Cherry Blossom Citrus Bliss

Get well, Grandma!!

Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Filling.

Lemon has always been my grandmother's favorite flavor.  Lemon meringue to lemon mousse, she has always had a sweet tooth, especially for the yellow citrus.  I created this cake specifically  for her.  Four layers of lemon cake, three layers of lemon cream cheese filling with vanilla butter cream.  I also designed the decor with hand-made gum paste blossoms in variegating shades of pink.

 

Lemon Cream Cheese Filling:

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick ( 8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 pound or 3 and ¾ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

BBQ

On Sunday, my brother and I hosted our first BBQ of the spring/summer- or EVER!  With bro on the grill and me on the salads and goodies, it was a recipe for success!  In addition to my pasta and melon salads, I made a variety of cupcakes, of course: Cherry Chocolate with Vanilla Buttercream and Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese frosting.

Pug Central!

Even Dizzee got to play!  Her friend Leroy is on the left.

Melissa and China(left) with Me and Dizzee(right)

TWD: French Lemon-Cream Tart

Possibly the most delicious lemony dessert I have ever made!!  The combination of the buttery crust, creamy filling, and tartness of the fresh lemons is pure excellence.  The pictures do not give it justice in the slightest (excuse the poor photos- bad lighting).  Looks like it's time to invest in a fluted tart pan, but my spring-form pan worked out just as well.  I also sugared some lemon slices for an extra sparkle!  

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice, from my mom's tree

Whisking Away!  

3/4 cup lemon juice

lemon zest

1 cup sugar

4 large eggs

Is it done yet?  

only 4 more hours to refrigerate...