3x

Gluten Free Lemon Cake

https://www.onelovelylife.com/gluten-free-lemon-cake/

For the Lemon Cake:

• 1/2 cup milk (I use unsweetened almond milk)
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice
• 3/4 cup sugar (I used organic cane sugar)
• 2 Tbsp lemon zest (about 2 lemons’ worth)
• 1/2 cup avocado oil (can sub melted coconut oil, butter or vegan butter)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup gluten free all purpose flour baking blend (like Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour)
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

For the Lemon-Honey syrup:

• 1 Tbsp honey
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice

For the Lemon Glaze:

• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp milk (I use almond milk)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted (I measure, then sift)

---

INSTRUCTIONS

For the cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9″ cake pan with spray oil and line the bottom with a parchment paper circle*
2. In a liquid measuring cup (or a small bowl), combine lemon juice and milk. Let sit for about 5 minutes.
3. While the lemon juice and milk is sitting, rub lemon zest into the sugar in a large bowl. This gets the lemon oil into the sugar and distributes the flavor really well.
4. Add milk mixture, avocado oil, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.
5. In a medium bowl, stir together flour blend, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. (Or you can simply sprinkle the dry ingredients over the wet before stirring)
6. Pour into your prepared 9″ cake pan.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Place on a cooling rack in the pan for 10 minutes to cool slightly before turning out onto a plate.
9. While the cake cools slightly, mix up your lemon honey syrup (see below)
10. After 10 minutes cooling in the pan, turn the cake out onto a plate or cake stand and brush with the still-warm cake with lemon honey syrup.
11. When the cake has cooled completely, top with glaze.

For the Lemon-Honey Syrup:

1. Stir together lemon juice and honey. Brush over the cake when it’s still quite warm (as soon after removing the cake from the cake pan as you can). Let cake brushed with syrup cool completely before adding the glaze.

For the Lemon Glaze:

1. Sift powdered sugar into a large bowl. Add lemon juice, milk, and vanilla. Whisk or beat until smooth. (Ideally, you want the glaze to be opaque and to hold its shape when it drips down the sides of the cake. If yours is too thin, add more powdered sugar 1 Tbsp at a time. If it’s too thick, add more milk 1 teaspoon at a time until you reach the right consistency.)
2. Pour glaze over your cooled cake and gently spread it toward the edges. Let some of the glaze run down the sides. Let set completely before cutting and serving.

NOTES

You can absolutely make this in a stand mixer or food processor instead of in a mixing bowl. Your preference!

*To cut a parchment circle, I trace the bottom of my cake pan on parchment paper, then cut it out. It’ll be the perfect size!

Grow

Song of Solomon

Just For You

Spring

Last week my daughter & I took our little buddies and went 

to a local park for the day.

I am so happy and blessed that after last year's major

back injury, I can now walk w/o pain and

enjoy both my daughter's company

and God's creation as we toured the park!

This Spring has been just beautiful and glorious-

very lovely weather.

I hope that you are enjoying your Spring season

too.

The flowers appear on the earth;
 the time of the singing of birds is come,
 and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

Song of Solomon 2:12

Warmer Days are Coming...a Fun Craft to do to Get Ready!

Link

This looks easy--I might try it-how about you?   Thought that it would
probably be best to get small sized flip flops (maybe at the Dollar Store?)
Get a flat  Styrofoam wreath and cover it w/a solid coordinating ribbon. Hot
glue the flip flops to the wreath, add silk flowers w/hot glue. Then, add
a length of ribbon to hang it with... sounds simple!?
A fun way to gear up for the warmer days ahead! Maybe get you in the mood
for Summer!? :)

Neat Spring Recipe...for Kids!

photo & credit
I thought these would be fun for kids. Maybe to celebrate the
first day of Spring? Or for a party?
Easy too!
Make your fav cupcake recipe.
 Mound vanilla icing high, and cover in sprinkles. Snip leaves from taffy tape.
Then insert Lollipop! :)

Spring Cleaning....

Spring Cleaning...yet not!

Ever since I was sick in 2011--things in my home have gotten away from me!

So, I decided to make a plan and try to stick to it to get things under control!

I got the book out of the library written by the Fly Lady-made a plan, and got started!

I divided my house up into five zones--the first one being the foyer, front porch, and dining room.

Above was my first project.

The dreaded hall closet...I decluttered by getting rid of many items, then decobwebed,

reorganized, cleaned and viola!

Then I tackled the Dining Room...

Took out these Precious Moments--all of them have been given to me by dear friends and family...

My Tea Cup from Prince Edward Island...

A gift from my dear friend Wilma--this is her and I hugging :)

Cleaned out the curio--and all the stuff that went in it

Then on to the China Closet/Hutch

Got rid of some things, cleaned it all, reorganized too

Then I did the bookshelf, the woodwork, and floor and I was done!

This week I am doing the kitchen--but forgot to take pics! :/

It's going well, I'm almost done and it's only Wed.

Yesterday I did the frig, washed and rehung the curtains, did the floor and windows.

Today I did the freezer, & reorganized several cabinets.

It's coming along nicely!

The goal of doing this is to repeat the zones every month-& never have to Spring Clean again--because you're always "caught up".

You're only supposed to spend 15 min. per day--but I am doing lots more than that so

I can get caught up!

If you are doing this method, I'd love to have your input!

April...

I really enjoyed the month of April, hope you did too!?

For me it went so quickly!

My daffodils have come and gone...

These delightful pansies wintered over--love them!

My weeping cherry is done too--it was beautiful though!

Hyacinths are also done, love this purple!

Love these mountain pinks--they require no care!

I'm always amazed at the Awakening that Spring brings...everything is brown, dead looking...

and then ALIVE!

Reminds me always of the Resurrection of Christ!

Blessings Abound!

Almost Spring....

Well ladies, I did indeed start my Spring Housecleaning!

It kind of happened by accident :)

My son went on a road trip to visit a friend, so I took the opportunity to tear his room apart and

clean and organize it!

That led to more cleaning of other rooms, and before I knew it, I had officially begun my

Spring Housecleaning!

My focus while cleaning this year is to remember to be thankful for my home.

I think of the ones in NJ who have been out of their homes for so long because of Hurricane Sandy and

my heart goes out to them.

I am very thankful to have a home to clean--and family members to clean for!

I'm also thankful to God that He has allowed me to get well enough to clean!

Oh, and  I'm so thankful for being able to stay at home to clean!

I am blessed!

Update

photo credit: my lovely daughter Briana

I have to admit it...I've got spring fever! :)

We had a few sunny, springlike days here, and I'm hooked!

I'm not the only one either, my sister in law said she "just wanted to get outside and plant something"

My feelings exactly!

Well, I thought I'd give you a little update on my health progress for those of

you who are kind enough to pray for me!

I went to my surgeon yesterday, and he said the biopsy from my colonoscopy was inconclusive.

(why am I suprised!?)

He said that I could have colitis, or crohn's disease and recommended I see a gastro guy--

he had a big smile when I told him I have an appt for Wed.  - one step ahead of him! lol

I'll let you know what happens after I see the specialist.

I imagine he will send me for some type of scope...

I really want to thank you so much for your prayers, what a blessing they are!

Thank you also for your endurance-it seems like I've been asking you to

pray for a looong time!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Psalm 28:7

Spring Really Is Bustin' Out All Over!

We planted things pretty early this year as it got warm early

Everything is doing well and is pretty established

We put a flag out that we snagged at a yard sale last year :)

These look purple, but they aren't they're BLUE

These tiny white flowers pictured above are actually growing on my moss!

It was taken really, really close up

My herbs in the pot are really thriving, tomato plant too!

(Cherry tomato)

Our blackberry plant has lots of blooms!

Our cranberry did too--the flowers are almost gone though

I waited too long to take a pic!

Cukes are getting some mature leaves

Brad's lettuce is so lush and green

Strawberries are being picked already

I really like the strawberry picture above

Briana's foxgloves above

and chamomile below are both blooming

I've had a hard time getting these squash plants going :/

This watermelon plant has speckled leaves, and the watermelon will

be speckled too...it's called Moon and Stars

Think I'll get any peaches off my new tree?

We planted these table grapes last year...can't wait to see what they're going to do!

The guys have to build me a trellis yet...

Hope your Spring is off to a good start!

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Psalm 98:4