51 - Hovering Birds

Block 109 - Windows

Block 65 - Peaceful Hours

10 more down, and only 14 blocks left to go!  I'm not excited at all.  =)

:: Farmer's Wife set 6

Are you getting tired of these Farmer's Wife posts yet?  I hope not, but if so, feel free to just skip over them.  I won't be offended.  I'm enjoying making these so much, I just have to show you.  These next set of 10 remind me of the TV show Parenthood.  Probably because we began watching from the very first season while I was cutting out these blocks. 

 

My 8-year-old boy Jack says he and I are alike:  "You love sewing and I love building legos because they are both like putting together a puzzle."  He says it's because we have the same "jeans".  =)  Man I don't want these sweet, innocent days of parenting to end.  Some days it feels like it's gonna be forever.  Like the hours in the day drag by.  Like they will never be able to open the car door, or do their own hair, or clean up the mess they made. 

But when I stop to look and truly appreciate the wonderful things about young children (12 mos - 8 yrs) there is so much to love.  Mostly, that they laugh so easily and love so unconditionally.  They think I'm beautiful when I've just woken up, my hair looks like snakes, and I have absolutely no help from makeup.  They say I smell good even when I haven't showered for 2 days.  They give the best hugs and show so much enthusiasm about little things.  The baby's skin smells so sweet.  Being a Mom and sewing - definitely two of my Top 5 Favorite things in life.

But where was I?  Oh yes - back to these next 10 blocks...

Block 47 - Homemaker

Block 54 - Kitchen Woodbox

Block 48 - Homeward Bound

Block 38 - Four Winds

Block 41 - Friendship Star

Block 106 - Wild Rose & Square

Block 39 - Friendship

Block 32 - Farmer's Daughter

Block 104 - Wild Geese

Block 102 - Whirlpool

So that's about it.  A little sewing, a little mothering - it's my life.  And I am humbled by God's blessings.



:: Learning to sew

My 6-year-old daughter loves being creative just about as much as I do.  When she was 4, she began doing a bit of hand embroidery.  But she loved to sit in my lap at the sewing machine and place her chubby little hands on top of mine as I sewed.  When she turned 5, she did even more hand embroidery.  Making multiple "pillows" for herself, and for friends. 

However, she still begged to be able to sew on the sewing machine.  So I bought my first charm pack (Bliss), and she made her first quilt.  She piece all of the blocks together herself, sitting on my lap at the machine.

This fall when she turned 6, I began official sewing lessons with her and her cousin.  The other day we cut out 5" squares to make a quilt for her to enter in our local county fair this summer.

 

 

She is so precise.  Going slow and steady.  After sewing a seam, she said, "Mom, I need to rip this one out - it's not quite straight."  Obviously she's seen me do it a time or two.  =)

 

(Sewing is even better when you dress up.)

Her very first 9-patch, and she is both thrilled and proud.  Her mama is even more.