Breads · Breakfast · Cakes · Daily Thoughts · Desserts · Fruit · Uncategorized

Lemon Cream Cheese Crescent Ring

Some sweet ladies came to our house for a brunch a couple of weeks ago. Because I had talked about sausage gravy over biscuits at water aerobic class, a couple of the ladies expressed a desire to have some, as they had never experienced this wonderful southern dish. While others in the class are talking about how this class is helping them feel better and building muscle strength, we are at the other end of the pool planning our sausage gravy biscuit brunch. One of the ladies said that she would bring some watermelon so we would have one healthy food item, while yet another said that she would bring a coffee cake. Well, this is the pastry she brought and everyone had a hissy (I’ve been dying to see that word)fit over it. We had such a grand time that morning. The night before, I got this great idea to type out questions to pass around the table and let everyone pick out one a the bowl was passed around. Here are some of the questions that got us talking and getting to know each other a little better. So before I post the recipe a little further down, why not think about having some ladies over that you would like to get to know and use this idea to start the conversation flowing. IT was a really nice morning and we had some really nice memory sharing among us.
What is one of your favorite summer vacations?
What is your favorite toppings to put on a hot dog?
Tell us about a memorable 4th of July
What color of the American flag best describes your personality?
A favorite summer food/drink
Which do you prefer, the beach or pool and why
Did you have a favorite swimming place to go growing up?
What time/place did you experience watching fireworks that is still a great memory?
Favorite flavor of homemade ice cream
Favorite thing to grill

Now for the great recipe that Patty was so kind to share. Thanks Patty for another reason that my bathing suit is tighter than before our breakfast
Crescent Ring:
3 oz cream cheese, softened to room temp
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tables fresh lemon juice
2 teas grated lemon peel
1 can 8 oz Pillsbury refrigerated Crescent Dough Sheet or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2-3 teas milk

Heat oven to 350. Spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix cream cheese, granulated sugar, lemon juice and peel with mixer on medium speed until blended.
Unroll dough sheet (if using the rolls, unroll dough and separate into 2 large rectangles) Overlap long sides to form 13×7″ rectangle; firmly press edges and perforations to seal.
Spread cream cheese mixture on rectangle to within 1/2′ of edges.
Starting with 1 long side of rectangle, roll up; pinch edge to seal
With seated knife, cut into 12 slices.
arrange slices on cookie sheet in a circle; over lapping slightly.
Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. In a small bowl, mix glaze ingredients until thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over warm crescent roll.

* (Because I love orange flavor also, I’m going to use orange juice/peel next time I make this)

Cakes · Desserts · Uncategorized

Monsoons, Meatloaf & Munchkin

I’m back…..finally! Between caring for a hubby with one arm right now and trying to train a little new Munchkin we are calling Oliver Leopold, I feel like I am in a house with a new baby. The only difference between a new puppy and a baby is the baby at least poo poos in a diaper instead of the floor. This past week we experienced our first monsoon, which after hearing from folks out here, we truly expected a little more excitement. After living in California with earthquakes and in Texas where lightning and heavy rains are as common as nachos, we found ourselves sitting there watching the heavy rains discussing what we would have for dinner with Randy looked at me and said, “don’t you think we should have meatloaf during the monsoon?” So that is exactly what we had. He reminded me that I had not fixed meatloaf since leaving Dallas the first of March. Randy fell the night before our things arrived to move in and fractured his shoulder in two places and dislocated it also. So we call him the one armed bandit now. Being today is his birthday, we didn’t get to do to much as he says that he feels like either a little kid or a really old man because I have to cut up his food, (but he loves the fact that I have to do his hair, he is getting very spoiled)
Today a recipe showed up on FB and it sounded delicious. It is an Italian Lemon Cake and I have to make it. But today I had to make German Chocolate Cake, which is a tradition for his special day. But this week, as soon as the last crumb is gone from the GCC, this lemon cake will be in the oven. I have to tell you that when I looked up different recipes for the frosting for the GCC, I came across one that used light brown sugar instead of regular granulated sugar. It is really good. In fact, both of us think we like it a little better than the normal frosting that you see on the package of Bakers German Chocolate. So live a little the next time you make one and try using the brown sugar instead of the white. Just gives it a little more caramel flavor. So back to the recipe for the Italian Lemon cake and Happy Fourth of July!

3 cups all purpose flour
1 teas baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons lemon juice
zest of 2 lemons (about 2 tables)
1 teas vanilla
Preheat oven to 300 Grease and flour baking pan
Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in the sour cream, lemon juice, vanilla and lemon zest.
Mix half of the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Mix in the buttermilk and then add in the remaining flour mixture. Mix just until the flour disappears. Pour the cake batter into the prepared bundt pan.
Bake for 60-70 min or until cake tests done. Remove cake from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 min. Turn cake over onto cake platter.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar, or frost with cream cheese frosting.