Blueberry-Lemon Swirl Cake

For my Mom, my Aunt (my mom’s twin), my Grandma and my Uncles Birthday Party I made a Lemon-Blueberry Swirl Cake. And let me tell you it was delicious!! The cake is super moist and dense, just the way I like them. And to my disappointment, the whole cake was eaten with no left over :-( however, I am happy that everyone loved it that much. It is the perfect spring cake, so if you have to bring a cake for Easter, a baby shower or any types of spring function, but you don’t want to bring a plain old cake. I highly recommend making this. The best part of all is the base of the cake is just a boxed cake mix, and the flavoring comes from lemon jell-0. Super easy, but it makes you look like you have been slaving in the kitchen for hours.

 

Lets Get Cookin’

Lets Get Cookin

 

Ingredients

1 pkg. white cake mix

¾ c. water

3 egg whites

2 tbls oil

1 pkg. (3oz) lemon flavored jell-o

1 cup blueberries

1 pkg. Cream Cheese, sofetened

1 whole egg

3 tbsp water

 

 

 

Pour half the cake batter into greased 12-cup fluted tube pan or 10-inch tube pan; cover with layers of cream cheese mixture and remaining cake batter.

 

Bake 45 to 50 min. or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan 10 min. Loosen cake from side of pan with knife. Invert cake onto wire rack; gently remove pan. Cool cake completely.

 

Place cake on plate. (not the one you are going to serve the cake on). Microwave 3 Tbsp. water in microwaveable measuring cup on HIGH 30 sec. Add to remaining dry gelatin mix; stir until dissolved. Brush over cake until mixture is absorbed. Place on serving platter. Refrigerate leftovers.

Heat oven to 350ºF.Beat cake mix, 3/4 cup water, egg whites and oil in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add 1/4 cup dry gelatin mix; beat on low speed 1 min., then on medium speed 4 min. Stir in berries; set aside. Beat cream cheese and whole egg in small bowl with mixer until well blended

 Beat cake mix, 3/4 cup water, egg whites and oil in large bowl with mixer until well blended.

 Add 1/4 cup dry gelatin mix; beat on low speed 1 min., then on medium speed 4 min

 Stir in berries; set aside

Beat cream cheese and whole egg in small bowl with mixer until well blended.

 Pour half the cake batter into greased 12-cup fluted tube pan or 10-inch tube pan

Cover with layers of cream cheese mixture

 

Cover with layer remaining cake batter

 Bake 45 to 50 min. or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan

for 10 minutes

 

 Loosen cake from side of pan with knife. Invert cake onto wire rack; gently remove pan.

Cool cake completely. Place cake on plate  (not the one you are going to serve the cake on)

 

 Microwave 3 Tbsp. water in microwaveable measuring cup on HIGH 30 sec. Add to remaining dry gelatin mix; stir until dissolved.

 

 Brush over cake until mixture is absorbed

 Place on serving platter.

 The cake sat on my lap for a 30 minute car ride. I was soooooooo hungery by the time we got to my aunt’s house!

 A tip for covering things without lids. Use tooth picks and plastic wrap. Poke a few tooth picks in the food and drape the plastic wrap over. That way the plastic wrap won’t pull off the icing:-) This tip was brought to you by Mom. When you don’t know what to do ask Mom<3

êêCritics Ratingsêê

Meêêêê1/2  Dad êêêêê Momêêêêê Paul êêêê The rest of my familyêêêêê

Would I make it again…

Yes, I am not much of a cake fan. I like more sophisticated cakes like this, or things such as ginger bread cake. So I will definitely be making this again.

What would I do differently…

I would add a ¼ cup of sugar to the cream cheese mixture to give it extra sweetness. I added about an 1/8 of a cup, but it could have had some more added.



Chocolate Cinnamon Squares

                 
These were amazing! I have been trying to venture out and make more of a variety of things, other than the basic cookies and cakes. Just because it gets kind of boring following the same recipes and knowing what everything will taste like. On Tuesday I was looking thru our cook books because I am making the dessert for my Moms, Aunts (my mom’s twin sister) and my Grandma’s birthday and I stumbled across this recipe, so I decided to make it. It was really simple and quick. They would be great for any type of party, get together and I think I might make them for the next time we go camping.

Lets Get Cookin’

Ingredients

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 cup sugar

1 tbsp ground cinnamon

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 egg, separated

1/3 c. sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

6 oz of semisweet chocolate morsels

½ cup chopped pecans (optional (I did not put them on))

Combine the first four ingredients in a large bowl. Add butter, egg and egg yolk, mixing well. Press evenly into a lightly greased 15-x-10-X-1 jellyroll pan. (I used a cookie sheet because our jelly roll pan is MIA)  Beat egg white slightly, and brush over mixture.

                Combine 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, chocolate and pecans; sprinkle over bottom layer. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Cool and cut into 2 inch squares.

Yields 3 dozen

Combine the first four ingredients in a large bowl.

 Add butter, egg and egg yolk, mixing well.

 Press evenly into a lightly greased 15-x-10-X-1 jellyroll pan. (I used a cookie sheet because our jelly roll pan is MIA)

Beat egg white slightly, and brush over mixture.

Combine 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, chocolate and pecans

   

sprinkle over bottom layer

Bake at 350° for 25 minutes

My amazing plate my grandparents got for me.

Cool and cut into 2 inch squares.

êêCritics Reviewsêê

Paul êêêê Mom êêê1/2 Dadêêêê Me êêêêê Trevor êêêêê

Would I make them again…

YES!! I absolutely loved them. My brothers friend Trevor said “these are the best things that I have ever eaten. Well not as good as pizza, but the next best thing!” My mom was in the living room while they were baking and thought the smell was different than the taste (I think she was craving oatmeal scotches at the time) so she gave it a three and a half.  I am not positive if her rating counts ;-). My dad thought they were a bit to cinnamony, but I didn’t think that there was enough cinnamon. Who knows really.

