Blueberry-Lemon Bundt Cake April 21, 2010

I came across this recipe on My Baking Addiction and thought I would give it a try.

Mine didn’t come out nearly as pretty but I’m sure it was equally tasty.

Photo from http://www.mybakingaddiction.com

For the Cake:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1 teaspoon for blueberries and zest
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
2 cups blueberries
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
juice of one lemon
Nonstick cooking spray, for pan

For the Cream Cheese Glaze:
1 (4 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk

Directions for the Cake:
*For best results, coat the inside of the Bundt pan with cooking spray just before filling it with the batter to prevent it from pooling in the bottom.

(**From Robin’s experience: Grease and flour the pan instead.)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, whisk 2 1/2 cups flour with baking powder and salt; set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars on high speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Beat in vanilla and lemon juice. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions of sour cream.
3. In a bowl, toss blueberries and zest with remaining teaspoon flour; gently fold into batter. Coat a 12-cup nonstick Bundt pan with cooking spray. Spread batter in prepared pan.
4. Bake cake on bottom rack of oven until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 60 to 70 minutes. Cool in pan 20 minutes. Invert onto a rack; cool completely, top side up. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving or drizzle with the cream cheese glaze.

Directions for the Cream Cheese Glaze:
Mix the cream cheese with the butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and milk in a bowl. Heat in a microwave oven for 10-15 seconds. Drizzle spoonfuls over the cooled cake.

Smocking April 20, 2010

smock·ing

–noun

1. smocked needlework.

2. embroidery stitches used to hold gathered cloth in even folds.

smock

–verb (used with object)

1. To draw (a fabric) by needlework into a honeycomb pattern with diamond-shaped recesses.

Enough defining, look at this!

Click on pictures to enlarge.

How cute is that?! I found a woman on etsy.com that was selling this dress and I couldn’t pass it up. Now I can’t stop thinking about making something myself.

While my knowledge of smocking is limited, this dress is not the first time I had seen smocking. I had slight interest in it about a year ago, but I wasn’t expecting at the time and so the interest died quickly.

I think I have found my newest hobby. Not surprised are you?

For those interested:

“Smocking is embroidery which one works across pleats. It provides an ornamental look to any garment but also controls the fullness and provides insulation against the cold.

Two types of smocking exist. The first, English Smocking, is the most popular. The smocker will pleat the garment first and then work the embroidery across the pleats in rows. Once the embroidery is complete, the smocker will pull out the gathering threads and then steam the smocking into shape. In the second form, the smocker works the pleating and stitching in one step. This method is more popular on gingham.” more

I don’t do windows April 12, 2010

Aside from a curtain, we weren’t really sure what the plans for the window were. Just using the tree fabric at the top didn’t overly appeal to me.

But using a solid just wasn’t working. And then we figured it out…

We used some of the letters that are also in the bumper pads. And of course, I LOVE how it came out!!

A Dressed Dresser April 11, 2010

My friend Joyce gave us a dresser a few months ago for Cupcake’s room. The minute I saw it, I knew I wanted it stained to work with the rest of the furniture in our house.

So this past week my dad and husband got to it…

Before - forgot to get an up close picture

During

After - I LOVE IT!

See that lamp? There is more in its future.

Dancing Green April 7, 2010

…is the color of Cupcake’s room.

"C" is for Cupcake... a sneak peak at the bumper pads.

My parents arrived from Los Angeles two days ago. They are helping us with a few things… painting the room, staining a dresser, making curtains and sheets and a few other odds and ends.

Guest room before the switch to baby room.

Small patch to test the color on the wall and the dresser that needs to be stained.

My husband and dad have been painting away today and so far…

I LOVE IT!

Dresser was stained yesterday and got a few touch ups today.

Tomorrow the finish coat (or whatever it is called) will go on… if it is dry. Supposed to rain tonight.

And this past weekend we decided to open the box with all the crib pieces just see what it looked like and then decided to go ahead and put it together.

Half way there

We wanted to see what it would look like in the room prior to painting… and then realized we have to take it apart to get it in the room. HA! Probably every first time parents mistake. Good thing it isn’t difficult to do.

Bed is being reassembled in the room right now. More pictures of the progress soon.