It’s a new season (literally!) and I am so excited about what God is about to do.  I know a change is coming.  Do I know what it is?  Not yet, but the door is wide open and that’s what makes trusting Jesus exciting:  He will.  His gifts are always good.  Let Him surprise you.  🙂

 

New season!  Do you know what that means?  Spring cleaning!  Not only around the house (is that a real thing?), but probably around that beautiful mind as well.  Get all of that excess junk out of there!  In clothing land if you haven’t worn it in a year get rid of it.  If what you’re worried about didn’t matter a year ago, won’t matter in one month or a year from now ….LET THAT GO.  Is thinking about it helping or hurting you?  And maybe your plans aren’t God’s will for you?  Isn’t that a hard realization?  To have to let go of what you want most and trust that what God has just hasn’t come along yet, but is better.  And if not in this life definitely the next!  (Matthew 16:25)

April showers bring May flowers…

Does that mean emotional showers as well?  I don’t know, but I am FIIIINALLY out of the desert and have flowers in May!  I am learning to enjoy the ride, remember?

New seasons mean new exciting challenges!  Speaking of challenges I couldn’t wait for the King Arthur Baking Challenge of the month.  Well, I say that, but it has taken me all month to actually get to it.  Time was crunching because it’s now May 25 and time doesn’t wait around.

Last week I did a cookie experiment which I am trying to write a post about now.  I have 10 drafts going simultaneously because apparently there’s just so many things to talk about and I have serious A.D.D!

These cookies are why I didn’t get to the cake last weekend.  See, my coworker’s inlaws make their own vanilla.  She brought me a homemade praline to try.  I’m not even a praline fan, but this was magical.  I can’t even explain it.  The praline was so creamy and not gritty or overly sweet like some can be.  It was perfect!  I remembered the homemade vanilla and NEEDED some.  Seriously.  I’ve never done drugs, but have tried homemade vanilla and my reaction was basically the same.  If I wasn’t committed to it I’d say I over reacted, but my feelings were legit.  I immediately went home and baked chocolate chip cookies as promised to a work buddy (and because it’s the fastest thing to bake with vanilla and more acceptable than drinking it straight or sniffing it).

The recipe on the back of the Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet bag was the inspiration and I just changed the ingredients.  That led to the cookie experiment using variations of oils, vanillas, and flours.  After the cookies I made the fried green tomatoes.  Ok. Ok.  FOCUS, Aimee.

Anyway, I’d been looking forward to trying this King Arthur recipe since it popped up on my Facebook newsfeed in the beginning of the month.

Today was the day!  I checked to make sure I had all of the ingredients when I got home.  (I WAS NOT ALLOWED A TRIP TO THE STORE!)  I had just enough eggs for the cake, but guess what.  An egg somewhere in the carton must have broke because they were all superglued to it.

Two can play that game. 
I cracked the tops and held the carton upside down to separate them in my hands.  You silly, stubborn eggs.

Three eggs finally recognized gravity and busted in the sink.  I had to throw those out, but was victorious over the stubborn ones.  Winning.

I had enough eggs to make the cake, but not enough for the cream filling because they leapt to their deaths in solidarity.  After I made the dough and put it in the oven I left my blind grandma in charge and walked to the dollar store for more eggs.  “I should be back way before the oven goes off, but just in case..”
“You want me to listen for the beep?”
“Yes”

I had 26 minutes, but set my phone timer for 20.  I sprinted out the front door and down the street quickly realizing just how out of shape I have gotten.  (What exactly am I doing on the stair master??)  I’ve never smoked a cigarette or anything of that nature in my life, but think I have an idea of what a smoker’s lung with pneumonia feels like.

***Note: Confusion will happen.  First you spread the cake dough in the prepared 8 inch pans.  I doubted that I made it right because it was so sticky and un-spreadable.  It’s more like a cookie dough than pourable cake.  I finally re-read the directions which state on #10 “Spread the batter in the prepared pans (it will barely cover the bottom of the pans; that’s OK).”

After that you make the meringue to put on top.

You don’t want the meringue to have stiff peaks like meringue usually is made.  It will be soft and glisten.

You then pour meringue on top of the already patted cake batter.  Sprinkle almonds (or pecans like I already had) and cinnamon sugar on top.  Place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes depending on your oven.

While that is baking you (run to the dollar store) can make your filling.

When the custard cools you layer it in between the cake with berries.

This is a very light and sweet dessert.  My grandma liked it. 😀
The only difference I would make for next time is adding lemon zest to the flour before mixing the cake batter to incorporate the citrusy/fruity flavors all over!

Happy to have freely and voluntarily accepted and finally finished this yummy challenge!