Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Ann Estelle's Friend and Orangette's French Yogurt Cake~

Remember Georgia?


Ann Estelle's friend in Mary Engelbreit's Home Comapanion..this little Valentine cut-out is from 1999~

I wish I had saved them all:)

I still love the look and idea of cut out dolls..memories of the past..Colorforms too:)
All the little outfits..like this special one for Valentine's♥


Too cute!

The magazine was always so inspirational to me..I don't know why I stopped picking it up..I think we were so busy moving..work etc..once our home was done.. I felt I had enough ideas..magazines..
I wish I had not stopped:)

I was also looking at the recipes from Molly Wizenberg's book again..A Homemade Life..


...because I had liked it so much when I read it.. It's a keeper book..I told you that..


So leafing through..I saw another recipe for a lemon yogurt cake..I have made a few..but I thought I would try hers..the double glaze sounded good:)

You will remember this little plate if you have visited me for a while..





La Recette

Ingredients
Cake:

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/2 cup well-stirred plain whole-milk yogurt (not low-fat or non-fat)
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil, such as canola
Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons lemon juice
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter or cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment paper, and grease it too.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the lemon zest, and whisk to mix thoroughly.

In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, sugar, and eggs, stirring until well blended. Add the flour mixture and stir just to combine. Add the oil and stir to incorporate. At first, it will look like a horrible, oily mess, but keep stirring, and it will come together into a smooth batter. Pour and scrape the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the cake feels springy to the touch and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Do not overbake.

Cool cake on a rack for about 20 minutes; then turn it out of the pan to cool completely.

When the cake is thoroughly cooled, combine the lemon juice and powdered sugar in a small bowl and spoon it gently over the cake. The glaze will be thin and will soak in like a syrup.

Serve immediately.

I did a few things differently.. I added the edible flowers that I had received from Hélène.. and VE~ I still love them♥

and when I added some of the sugar and lemon zest to the cake..I did what Dorie Greenspan did in a recipe I made of hers..I always do this now..I rub the zest with some sugar.. between my fingers...it releases the oils from the zest..perfumes the sugar and makes the lemon taste more pungent.I love lemons.. I also added a touch of lemon Olive Oil which she says you can do~

If you too enjoy the taste of lemons..rub the zests like that..a flavor kick! I added some zest to the icing also..and used some granulated sugar ..not all icing sugar.. dissolving the sugar in the lemon juice..I find all icing sugar tastes somewhat too artificial.


It's a very good little cake..I made mine in a large heart shape and cut smaller ones..

I dedicate this post to Sarah..
Who always posts such wonderful Mary Engelbreit ideas..books..decor..Thank you:)
I know every day when I read my daily page on my calendar./.that you are reading the same thing:)
It may mean something different to each of us that day..but that's what I love about that calendar:)

A footnote here..
I prepared this post a while ago..imagine my surprise when I saw Sarah's post..
I find it uncanny and quite charming in a way..:)

35 comments:

  1. Oh, this is too special for words! I do think we must be sharing some cosmic space. These cold days have me spending many hours revisiting my copies of Home Companion, and Ann Estelle and her friends have found their way into my idle time. ;-)
    I adore this post, dear friend. Thank you for the sweet thought. You know I appreciate your friendship!
    The plate with the little cake is glorious. I think I'll linger here a bit longer and savor this entire post.
    Valentine hugs sent your way ~ Sarah

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  2. I enjoy Home Companion..these are too cute! I love lemon yogurt cake. I must try this recipe it sounds wonderful.

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  3. Sarah..you put it so well~
    Thank you.
    Thanks Kate~You will enjoy it~

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  4. always so sweet and delicate here... i have that book too... maybe someday~

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  5. Monique this cake is too nice...you have to join to my contest with this.... it's really vgorgeous...even pics..as always...tell me if you join and I'm going to link your recipe...hugs, Flavia

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  6. These are adorable - such a lovely Valentine's treat. Looks extremely tasty too :)

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  7. I, too, loved paper dolls -- much more than real dolls!

    And I made that same cake last week -- from another source and it is sooo good!!! It is definitely a "little black dress" of cakes --

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  8. Georgia is just so gorgeous! I used to buy cut out dolls when my girls were small - and then I'd have the pleasure of dressing them.
    Umm!! your cake is divine -very special.

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  9. Sarah sent me over to see this post, and what a pretty post it is. Georgia looks so cute in her V'tine dress, and that cake sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe. laurie

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  10. Monique...lovely post. I love Molly's book as well. I was just looking at that recipe...maybe I will bake it this weekend!

