Call for a free 15-minute consultation to customize your needs | (720)712-0851


Blog Layout

Valentine’s Day Musings and Strawberry-Lemon Cake

The Dough Mamma • Feb 14, 2015

It happens the same way almost every year.  I notice Valentine’s Day on the calendar, I roll my eyes, I think to myself, what a stupid holiday and then about one week prior to the countdown, I start to quietly obsess about making the perfect craft, the perfect dessert and of course, what to get the hubby.

One might think by now, I should have it together. I mean, I have been married for almost nine years, and have been a mother to our son for over 7.5 of those years.  Valentine’s Day should be easy – but alas, the perfectionist in me (however subdued she is by her second pregnancy) cries out – you don’t want to be a lousy wife and certainly not a lousy mother, you must perform a Valentine’s Day miracle.

As though the taste of a dessert or making the perfect card for my son will guarantee a therapy free couch for my family.  I recognize the ridiculousness of it all and yet I am still carried away with this idea of making Valentine’s Day special.

I remember being single in my mid-twenties and seeing couples holding hands on Valentine’s Day.  Strolling the streets of Santa Barbara, gazing into each others eyes, I can recall an overwhelming desire to throw eggs at those poor unsuspecting lovers.  Valentine’s Day, back then anyways, was a day created to make single people feel like dirt – and it worked, mission accomplished, I felt loathsome.

Today, Valentine’s Day for me is an excuse to spend money, eat a nice dinner and get some alone time with my hubby.  For him, I’m guessing he looks forward to the holiday because he is guaranteed sex.   I mean, let’s be real, if we can accomplish that, there is very little else I have to do.

Yesterday, I received a text from Garrett, notifying me he had booked a prenatal massage.  This message of course serves two purposes.  One, is to notify me so that I can plan my day.  Two, it serves as a reminder that he has fulfilled his husbandly duties – therefore, I too must take action.

Garrett has always been more romantic than I. He loves to cuddle, he will stare lovingly into my eyes, he always holds my hand when we walk, honestly, he is a dream.  I on the other hand, am rather cynical.  I don’t love long cuddles. I have to ask if he has washed his hands recently, before holding hands and it takes every last nerve not to roll my eyes when he lovingly wants to connect face to face.  Maybe it’s the Miami girl in me, or perhaps I have just been blessed with enough cynicism to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground.   Regardless, we must always meet in the middle and it is with this thought I begin to plan my next move for this overrated holiday.

A slight hint of panic starts to set in.  What should I get Garrett? He is rarely enthusiastic about anything, so whatever I get, I won’t be expecting a standing ovation nor applause. I take a deep breath and realize I’m pretty lucky.  My man is simple, he doesn’t want much, but he needs to feel loved and appreciated, as everyone should.  So I decide, babysitter or no babysitter we will go out for a nice dinner, I will bake his favorite dessert, strawberry cake and pretend to feign interest in yet another action movie.  This girls got it covered.

Now for the kid.  You would think a 7 year old boy would be easy.  However, having been the only child thus far, he has led a somewhat spoiled life.  Though he is perfectly happy with gifts from CVS and Ross (after all, he is his mother’s child) he expects all day to be about Valentine’s Day. “Mom can I watch t.v., it’s Valentine’s Day”  “Mom can I have pink pancakes, it’s Valentine’s Day” I suppose my words of wisdom to new moms is:  don’t be afraid to set a very average bar for holiday celebrations.  The problem with setting the bar too high is, if you don’t meet those expectations annually, disappointment is sure to be a topic at the dinner table.

So it’s with this knowledge that I know what it is I must do for the little guy.  Buy a small CVS stuffed animal with candy, purchase a cute card, perhaps a few candy hearts and make pink pancakes in the morning and I shall once again reign as the Valentine’s Day queen – at least for one more year.

Now, it’s time to start baking for these boys.  It will be the last year I have the boys to myself before our daughter joins our family.  It is with this last thought that I take a deep breath and try to cherish the craziness of it all, I try to laugh off the pressure I put on myself and attempt to focus on the love that is our little family unit.

