Homemade Lemon Cake & Lemon Frosting

I have a pretty, festive and happy homemade lemon cake to share with you today.I made it this weekend for the hubby and I, well mostly for the hubby.I am going to be out of town for a few days taking care of two grandbabies while their parents are away.Whenever I am away for a bit I always like to leave a little treat for my sweetie!I am pretty certain that this cake would be a very nice addition to an Easter gathering, Spring shower or just because.I have changed my format for adding recipes to my blog, as some of you mentioned not being able to pin the recipe, sure hope you'll be pinning and making this Homemade Lemon Cake!

You know how I like lemons...right? Well, I infused this cake with extra hand squeezed lemon juice from yours truly and oh goodness it is soo good.Just look at the texture of this cake. This is a take to an event cake that you can be proud of.

You are going to love this cake if you love lemons!!

Isn't this an adorable spatula, a little gift from a sweet daughter.

Now I have a true confession about the lemon frosting.I took a short cut and you know what, you are going to like it!
I made up the recipe as I was sampling the cake batter, I sort of ran out of steam after I baked this amazing cake and well one thing led to another so here we go!
I think every seasoned baker should have a little cheat recipe or two...don't you??

Thank you for joining me today and if you are into lemons like me here are a couple of other recipes too!Meyer Lemon Friendship CookiesLemon Icebox Pie
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Please Join Me~Our Holiday Journey

Beer Batter Coconut Shrimp & Honey Marmalade Dipping Sauce

Hi everyone so great to be here with you all today!From my kitchen to yours I am  sharing an AMAZING Coconut Shrimp recipe.When I began my search for a killer of a Coconut Shrimp recipe I had some ingredients conjured up in my mind that I wanted to use for the batter.It was important to me to have a light batter that stuck well to the shrimp and did not add any overbearing flavors. My goal was for the taste of the shrimp to shine through with just an appealing hint of coconut flavor and a satisfying crunch.This recipe came through with flying colors.

I wish that my photos of  the shrimp would have been better. This was our evening meal last Friday night and the light got away from me before I had the chance to snap the end results.Would telling you that there was not a single shrimp left be proof enough!

Be sure to make the honey marmalade dipping sauce, it is a wonderful medley of sweet and spicy.I think it would be great with chicken, egg rolls, sausage balls, most fried foods and foods with an Asian influence.It can be adjusted to your liking by simply increasing or decreasing the ingredients listed below.

I also wanted to let you all know before I get busy with the recipe that I am working on some little cookbooks.
They will be available on the blog in the next couple of months, I am keeping them easy and basic so they will be a great accompaniment to your existing cookbooks.
Now on with the recipes and thank you for joining me today.

yield: 24 Coconut ShrimpAuthor: Jemma Olson print recipe

Beer Batter Coconut Shrimp ( Adapted From Allrecipes)

prep time: 30 minutes cook time: 30 minutes total time: 1 Hour

This is a tasty and light beer batter that complements the coconut and shrimp. Coconut shrimp can be served as an appetizer or accompanied by a tossed salad for a meal. You will need a deep fat fryer or Fry Daddy for even cooking.

INGREDIENTS:

Frying The Coconut Shrimp

• 24 medium size cleaned & deveined Shrimp with tails on
• 3/4 bottle of Belgian Pale Ale Beer
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
• 4 cups oil
• Fry Daddy/or fryer of choice

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In medium bowl, combine egg, 3/4 cup flour, beer and baking powder. Place 1/4 cup flour and coconut in two separate bowls. Hold shrimp by tail, and dredge in flour, shaking off excess flour. Dip in egg/beer batter; allow excess to drip off. Roll shrimp in coconut, and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat oil to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) in a deep-fryer. Fry shrimp in batches: cook, turning once, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Using tongs, remove shrimp to paper towels to drain. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

Honey Marmalade Dipping Sauce

1. 3/4 Cup Marmalade 1/2 cup Honey 1/4 cup Yellow Mustard 1/4 cup Horseradish 4 drops Hot Pepper Sauce
2. Mix orange marmalade, honey, mustard, horseradish and hot sauce in a bowl. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until serving time.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Super happy to share with you that ticket sales are going good for the Brighten Workshop being held next month.
We have added some exciting new features to the workshop, details to follow on Friday as well as a video of the Sweet Shoppe.
Ticket sales available on the sidebar using PayPal.

Affiliate links are included on this post.

DIY~Tea Cup Birdfeeder

I feel certain that many of you might just be bird-lovers, birdwatchers, perhaps even photographers of specialized bird species.Well, personally I enjoy watching a variety of birds that soar, nest and tweet in our backyard. From the majestic beauty of the red tail hawk as he sits on the branch of an oak tree or the brilliant crimson red of the cardinal flying from limb to limb. So when we were given the challenge of what to do with a Tea Cup I knew immediately that I wanted to use my tea cup to enhance the quality of life for my bird friends.

