A Reason To Bake

Our quilting group went for our monthly Thrifty Thursday gathering on Friday this month....but Thrifty Friday just doesn't have the same ring to it.  :)

Three friends all had a birthday this past week....that called for a celebration!  Their ages ranged from 30-70.

I baked a couple almond cakes.  It is my "no fail" offering, but that is because I have never tried to serve it to my sister-in-law.  :)  She doesn't care for almond flavoring.

I purchased the first pan in the Scandinavian shop.....for $17.......I found the second pan new at the Goodwill for  99 cents!

The secret to a moist cake is to bake it the night before and leave it in the pan until morning.

I sprinkle sliced almonds in the bottom of the pan, which makes the almonds on the top when you remove the cake.  I also sprinkle powdered sugar on the top.  The cake can also be made with vanilla instead of almond flavoring (the way my sister-in-law prefers it).

I served it with berries (strawberries and blueberries) and whip cream.

My family likes to eat it plain.

I had fun shopping for gifts.  I just looked for things that I would like.....quilting friends are easy to shop for.  :)

Katrina is expecting her third child.  Her house is getting a new addition and her sewing room is totally packed up, so I found a really great knitting book for her.....she has a circle of knitting friends that meet at her house weekly.....I think they will all enjoy the book.

Lisa has her mother-in-law living with them for a while longer.  She is a recent widow and isn't quite ready to live alone.  I found some adorable embroidery patterns for her and Karen at Farmhouse Woolens even had a kit made up with all the needed supplies.

The Snow Friends kit is for my retreat buddy, Darlys, who spends many hours attending her grandson's wrestling matches.  She can get the machine work done and then tuck it in her bag and go.

If you noticed the fat quarter rolled up in the photo, that is just a 'thank you' for another friend.  I stopped buying cards years ago and I buy or make some fun little thing and just attach a tag to it....something that won't just end up tossed in the trash right away.

Now for the cake recipe that the girls requested:

Scandinavian Almond Cake

Spray pan with Pam or cooking spray.

(I used a tort pan before I bought my loaf pans)

Beat well:  1 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract, 2/3 cup milk

Add:  1 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Add:  1 stick melted butter

Mix well

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.  Edges must be golden brown.

Cool in pan before removing.  Cake will break if removed too soon.

Sprinkle with confectionary sugar.

Variation:  Before pouring batter into the pan, sprinkle sliced almonds on the bottom.