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  11. Oh too bad....I just purged and threw out all of those cut outs, not sure why, my granddaughters would love them. It must have been one of those blank moments I had!!!!! Sadly I had been carting them around for years.....silly me!
    Love them all, what a charming Valentine she makes!!!
    I will have to visit Sarah's blog, thanks for letting us know!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B

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  12. Love the cutout doll, love the book, adore the cupcakes! How sweet and adorable. I loved playing with cutout dolls when I was a girl. I had a whole box full of them. I was never happy with their clothes and always had to make my own for them. xxoo

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  13. Love this post; brought back memories; I spend hours and hours playing with my cut-outs. It was so many year ago.
    So nice that you you kept some and share them with us this morning. This is my kind of cake; light and white.Great photos.
    Rita

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  14. Colorforms! Oh how I loved to play with those...

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  15. How cute Georgia is :) It's funny how we decide to save some things and not others. I'm so happy I've saved some of L&L's toys - they are getting renewed action again by a certain Mr. M.

    The cake looks delicious!

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  16. I wonder Monique if they still sell cut out dolls and where do you know?

    ~Ginette

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  17. Monique, Georgia is quite sweet. I only saved a couple of Mary Engelbreit's cut-out dolls, and like you, I now wish I had kept with the trend.

    Btw, your heart cake is spilling over with the magic and whimsy you lend to everything you touch!

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  18. Oh, everything you do is so enchanting. The dolls are great. How I wish I had my dolls from when I was young. The cake is just beautiful and I love the touch of the preserved flowers, so elegant. I am sure it is just fabulously flavored. I would love to come and try one by a cozy fire.

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  19. This is such an elegant cake. I adore Molly's blog, and I bet that this cake is magnificent. I'll have to keep in mind your trick of rubbing lemon zest with sugar. The results sound amazing.

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  20. That is so concidental...I'm just loving everything....I used to play with those paper dolls too!
    That cake looks delish...and really special!
    I think Sarah's blog is very special too.
    Have a wonderful week...what's left of it anyway!
    Shel x

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  21. Oh your little heart shaped cake~ too delicate & sweet for words! I love ME, I miss her magazine it was always so cheery & inspiring :-)

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  22. Some day I hope to have a book.
    One that holds your words and photographs.

    Love.

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  23. Everything you prepare is so special. I think you know some magic to make things look so pretty.

    I have Molly's book and enjoyed it very much. Also gave a copy to my niece for Christmas. It makes a nice gift for foodies.
    Sam

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  24. I love ME, and Sarah is such a sweetheart!
    I am itching to bake something, but I can't decide what!
    Sweet Valentine's ! I bought boxes for the gkids at CTS. No ME though. Spiderman, Batman and Princess! :)

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  25. You are all so delightful to keep in touch with..Penpals..So nice..Have a lovely evening~

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  26. This one touched me to the heart, Mme. Magical!

    I so loved paper dolls ~ I remember ones from the 5 and dime (like Woolworth's) and from McCall's magazine ~ "Betsy McCall".

    Yum, your little heart cakes look so beautiful~ and thank you for sharing your tips for bringing out even more flavor.

    Your inspiration is magnificent~ as always.
    xo ~m

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  27. How silly, when I first read your title I thought it was orange yogurt cake!!! How our eyes play tricks. It looks like a great recipe from a lovely book... I am drowning in books at the moment so cant get one I don't have to have ... so I am so grateful when people do excerpts like this... one day I'll get the whole book! Lovely photos too, as always, Monique!

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  28. I've never made a yogurt cake...yet, but it is on my list. I'll bookmark this.

    I used to play with paper dolls when I was young and bought some for my daughter when she was a child. They are so charming and fun! Thanks for the time travel.

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  29. I love the little cut out dolls, how cute! Made me smile. Oh my, and that cake, it is gorgeous!! You are so talented,amazing, really is. And yes, I do remember the plate!

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  30. No question, you two are certainly on the same wavelength! I've always loved Mary Engelbreit things, such charm!

    Your cake looks lovely, rich and right up my alley flavor-wise and the plate is a beaut, Monique.

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  31. I just came across your blog and i think i'm falling in love with it :)

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  32. Qu'elles sont jolies ces petites figurines en papier ... Et ce délicieux cake en forme de coeur ... so cute !;o)
    Bisous
    Hélène

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  33. oh she is a sweet little thing i remmber cutting paper dresses for my cut out dolls and tucking the little tags over their shoulders dressing and re dressing none so cute as this though

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  34. I did keep all those ME cutouts, and I could scan and send them to you to print on cardstock...surely ME wouldn't mind...

    They are so cute, and I love the boy ones, his name escapes me at the moment...but having one grandson just a year old, I look forward to giving him little wee gifts in the coming years, and will use that cut out as a tag...

    Blessings, I enjoy your blog very much, thank you for sharing...

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