So, today six of us tea cup friends and our lovely organizer Carole from Garden Up Green are sharing with you some creative ways to up-cycle our teacups.Links to all will be included at the end of this post.

Once this idea popped into my head, I was so anxious to get it made and get it hung on a Tree branch.I almost felt like the birds were just waiting for me to hurry up and get it made.The great thing about this project is it is FAST and easy too, so your bird friends won't have to wait long either.

Supplies For Tea Cup Bird-feeder
1. Tea Cup & Saucer2. Jute3. Crazy Glue, epoxy glue or e6000 glue4. Scissors5. Heart Grapevine Wreath6. Bird Seed

Directions for Diy Tea Cup Bird-feeder
1. Crazy glue tea cup to saucer.2. Crazy glue tea cup to heart grapevine wreath.3. Decorate wreath with jute.4. Tie handle of tea cup to grapevine wreath.5. Leave enough extra jute at top of wreath to tie bird feeder on to a tree branch.6. Hang your bird feeder.7. Fill with bird seed.
I am happy to say that the wee birds have been rather pleased with their new bird feeder and they are so cute sitting on the saucer!

Garden Matter

To Work With My Hands

Grit Antiques

At Home With Jemma

Poofing the Pillows

Garden Up Green

That pretty much sums it all up!Happy Friday and we hope you will enjoy these projects as much as we all did!Thank you for joining us all today.XO

Affiliate Links included

357 Valentine Chocolate Chip Cookies

Before I get started with this little baking story and Quick Valentine Cookie Tip, I want to tell you all who won the Startle Garden Book giveaway from Carole West at Garden Up Green.It is Angie Goldsmith, please email me your mailing address and congrats!I use random.org to determine the winner, so it is fair and square...

Well now back to the story behind the recipe and more.You see it was a windy pre-Valentine day and later on in the evening I was hosting our book-club meeting at our home. 

Our book for the month was The Woman In Cabin, recommended by my youngest daughter.

The Woman In Cabin Ten  is a tightly wound and suspenseful novel, involving a female journalist who writes for a travel magazine. Her assignment takes her on the maiden voyage of a small luxury cruise ship. ( Love to hear from you and what you thought of the book) I highly recommend it if you like twists and turns and a whodunit plot.

I had several things going on at one time and really not focusing entirely on any of them as I probably should have been.I know you have done this too...don't you find it amazing how everything turns out all right with these sort of distractions and projects...A generous pot of homemade chicken noodle soup was bubbling and simmering on the cook-top, a half completed decomesh Valentine Wreath sat on the table, while a batch of Valentine Chocolate Chip Cookies were just about ready to pop into the oven.My girls were texting me, and I was happy as a bee sipping on my diet pepsi.

Now you see, this is my dilemma.I cannot see without my reading glasses on, not even to set the temperature on the oven.So I hurriedly punched in 3 numbers let the oven preheat, slid two cookie sheets of 357 Valentine Chocolate Chip Cookies in the oven and went on to the several other things I had going on.

Fast forward, the cookies are baked, and they came out the best ever!I know it is a surprise to me too with the amount of distractions that were going on.They were a  little soft, but not too soft, not one single burnt edge, and I said to myself, I bet it was the extra 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda that I added.

Baking Tip For Chocolate Chip Cookies~Lower the Oven Temperature, bake a little longer and your cookies will be softer.

So, was it the baking soda that made the difference??NO!When I went to turn the oven off I discovered I had baked 4 dozen cookies on 357 degrees not 375!I chuckled all afternoon over this-but seriously these were some fabulous cookies!They took a little longer to bake, and oh goodness were they worth it.

Quick Valentine Cookie Tip~Add seasonal sprinkles to the cookie dough.

If you are looking for a quick way to add some Valentine cheer to your cookies today just use the recipe off of the package of Nestle Toll House semi sweet chocolates or your favorite recipe. Add some heart shaped sprinkles in the batter and then for added good measure add a few on the top of the mounds of dough before you bake them..Thank you friends for sharing your day with me, truly it means so very, very much!
I am wishing you a day that is free from worries, filled with joy, and sprinkled with lots of love!XO

DIY Sea Glass Necklaces On The Tenth

Welcome to 10 on the Tenth, a happy place where you might just find something to bake, make, take or purchase.A group of us have gathered together to bring you the best of what we found this month and the nifty thing is-it's all under $10!Links to all 9 blogs are at the end of this post, so be prepared to be inspired!