What would I do different…

I would make it in a jellyroll pan. Granted the cookie sheet worked well, I just wished the side were a cleaner cut.

Inspiration: Victorian Fantasies

I feel like this year was the big turning point in my life, (and probably too many other of high schoolers also). In which I have finally found what I love. That would be all things: vintage, rustic, farmish, gardenish, Victorian, vintage, antique, handmade with love, colorful and anything that feels like it has been loved and from the heart.  You could plop me down anywhere in the 1700’s, 1800s, thru the 1950s and I would do just fine. Granted I have always loved this style, and I always go back to it, but finally I am absolutely, positively ok with feeling this way. I never really have cared what people thought about me, but being a 5^th grader or even in middle school and saying I like the vintage look, is really strange, especially  when all of your friends are yipee High School Musical and Hannah Montana.

It probably all boils down to my mom and grandmas. In 1^st grade my mom introduced me to Laura Ingalls Wilder. In second grade, I had one of my wonderful grandmas make me a Laura Ingalls Wilder costume for Halloween. By 4^th grade my mom had finished reading me her books, but that didn’t stop my excitement for the old times. In 5^th grade we did a State Fair project at school. We had to chose one person from Minnesota and write a biography and a tri-fold presentation about them. I think you can guess who I did mine, but if not I did it on Laura. I had all the books on display; I had my dress and a covered wagon, (which Laura made all of her 7 moves on). I was amazed moms came up to me with tears forming in their eyes saying “I remember when I was little, my grandma would read me these stories” or “when I was a kid I couldn’t wait to see the next episode” Then in 6^th grade my other Wonderful Grandma helped me make another period dress for Halloween. In 7^th grade my amazing church leader Amanda introduced me to the world of Ann of Green Gables. And let me tell ya’ there was NO TURNING BACK!! And now this year we watched Pride and Prejudice, and Northanger Abbey. I was, am, and forever will be, stuck in my Victorian fantasy:-)

However there is a twist to this fantasy. I love adventure. I would probably be the girl that was to head strong and my face always in a book. But then you think and say “hmm well isn’t all of the girls that you listed above a hero or adventure enthusiast.” If you did than you are right!!!!!!! I most likely get that drive from having a brother, and camping. The first time I went camping was around 8 months old. And I have gone at least once every year.  I have also grown up with light saber wars, match box cars, sports, super heroes (SMALLVILLE) and not afraid of getting muddy!

As you can see the girls in the books, and I would probably be great friends. It could be all in my head, but I don’t like to think that way.

Last night at girls group we watched part of Northanger Abbey because we LOVE historical romances. We were discussing how if we watched it with all the girls in our grade, most of them would A) be bored, or B) not understand it. But they are just so good, pure and innocent, no swearing, no awkward scenes. And you cannot tell me that riding in a car is more romantic than riding on a horse, it is just not possible. The horse always wins.

I was at Bachman’s this past weekend with my mom and grandma getting things to make a terrarium. While we were there I got super inspired by all of the vintage and rustic home décor that they sell. So I took some pictures (found some online too) and decided to make an inspiration post. Hope you enjoy!

                    Vintage Plates

My mom and I both have a serious addiction to blue and white plates. We don’t know why, but we do.

I realy like the plate on the left.

                                                        I absolutely love this plate!!

P.S. The next food post will have my all time favorite plate that my Grandma and Grampa got me it is so cute<3  (just for you mom its SUPER CUTE)

     Farmish and Gardeney Inspired Décor 

A melted jar that is now a plater / holder. How neat is that! They also  had melted coke bottles.

So if you don’t know what this is, it used to be on an old power line. But now it’s being used a candle holder. My mom has 3 of them, I think, and I really wanted her to get the holder for them.

                    Favorite Book

                         Dresses

It has always disappointed me that girls can’t just wear dresses like this anymore. They are so detailed and elegant, but out of season for quite some time now;-)  

                                             

Granted I would never have this style of wedding dress I love Anne of Green Gables dress.

If I could be any actress in the world I would chose Keira Knightley because I LOVE LOVE LOVE! The clothing she gets to wear! From a pirate to Elizabeth Bennet she has the most amazing roles.

                    My Second Home

                                      

As I mentioned camping has been a huge part of my life. We almost always go camping up in Lutsen, on the north shore. The next to pictures are of the bridge by Lutsen Resort (which neither I nor my family has ever stated at, granted we always go in to look at the polar bear). My parents got married on the bridge and we go back almost every year. It’s kind of one of those things that has more spirit and life than many people have. That might not have made any sense, but it is how I feel when I am there and is something I can’t really explain unless I am there.

This is the cascade river. It is one of the trails that we hike along while camping on the north shore. The other one we always hike is Temperance River because the campground we stay at is right on it.

I love being out on the water, it’s so peaceful and serene. I have canoed a lot more than sailing, but I did go to sailing camp one year and that was a lot of fun. I would like to go sailing more, it’s just that no one in my family knows how to and no one owns a sail boat :-)

Last and surly not lest is Superman. I have always loved superman. Then last year my dad bought almost all of the seasons of Smallville and we started to watch them together starting with season one. I swear it was love starting with in the first minute. And I am super said because on May, 13^th (yes it’s a Friday) is season 10 and the series finally. Let me tell ya’, it will be a day of water works. If you are unfortunate enough to never have heard about Smallville, it’s a modern day take on Clark Kent’s life in high school and he’s trials and triumphs of learning about and using his powers.