An Old Favorite

June did not bring new pies or cakes.  It turned out to be a month for old favorites.

This is my little sister, Lisa, and me.

This is Lisa's favorite pie? cake?  It is a Boston Cream Pie. 

This is not new for me.  In fact, I have been making this pie for over 20 years.  Of all the things Lisa can request of me to make, she always asks for this pie.  It is her FAVORITE!  It was a unanimous vote that this was the absolute best one I have EVER made.  Totally scrumptious!!!

                                    

A Quick Standard Pie

Still in May. 

The end of May brought my sister and brother for a visit.  A chocolate pie is quick to make and always welcome at our house.

This is a chilled pie.  I like to 1 1/2x this recipe because I like a thicker pie.  I also kicked it up a notch by whipping up some cream for the top instead of making the standard meringue.  Wanting to be creative,I did not spread the whipped cream to the crust.  Some of the opinions expressed thought it was dumb.  But you know, sometimes you just have to march to the beat of your own drum.  Needless to say, it disappeared quickly.

Vegetable? Fruit?

Rhubarb is a vegetable.  As I read more about it a law was passed in 1947, in the U.S., that only here is it categorized as a fruit because that is how it is predominantly used.  It's an interesting read, look it up.  Rhubarb is a stalk similar to celery.  Beware, the leaves are toxic!  On a side note, I grew rhubarb in CA  and had a couple beautiful plants.  Our rabbit, Speedy, would hide under the leaves in the heat of the day and also nibble at the leaves.  Apparently, the leaves are not toxic to animals.  How great is God!

With all that aside here is my Rhubarb Custard Pie with Crumb Topping.  It was amazing!  Due to the custard filling it is a chilled pie.

Delicious!

A New May Cake

Check this out for May:

                 This is a Spice Cake with Peanut Buttercream.                        

Sounds like an odd combination doesn't it?  That's what intrigued me about this cake.  It is awesome together.  Although, some in my family would beg to differ.  As you can see, it didn't come out perfect.  I did love the divet in the center~I got more frosting in that bite.  It was a little dry, not sure what happened.  Funny thing~it did get completely eaten.

April Cake

I have absolutely no idea what happened in February and March.  I must of had a big slump and wanted nothing to do with baking cakes.  So, here is my April cake.  It's a simple Country Buttermilk Cake with Creme Fraiche and Berries.  This was wonderful!

                                      

I actually made my own creme fraiche.  It is very simple to make but it does take a few days.

January Cakes

This is a cake that Chris picked out for our Epiphany Feast.  It is a Lemon Canadian Crown Torte.  I think it's beautiful!  Lady fingers line the circumference of the cake and meringue adorns the top.  Mind you, this is a frozen cake which actually tastes better after, oh, about 3 days in the freezer.

 

I cannot remember what happened to this but it collapsed in the middle, perhaps it had thawed too much.  Anyway, the layers are cake and a lemon cream filling with lemon curd and whipped cream.  Delicious!

This next cake is one that Brianna chose for her 17th Birthday.  This is a Southern (Manhattan) Coconut Cake with Silk Meringue Buttercream.  I'm so happy that it came out so beautiful.  I confess, this is my second attempt.  I spent ALL day making this cake and even had to run to grocery store to resupply.  Totally worth it!

The cake was so light and fluffy.  One thing I really loved was the coconut added into the batter.  It was the coconutiest cake I've ever had. 

A side note on the "Manhattan" in the title.  Apparently this cake is one that has origins in the south and it's typically made with seven-minute frosting.  The author of the cakebook that I use is a northerner and she states that seven-minute frosting is too sweet for her northern pallette.  So she created her own version of seven-minute frosting~silk meringue buttercream.

I think this picture is the bomb!

Cakes and Pies, Oh My!

Back in January, I made a resolution to make a new cake and/or pie each month.  I think I've missed a month or two but for the most part have tried to stay with it.  I'm finally going to get my pictures posted of my creations.  I'm going to post by month as I've had issues trying to incorporate the pictures into one blog.  Hope you enjoy!

Blasts From the Past

Just wanted to forwarn you that I'm quite behind on my blog postings, if you hadn't noticed from the minibike posting.  Having said that, I have a few more blogs to post of past events that I want to share.  So, keep checking in!

Guys and Projects

Charles determined a number of months ago to buy a minibike kit and put it together.  Here is the frame:

The frame arrived without an important piece being welded to it. Steve was enlisted to help. He has welding skills:

Uncle Kevin had come to visit for the weekend and to lend a hand as well as knowledge:

And here is the completed minibike:

Isn't it cool!  Charles is cool too!

Chris was doing double duty:  lending a hand and photographing.

Old Glory

Happy 4th of July!