Making Royal Raspberry Cake with Risa tonight! It's a yummy and light cake with juicy raspberries scattered throughout, topped with a sweet creamy glaze. One of the best cakes I've ever had, and great for summer!

Royal Raspberry Cake

CAKE:
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. salt
1 T. baking powder
1/3 c. butter softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. milk
1 t. vanilla extract
3 1/2 c. fresh (or frozen, thawed) raspberries (blueberries work well too)

GLAZE:
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 T. half-and-half cream
1 t. vanilla extract

Combine flour, salt, and baking powder with a wire whisk; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well until mixture is light and fluffy. Add egg; beat 1 minute. Combine milk and vanilla. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk mixture, beating well after each addition. Spread batter in a greased and floured 13x9x2 in. baking pan. Spread berried evenly over batter. Bake at 350-degrees for 30-35 minutes or until center of cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool 5 minutes. Combine glaze ingredients; spread over cake, leaving berries exposed. Serve warm.


Definitely try this! I just mix the berries in carefully instead of spreading them on top, but either way works. :)

Best news ever today! Instead of owing $14,268.61 to LDS Hospital, I only owe $1,568.41. Thank you, financial aid! So happy I can pay for being put back together.

Had the best night ever with my best friend, Jessica! This is the first time we've seen each other in over four years. Unfortunately, we only had a few hours together, but it was a blast. She is the best friend anyone could ask for! We've been friends for twelve years and I see many more to come! <3

Eli Young Band - Crazy Girl

Crazy Girl by the Eli Young Band. Good song- not what I expected from the video haha!

I love Grace Potter, and she does so good on this! "You and Tequila" by Kenny Chesney ft. Grace Potter.

I think, ideally, most people would like to have the time to have a real breakfast like this on a regular basis. Unfortunately our lives these days don't seem to accommodate that idea, but these breakfast muffins are a great make-ahead way to feel like you had a full breakfast! They are tasty and great when you're on-the-go.



Ham and Bacon Breakfast Muffins

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. cornmeal
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
3 green onions finely sliced (can also replace with diced white, yellow, or sweet onion)
1/2 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 c. diced country ham
3/4 c. crumbled bacon
1 egg
1 c. milk
2 T. melted butter

Preheat oven to 375-degrees.

Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder and soda, sliced onions, cheese, and the country ham and bacon.

In another bowl, whisk milk with egg and melted butter. Blend milk and egg mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing until all dry ingredients are moistened. Fill muffin cups about to 3/4 full. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Makes about 10 to 12 muffins, depending on size.

Last night was the first graveyard I've worked in 4 months! It was a good night- I was reminded of how much I love working with Alzheimer's and Dementia patients. Though trying at times, it is a heartwarming experience. One of the ladies commented on my black uniform. She said, "You look so pretty- every time I look up I see a black angel!" Completely made my night. =)

I had to post these too! They sound fantastic. My mom's love of apple/cinnamon things has most definitely rubbed off on me.


Apple Cider Spice Doughnuts

I started this blog to share all of the things in my life that I enjoy- from stories about family and friends, to recipes, poetry, and anything else that comes to mind!

Lately I have been DYING to bake some bread! It's been much too long since I've spent the day in the kitchen just baking for the fun of it. So, since I can't really do much baking at this point in time, the recipe hoarding has begun. It's only fair of me to share them, right?



Parmesan Pull-Aparts

3 T. butter
1 T. minced onion
2 t. dill seed
1 t. poppy seed
1/4 t. celery seed
10-oz. tube refrigerated biscuits, quartered (or your own biscuit dough)
1/4 t. grated Parmesan cheese

Place butter in a 9" round cake pan; melt in a 400-degree oven. Sprinkle onion, dill, poppy, and celery seed over margarine. Sprinkle quartered biscuits with Parmesan and arrange in pan. Bake at 400-degrees for 15 to 18 minutes. To serve, invert pan over a serving platter and turn out biscuits.



Irish Soda Bread

1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. whole-wheat flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 c. raisins
1-1/2 c. buttermilk

Combine flours, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in raisins. Add buttermilk and stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for about one minute. Quickly shape into an 8-inch circle and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 425-degrees for 40 minutes, or until golden. Transfer to a wire rack. Cut into wedges and serve warm.



Maple-Glazed Muffins

2 eggs, beaten
1-2/3 c. sour cream
1-2/3 c. maple syrup, divided
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. bran flake cereal
1 t. baking soda
3/4 c. chopped pecans
6 T. melted butter

Combine eggs, sour cream, and one cup maple syrup; stir in bran flakes, baking soda, and nuts. Fill paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 400-degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Combine remaining maple syrup and butter; dip tops of muffins in mixture.



Cinnamon Twist Bread

2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. plus 2 T. sugar, divided
4 t. baking powder
2-1/2 t. cinnamon, divided
1-1/4 t. salt
1 c. buttermilk
1/3 c. vegetable oil
2 t. vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
2 t. butter, softened

Grease and flour bottom only of a 9"x5" loaf pan. In a large bowl, combine flour, one cup sugar, baking powder, 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, salt, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and eggs. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat for 3 minutes; pour batter into pan. In a small bowl, combine butter, remaining sugar, and remaining cinnamon. Sprinkle over batter and swirl lightly to marble. Bake at 350-degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Turn out of pan and cool before slicing.



I hope someone has some fun with these like I intend to soon!