A few weeks ago I shared with you the relocation of our middle daughter and her family. They recently moved to Puerto Rico. This sweet girl sent me some gorgeous tumbled sea glass that she collected herself.Well, when you receive such a fantastic gift as this you have some decisions to make.One is how to showcase these treasures from the sea and two how to share the goodness with some sweet girlfriends. 

The decision was quickly made to have a morning jewelry making class.Supplies were assembled, a few jewelry making basic were purchased at Hobby Lobby and the rest was basically all collected from what we had in our homes.I made a batch of my Holiday Cinnamon Rolls and a big pot of coffee and we went to work.All crafty girls need food and coffee...

THE SUPPLIES-
They will vary depending on your choice of materials.To Keep Cost Under $10.00 plan ahead on the style of jewelry you will be making.
1. Florist wire cutters 2. Flat nose pliers3. Scissors4. Floral Wire5. Copper Wire6. Artistic Wire7. Cord8. Leather cord9. Beads 10. Lobster clasp or springring clasp11. Chain12. Charms13. Sea Glass14. Paper15. Pencil

Deciding on the design of the necklace was the most difficult step for me.I searched for all sorts of images and then I ended up drawing a simple design on some computer paper.We all watched a you-tube video or two for some extra instruction and after a short tutorial we all felt pretty comfortable proceeding.Jewelry making is very relaxing and enjoyable.

THE STEPS:1. Design your jewelry using paper and a pencil.2. Experiment with different designs and placement of sea glass or beads before cutting your wire or cording.3. Once you have decided upon a design decided the length of your necklace.4. Cut the cord to the desired length5. Decide on how much wire you will be using for each bead or sea glass before cutting the length.6. Cut wire and begin wrapping the sea glass.7. Add small beads etc... to the wire as you are wrapping the sea glass8. After wrapping the sea glass attach the sea glass to the cording of the necklace.9. Attach clasp.10. Wear necklace.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT

And there you have it, your own fashionable diy sea glass jewelry. 

Sort of looks like they came right out of a Sundance Catalog!

Please join these creative and sweet gals !

          White Spray Paint /At Home with Jemma/Bluesky Kitchen/Cottage at the Crossroads

              Garden Up Green/Patina and Paint/Poofing the Pillows/The Purple Hydrangea
                           
                                  The Queen in Between/To Work With My Hands


We would positively love for you to join us in March for the Brighten Tea and Workshop.
Tickets on sale now.
Purchase may be made through PayPal located on the sidebar of this blog.

Have a beautiful weekend!!
XO

Startle Garden Book Giveaway

Hello everyone! It is with great joy that I share with you today a Startle Garden Book review and giveaway.  But for me, it is more than a giveaway. Today I am sharing with you the talent and spirit of a woman who goes above and beyond. In a world that is full of cookie cutter shaped souls she has carved out authenticity, integrity, hard work, focus and a rare concept in today's world she is true to herself. So without any more delays I happy to be sharing this opportunity with you!
With Spring being  just around the corner, and even though it might not feel that way for some of you, it truly is.I know I am seeing some of you smiling right about now just thinking about SPRING! and GARDENING!

Carole from Garden Up Green who has recently published her second book, Startle Garden.Is offering this beautiful and timely giveaway.It is a lovely gardening book with a workbook style format. Carole takes us step by step through the planning and planting process.

She encourages us to take planning notes as well as make assignments and checklists that will help us to plan our own gardening spaces.Carole first discovered her passion for  gardening as she worked the garden soil with her Italian Grandma. Carole is now the guru of simplified gardening methods.

Startle Garden is a fabulous compilation of photographs, instruction and tips.Carole uses her no-nonsense step by step approach to encourage us to utilize what we already have in our gardens and work spaces to add pazazz and personality to any garden space.Small space no problem...large space no problem. She covers it all!

In this book you will find twelve chapters with highlights on managing healthy soil, choosing the right space, seed purchasing tips and much more.Carole's passion for living her best by doing more, ignites our passion for doing the same and it can all begin in the garden!

Now on to the giveaway!
Startle Garden ~ Grow Your Best Garden Book.
How to enter.
Leave us a little comment on your favorite flower or vegetable that you love to grow in your garden.

Giveaway Deadline & Details
Giveaway ends on February 13th. Winner will be notified by email requesting your mailing address then the Startle Garden Book will be sent directly to you from the author.

Don't have time to wait, or you have a gardener in the family, well this will be the perfect gift.
Pick it up right Here:  Startle Garden Book On Create Space                                              Or right here with prime.(Free two day shipping with eligible purchases.)Affiliate links have been included.
As always wishing you the best that life has to offer!XO