Keeping Rainy Days Sweet & Simple

Sometimes, all you really need is something simple. Nothing overly fancy, nothing too showy. Just simple. Simple is good. Simple works.

It’s been raining all day here in New York, and according to the weather charts, it will be for the rest of the week.

Sitting by the window with a cup of tea, I felt the need for some dessert. There are presently, a number of things on my “to-bake” list, but nothing I was particularly in the mood to make.

I needed something simple but delicious. Nothing very time consuming with a big mess and cleanup at the end.

A few days ago, I made two cheese cakes. To top each cake, I made two different sauces- strawberry and blueberry. Of course, I did not want the sauces to go to waste.

You must be wondering what I made. POUND CAKE, a moist, sweet, rich dessert.

Today there are many variations to pound cake. Some add chocolate chips, others add lemon. My variation was Clementine zest.

I found the recipe from Ina Garten, whom I adore when it comes to baking.

This cake is so perfect and easy. And with a homemade blueberry sauce, it is sure to please!

Easy Pound Cake
(Adapted from Ina Garten, 2009)

Makes 1 loaf cake
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes – 1 hour

For Plain Pound Cake you will need:

½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar, divided
4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
3 cups AP flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
*(1 teaspoon kosher salt) - (Ina's recipe calls for salt, but I did not add any)
¾ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Zest of 1 clementine

For Fresh Blueberry Sauce you will need:

1 pint blueberries
¾ cup water
¾ cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
Zest of 1 lemon (this helps to preserve the sauce longer)

Directions:

On stovetop begin with a medium size saucepan. Combine blueberries and water, and bring to a boil. Add sugar and cornstarch in saucepan and bring to a boil once again. Stir occasionally and keep the lid on to help mixture thicken. This should take about ten minutes total.
Note: After filling thickens, turn the heat down to low and DO NOT cover saucepan completely.

In the meantime, adjust the oven rack to top position to let room for the cake to rise. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8½ by 4½ by 2½ inch loaf pan.

Cream the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. With the mixer on medium speed, beat in the eggs, 1 at a time.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the butter, beginning and ending with the flour. Pour batter into pan, smooth the top and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the cake tester comes out clean.

When the cake is done, let cool on a baking rack. When ready to serve, drizzle blueberry sauce over each slice!

xx,
Tammy

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I would like to thank dear Sabrina from eat.drink.and be merry, for gaving me a Stylish Blogger Award!

How absolutely exciting! My very first blog award!

There are rules to accepting this award. So, let the games begin!

I have to choose 10 of my favorite blogs to give this award to. I have to visit their site and let them know they won and then link to their lovely websites in this post.

But the fun doesn't end there!

I have to share 7 things people don't know about me- hmm...so, here it goes~

1. I am obsessed with fashion

2. My favorite movie is Inception

3. My favorite song is 'Sparks Fly' by Taylor Swift

4. I would love to visit Italy someday

5. I like planting flowers

6. I would love to take surf lessons someday

7. I also want to take dance lessons

I am giving the Sylish Blogger award to:

Brittany at Les reves d'une boulangere

Clair at Police Box

Katerina at In Katerina's Kitchen

Ana Rita at Bem bons

Bunny at The Paris House

Betty Ray at Betty's Eats

Cupcake at The Family Tables

Annie at Annie's Dish

CAMartinsky at Candid Cam

Jackie at Fashion: the science of apperance

Cheers to all you lovelies. I wish I could have chosen more!

Thanks again Sabrina for the award!

xx,

Tammy