Old World Lemon Pound Cake

I have been searching for a lemon cake recipe that is made from scratch and has a very strong lemon flavor, along with a flavor reminds you of your grandmother's cakes. This cake is very lemony and soft. If your not use to a heavy cake well this will be your first. Its heavy and rich.
I would have had pictures but by the time I turned around slices were M.I.A and I don't even think the cake was completely cool:) But I promise I will post pic when I make it again. Also, great for cupcakes!

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted buteer, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
4 extra large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup grated lemon zest ( 6 to 8 large lemons)
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided
3/4 cup buttermilk, at room teperature
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

1. Cream butter and 2 cups granulated sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. On medium speed, add the eggs one at a time and lemon zest.

2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, the buttermilk and vanilla. Add flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour.

3. Pour the batter into prepared pans and smooth tops, then bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until tester inserted comes out clean.

4. Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugars dissolves. When cake is done, let cool for about 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan and set on a rack over a try or sheet pan. Spoon the lemon syrup over cake. Allow the cake to completely cool.

Glaze:
2 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
3 1/2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1. Combine the confectioners sugar and lemon juice in a bowl, with a wire whisk, mix until smooth. Pour over the top of the cake and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides. Enjoy!

WHITE Cake Mix Cookies Part 2

In my last post, I made Lemon cookies from a lemon cake mix. So I decided to try the same recipe, with a White Cake mix to simulate sugar cookies, and also to see if this recipe would be better when making sugar cookies with a little add and minus here and there. These cookies came out prefect, they were rich and soft. One review I got said, "the cookies are moist, rich and missing a glass of milk". Now, here is a quick and simple recipe for cookies that can be transformed into any flavored or type of cookie. Pecans, chocolate chip, all chocolate, and hazelnuts are just a few ideas, from dozens. Find all your baking needs at Brilliantcakes3000 ONLINE STORE

Chocolate Almond Biscotti Recipe

1 Cup of Almonds
3/4 Cup of Gramulated Sugar
3 Large Eggs
1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Teaspoon of Almond Extract
1 Cup Bittersweet Chocolate
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Whisk eggs and vanilla extract together, then set aside.
3. Beat flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until combined.
4. Gradually add the egg mixture, chocolate, and almonds, then beat until a dough forms.
5. With floured hands and surface, divide dough in half.
6. Roll each dough into a log.
7. Transfer logs to a lined baking sheet.
8. Bake for 35-40 minutes, let cool and enjoy.

Breakfast with Sophie!

My mom was a nurse, and she took care of a sweet but tough little old lady name sophie. Her name may sound soft, but she was far from it. But, from time to time I would visit and help out. My real interest in baking came from visiting sophie, (because I was more of a cook since I was 10 years old, rather then baking).

I got the idea that it would be nice to bake something for her.. she loved sweets and trying new things. So I first began with breakfast, where I baked Almond stuffed Pastry Pretzels. It was in the shape of a pretzel and lightly stuffed with a mixture of sugar, almonds, and almond paste. As they were baking the house filled with a sweet aroma, and she could not wait. She enjoyed it, for the next couple of mornings.

Then I made semi sweet cinnamon buns, with her heath in mind and for christmas I made cookies. Sophie really enjoyed the treats, and she wanted to help so bad sometimes. It was more of a treat to see her face when she started to smell different things baking.