IMG_2378

Lemon Cake
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
 
Ingredients
  • Lemon Loaf Cake : Ina Garten
  • ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2½ cups granulated sugar, divided
  • 4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
  • ⅓ cup grated lemon zest (6 to 8 large lemons)
  • 3 cups flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided
  • ¾ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Strawberry Curd: Lavender and Lovage
  • 8 oz fresh strawberries
  • finely grated zest and juice of 1 small lemon
  • finely grated zest and juice of i small orange
  • 11¼ oz of sugar
  • 4½ oz butter cubed
  • 4 large eggs
  • pinch of salt
  • Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream
  • 1 cup of of heavy whipping cream
  • 2 Tbsp of sugar
  • 1 tsp of vanilla bean innards from 2 vanilla beans
  • Vanilla Bean Whip Cream
  • 1 cup of of heavy whipping cream
  • 2 Tbsp of sugar
  • 1 tsp of vanilla bean innards from 2 vanilla beans
Instructions
  1. Lemon Loaf Cake
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (8½ by 4¼ by 2½-inch) loaf pans. You may also line the bottom with parchment paper, if desired.
  3. Cream the butter and 2 cups granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the lemon zest.
  4. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine ¼ cup lemon juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.
  5. Combine ½ cup granulated sugar with ½ cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them. Allow the cakes to cool completely.
  6. Strawberry Curd : Will yield about 3 cups
  7. Purée the prepared strawberries in a food processor
  8. Put the strawberry purée in a double broiler or a glass bowl that sits snugly over the top of a saucepan with simmering water and add the lemon and orange zest, juice, sugar and butter.
  9. Beat the eggs and then add them to the bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Stir well and continue to stir (or whisk) the mixture of the simmering water until it thickens. This can take up to 10 minutes - the curd is cooked when it coats the back of a spoon.
  10. Pour the cooked curd into sterilized jars, and then allow to cool before sealing with cellophane covers or clean lids.
  11. Store in the fridge for up to 2 4 weeks. You will have about 3½ cups total.
  12. Vanilla Bean Whip Cream
  13. To remove the insides of the vanilla beans, take a very sharp knife and carefully split the vanilla beans open lengthwise.
  14. Take the tip of your knife and scrape the insides. You can discard your beans at this point or you can put them in a jar of sugar to flavor your sugar.
  15. Pour the heavy whipping cream into a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Begin to adjust the speed to high. Do not take your eyes off the whipping cream or it can curdle within seconds.
  16. As soon as you see it start to thicken, add your sugar and vanilla bean innards.

 

 

 

 

 

By The Dough Mamma 07 Mar, 2017
Delicious and refreshing
By The Dough Mamma 13 Feb, 2017
Watching “Leave it to Beaver” reruns on Nickelodeon was an all time favorite of mine as a kid. Like a window into Norman Rockwell’s soul, Americana could not have looked any sweeter. How simple life seemed back then, kids could play in the streets, dad went to work and mom stayed home. Family roles were clearly defined and though most likely confining for women, I’m guessing there was also some comfort in the concrete expectations of motherhood.
By The Dough Mamma 29 Jan, 2017
The beauty of marriage lies in the history that the two have created and weaved together, a history no one else can share. The day you walked down the aisle, the day your children were born, the nights you laughed so hard you cried, the moments you knew, this was your partner, you have been truly seen. The growth and evolution from sharing your life with someone is both beautiful and challenging but like most things in life, nothing worth while ever comes easy.
By The Dough Mamma 22 Jan, 2017
Despite the fact I spent my college years in Vermont, neither school nor work had ever been cancelled due to snow. Vermonters are tough as nails, if you can’t drive to work, then you better strap your snow shoes on and huff it. They’re used to massive snowfall and handle business like a boss, clearing roads quickly. Colorado on the other hand, mmm not so much. It appears Colorodans simply wait three days until it warms up and the snow melts. Why use snow plows if you don’t have to?
By The Dough Mamma 22 Nov, 2016
By now you may be knee-deep in “de-friending” folks over the election, or quite possibly planning your relocation to Canada, eh? Considering that off-grid home in the middle of the woods yet? If so, I know a guy…
By The Dough Mamma 06 Nov, 2016
As you can tell from the picture above, this post was originally intended for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, clearly we are a day late and a dollar short, but hey it’s chocolate and can be enjoyed any time of year.
By The Dough Mamma 24 Oct, 2016
I remember first becoming a mother and questioning what my new position should look like. Should I still play the Beasty Boys in carpool, or should I be more responsible and play children’s music. Similarly now I question, what does it mean to be 40? Will I be buying my New Year’s Eve dress at Chico’s? Should I start buying Werther’s and clutch my pearls in dismay? Can I still watch the Housewives’ franchise or should I really buckle down and watch CNN nightly? What does it mean to be 40?
By The Dough Mamma 09 Oct, 2016
I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t particularly care for tomatoes. I’m rather picky about them in fact. I’ve always requested tomato-free sandwiches and hamburgers. If my meal happens to arrive with one of those little culprits, it’s like an affront to my soul. Here I am waiting for a bacon cheeseburger with crispy lettuce and they want to throw a wet slice of tomato in the bun, no thank you! The texture simply doesn’t appeal to me. Though I can appreciate their earthy sunburst flavors, I generally prefer my tomatoes in other forms such as: ketchup, marinara and soup. I will however make an exception for cherry tomatoes. Their size, the way they pop in your mouth and their savory-citrus flavor, make them far more appealing.
By The Dough Mamma 02 Oct, 2016
Filled with tart cinnamon apples, plump raisins and a delicate crumb similar to a coffee cake, this lovely dessert is perfect for the New Year or any celebration. Best served warm with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, it’s a delightful ending to any meal. Alternatively, you can allow this cake to cool completely and top with whipped cream or vanilla bean ice cream.
By The Dough Mamma 28 Sep, 2016
This salad is easy to make, and has a lovely variety of flavors which marry well and leave you satisfied. Crispy maple chicken, tangy goat cheese, crunchy hazelnuts and roasted red peppers, this salad is a big crowd-pleaser. Dress with your favorite vinaigrette and dinner is served.
More Posts
Share by: