Glazed Lemon Cake | #TheJaneAustenSocietyParty

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hey, remember me? Huge fan of the works of Jane Austen? You may have been clued in to this fact when I hosted the #JaneAustenBites event, or from my reviews and kitchen inspiration from spin-offs such as Clueless, The Jane Austen Book Club, The Austen Escape, or Chaos Comes to Longbourn. And just ask my family about the Austen marathons I hold at home—some version or another of the films or mini-series often being rewatched. Although oddly enough, I've never posted anything directly from the source herself, though in my head I'm constantly entertaining a year-long Jane Austen challenge (for myself) right here on the blog. That may still happen one day.

But that's a thought for another day. A few months ago I was invited to take part in a virtual party for a new Austen-inspired release called The Jane Austen Society by author Natalie Jenner, thrown by The Book Club Cookbook, and today...release day...the date has arrived! The Jane Austen Society is not a spin-off or new take on any of her classics, but rather a story centered around the impact that reading Jane Austen has had on the lives of a group of people.

Zesty Grilled Ham Steaks

We are already a week into July, and that means we're deep into grilling season. So, it's only natural that for this month's edition of #bloggerCLUE, our theme is Summer BBQ/Grilling! From the moment I had my assignment, I knew I'd hit the jackpot; Lea Ann from Cooking on the Ranch has no shortage of recipes that are made on the grill. I wasn't only stoked that I was assigned to Lea Ann's blog because I know she can use a grill, but because she and I have known each other for a number of years (I want to say about 6 years) through this amazing world of food blogging...way back when her blog name was Mangos, Chili and Z.

Aside from cooking up great food on a regular basis, she's an incredibly kind person, as well. When she had the chance to meet Rick Bayless, she actually got a signed copy of his (then) new cookbook for me since she knew he was (is) my favorite chef. I was blown away. Still am each and every time I open the cover of Fiesta at Rick's. I just realized that was in October of 2010. Time flies!

But anyway, the hardest part was narrowing down the choices of what I wanted to throw on the grill this month. A few things I contemplated were Sriracha Chicken Mushroom Kabobs, Honey Butter Grilled Chicken Wings with Parsley Sauce, Grilled Salmon with Homemade Teriyaki Sauce, and Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Southwestern Zinfandel Glaze. See? Almost impossible to narrow it down just from those few!

Lemon Icebox "Pie"

A few weeks ago, somebody on twitter asked me if I had a good Lemon Icebox Pie recipe. I had to say that I didn't, but that I would ask around. We found some absolutely tempting suggestions, and I decided that it was time to make one for myself. I don't know why I hadn't before now...I love lemon desserts. If I'm being completely honest, I don't think that I'd ever even eaten a slice before. That changed last weekend.

I wound up slightly adapting a recipe by my favorite cookbook author, Tessa Kiros. In her latest absolutely gorgeous as usual book, Recipes and Dreams from an Italian Life, she shares a pie that her sister has made for so many years that she could make it with her eyes closed. Not knowing the definite origins, she guesses that it probably came from a condensed milk can of old. I figured that "pie" (I'm air-quoting because can you really call it a pie if it's made in a rectangular pan? I suppose so, but for some reason, my fingers automatically raise...) was as good a place to start as any.

And guess what? YUM! So good. It's light an fluffy with that perfect lemon tang. I'm sort of in love with the simple filling. I think I'm going to stuff it an Angel Food Swiss Roll later on today. It also fits in perfectly at your Easter or Spring table.

Lemon Cornmeal Sandwich Cookies

There's just something about those hints of green appearing in the trees and poking through the ground that puts me in a light mood. Birds gossping in the yard as they rifle around for loose bits to build their nests. Warmer mornings and the promise (threat) of shedded layers. Scooting the chocolate to the back shelf and reaching for those sunny lemons instead. That means Spring must really be here!

Don't get me wrong, I don't shun chocolate once Spring finally chases away the snow, but there is something about the change that just makes me crave lemons (or coconut - but that's a whole 'nother story).  So, when Dixie Crystals challenged the Sunday Supper crew to make some Springtime Sweets featuring their sugar, I immediately saw yellow.

Although I would have liked nothing better than to make a batch of my favorite Lemon Bars (or my other favorite Lavender Lemon Bars) or whip up a Lemon Meringue Pie, I steered myself in another direction. I was in the mood for cookies. Some sort of cookie that could be set out with the desserts at Easter and not passed over for the pies, tarts, and meringues that surrounded it.

Lemon Vanilla Bundt Cake

Isn't it funny how our tastes change as we get older?  Certain things we loathed as kids are things we cannot imagine our life without now.  I used to balk a bit at the strongly scented wishes for a good day as my mom made her way out the door to go to work on school days.  (I love you, coffee.)

I remember wondering what my dad saw in that lumpy, bumpy, greenish-purplish skinned, creamy-green fleshed thing he loved so much.  And why every single pit made its way onto our window sill, balanced on a juice glass by two toothpicks.  (I came around, avocado.)

Arugula and Lemon Couscous...

...over at Everyday Maven today! That's right, I'm honored to be GBOTW (Guest Blogger of the Week) over at Alyssa's place today. I hope you'll join me there for this easy, tasty, healthy recipe using my latest obsession - baby arugula.

Arugula and Lemon Couscous

Lemon Apple Cake - 50 Women Game-Changers (in Food): #26 Ruth Rogers & Rose Gray

the "Gourmet" prompt...

26. Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray- You could barely eat out in London before these two opened the River Café in 1987. But soon, graduates of their market–fresh, real–Italian, open–kitchen place on the Thames had populated all the U.K.’s restaurant kitchens and most of the country’s food channels. And it was good.

Vermicelli Soup w/ Lemon, Butter, & Mint

Some days are just made for simplicity.  Take for instance a Tuesday.  Last Tuesday.  The sun shone brilliantly against a cloudless sky, making for a beautiful yet brisk morning and afternoon (it is November, after all).  After spending a little over a half an hour at the school and catching up on a few straggling dishes from the morning and vacuuming the house, I felt like it was a day to keep things uncomplicated.  So with the sun warming the house through windows with the curtains thrown back, I decided it was the perfect time to catch up on a few of my shows waiting, anxious to be watched, in the DVR.  Since midday was in sight, I stopped in the kitchen on the way to the television.  It doesn't get much quicker than a brothy bowl full of simple noodle soup.  Within 15 minutes I was curled up with a steaming bowl to watch the season premiere of The Next Iron Chef.  Simple is good.

Vermicelli Soup w/ Lemon, Butter, & Mint

slightly adapted from Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros

serves 4-6

7 c. chicken broth

juice of a lemon

2 Tbs. butter

4 oz. vermicelli, broken up

salt, as needed

freshly grated Parmesan cheese

freshly ground black pepper

4 mint leaves, torn (or a little crushed dried mint)

Pout broth, lemon juice, and butter in a pan.  Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer for 6-7 minutes before adding pasta.  Cook pasta until just al dente, season and add salt, if necessary.  Remove from heat and ladle into bowls.  Grate some Parm and black pepper over each bowl and then a scattering of mint.  Serve immediately.

I am sharing this post with:
*IHCC theme: In My Pasta Bowl...
*PPN being hosted by Lavendar and Lime this week.

Scottish Scones w/ Ginger & Lemon - 50 Women Game-Changers (in Food): #20 Molly Wizenberg

the "Gourmet" prompt...

20. Molly Wizenberg- Orangette, a blog circa 2004, has great, accessible recipes, and Wizenberg famously spun a book deal (A Homemade Life), a restaurant (Seattle’s Delancey), and a husband (Brandon) out of the blog. Not in that order—and, as she winningly relates, unintentionally.

Not long ago, I made Molly's Stewed Prunes w/ Citrus & Cinnamon.   And now I've gone and made some of her extremely tender, flavorful, to-die-for scones.  What is it about Molly that makes me want breakfast?

Fragole con Limone e Menta (Strawberries with Lemon and Mint)

Picture, if you will- bright red, early summer strawberries...tiny new mint leaves bursting that leave your fingers smelling divine...accents of bright, sunny lemon...with a hint of sweetness sitting in a fizzy bath of sparkling wine.  I wish that I'd been able to find some teeny-tiny ruby red wild strawberries, I think they would be totally seductive.  That said, this fun dessert is not diminished by using whichever strawberries you can find locally grown.  Enjoy the summer's bounty in any way you can.

Fragole con Limone e Menta

Strawberries with Lemon and Mint

from Jamie's Italy

Put a few strawberries into frozen bowls.  Squeeze a little lemon juice over them and add a good sprinkling of sugar, a tiny bit of lemon zest, and a little torn fresh mint.  Also really nice with a swig of prosecco or other sparkling wine.

I am sharing this post with:

BSI: LEMONS Roundup & Winner

I should have foreseen this, but somehow I didn't.  My list of bookmarks with the label 'lemon' is now bursting at the seems!  Although I can't say that's a bad thing...because I crave citrus quite often and I'm always looking for a new way to prepare it!  We have so many wonderful LEMONY foods this week that run the gamut from soups to side dishes to main courses with different meats and fish to cooling beverages to breakfast and snack foods all the way through to dessert!  I'm feeling particularly sunny and happy after visiting everybody and now I'm looking forward even more (if that's possible) to warm air and sunshine.

So, without any further ado...prepare to pucker and swoon over....

Starting things off this week is Amanda from Amanda's Cookin' with her stunning Lemon Olive Oil Rosemary Cake.

Vernonica from Recipe Rhapsody brought some sunny, "firm on the outside, chewy on the outside" Easy Lemon Cookies.

Chaya from Chaya's Comfy Cook Blog shares some creamy, tangy Lemon Pasta with Norwegian Salmon.

Music City Foodie made me nostalgic with some beautiful, bright Old Fashioned Mini Lemon Poundcakes.

Swathi from Zesty South Indian Kitchen made a Lemony Minty Poppy Cake that sounds different...and divine!

 

In need of an antidote for a rainy weekend, Monika of Illo Pro (check out her amazing illustrations!) produced some lemon sun with a Meyer Lemon Coffee Cake.

 illustration by Monika Roe of Illo Pro. Wow!

Kankana of Sunshine & Smile made a Lemon Mint Cake with Almonds to share with a friend who is visiting from across the country.  Wish it was me!

Roz from La Bella Vita made an absolutely delightful Lemon Layer Cake with Limoncello Cream Frosting.  How heavenly!

Renee from My Kitchen Adventures whipped up a beautiful batch of Lemon Ginger Cupcakes in which lemon was the star and ginger was the awesome understudy.

Lemon and Mint are "spiced up" with a few peppercorns to form this amazingly refreshing looking Spicy Mint Lemonade from My Creative Flavors.  Seriously, I think my thirst is quenched from here.

Biz from My Bizzy Kitchen (BSI creator) revisited a summer post in which she uses fresh thyme, lemon juice, and lemon zest in her Lemon Thyme Sauce that she serves with a beautiful, fat, grilled pork chop.

 

I haven't had crab in far too long, and I'm totally craving it now after seeing Sonali's Crab in Mustard and Lemon Juice Gravy over at Only Fish Recipes.

Shobha at Food Mazaa shares a beautifully spiced dish of Lemon Rice with BSI this week that I would gladly eat as a side dish or as my entire meal.

I would love to start the day off with one of these tempting Eggless Lemon Poppyseed Muffins baked by Priya from Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes.

I am dreaming of one of these beautiful glasses of Lemon and Cardamom Mousse from Ana at Anasbageri.  The combination sounds so luscious.

I know that I would have a hard time resisting these Greek-inspired Garlic Lemon Potatoes brought today by The V Kitchen.  Yum!

As a complete and total soup addict, I am thrilled to see this delicious bowl of Lemon and Coriander Soup from nicks n jits kitchen.

Sonali from Only Fish Recipes is back with some tempting kingfish flavored with lots of lemon and coriander in her Grilled Fish with Lemon and Coriander.

Inspired by the bright, sunny skies outside her windows, Karen from Karen Cooks made a batch of soft, cake-like Lemon Ricotta Cookies.

Debbi from Debbi Does Dinner...healthy and low calorie made a dish that I think sounds fantastic and I want it to grace my table very soon, Lemon Quinoa with Broccoli.

Our creator Biz from My Bizzy Kitchen is back with what I consider a fantastic way to start any day...with Mock Buttermilk Pancakes.  MmmmHmmm.

And now we will end where the week began...with these Lemon Bars that I made to take to a program at school...and then wound up making again almost immediately for home. So fantastic!

Every single dish, side, soup, and dessert that was sent in this week in gloriously lemony in its own rite, but the thing that I have not been able to get out of my head since the moment I laid eyes on it was the Lemon Rosemary Olive Oil Cake from Amanda! But honestly, everything looked so wonderful, I wish I could have a big, lemon-filled buffet to try everything.  Congratulations Amanda, please shoot me an email with your mailing address so I can get a little prize mailed out to you.  Thanks to everybody who joined in BSI: Lemons this week!

And another big thanks to Biz from My Bizzy Kitchen for having me as a host this week.  Please head over to visit my friend Tina at Life in the Slow Lane at Squirrel Head Manor to find out the next Blogger Secret Ingredient!

Lemon Bars

Once upon a time, lemon desserts hated me.  I could never get them to turn out right...which was infinitely frustrating since I adore the tartness of lemon combined with a little sweet somethin'.  After some "fails" and disappointments and "eeehhh, it's ah-ight's", I was ready to try again.  And just to prove that I enjoy making things hard on myself, I decided to bake them to share with others.  So, if I failed miserably I would do it in a public arena.  Nothing like a little pressure to make things go smoothly.  

As it turned out, I didn't fail.  In fact, I triumphed colossally.  And off to school my triumph went.  For moms and kids to enjoy.  I made sure I snatch one...the last one I might add.  I'm odd like that.  I'd rather eat something that I baked and I know I will enjoy than grab some random food made by some random person.  What can I say?  These lemon bars were so great that I made another batch for home less than 48 hours after this giveaway batch.  I will also be bringing them to the next family get together (at mama's request...although I planned on it, anyway).  They're adapted from an Ina recipe in that I made using one and a half times the (awesome, shortbready) crust so that the base would be a bit thicker.  Also, instead of making a lip (which I did for the first batch), I prefer the crust and filling to be even (which I tested on the second batch).  Equal cookie and lemony custard in each and every bite.

And okay, I suppose I was being a bit melodramatic about the public humiliation.  I totally gave myself enough time to make a backup...should I have failed.