Lemon Poppy Seed Cakes

This recipe from Southern Living was on my mind from the moment I first read the recipe. I found them to be ok, but I never have to have them again. The Dish Washer, on the other hand, is crazy about them

Lemon Poppy Seed Cakes

1/2 c. butter, softened
2 oz. cream cheese, softened
1-1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 c. milk
1/4 tsp. poppy seeds
3/4 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. lemon zest, divided
1-3/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1-1/4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until creamy and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Beat in milk, poppy seeds, almond extract, and 1-1/2 tsp. lemon zest.

Whisk together flour and next 2 ingredients in a large bowl. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Spoon batter into 1 greased and floured (12 cup) mini Bundt pan, filling all cups three-fourths full. Spoon remaining batter into a second pan, filling only 6 cups.

Bake lemon-poppy seed cakes at 350 for 24-26 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center of cakes comes out clean. Remove from pans to wire racks, and let cakes cool 10 minutes.

Whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice and remaining lemon zest until smooth. Drizzle glaze over warm cakes. Let cakes stand 4 to 5 minutes or until glaze sets.

Hot Cranberry Punch

Where, oh, where to begin? You probably thought I was never coming back! The Bun is a little over 7 weeks from being "cooked" and to say that I have been pre-occupied preparing for him is the understatement of the year!!!

I guess we should back up to Thanksgiving! We spent Thanksgiving with The Dish Washer's family and certainly had plenty to eat! If you could have seen the pan of dressing that we were eating out of...YUM! Biggest pan I have ever seen. I took the Apple Dapple Cake that Tossie shared with us. I actually made it the Sunday before for our church wide Thanksgiving meal and made it in my pretty bundt pan. I decided the next time around, I would make it in a 9x13 so that the icing could really soak down in the cake. It was much better that way!!! Tos said that is how she always makes it too. Click on the recipe to see the picture of the bundt pan cake. I also made her Sweet Potato Casserole, which everyone loved!

Then came busy December...
Somewhere in between, I also made Chicken and Biscuit Dumplings so have now added a picture of that. My friend and her beau came over for a Christmas gathering and she brought her Taco Soup. It was very good! She's not known for her skills in the kitchen so I was very proud of her domestication! I made Symphony Brownies to go with dinner and had her some White Trash as a parting gift.

We've been to Atlanta to cheer on our favorite football team. ROLL TIDE! Then we went to Vegas to attend the National Finals Rodeo. One last trip before The Bun. WHEW!! I'm tired!

Mom and dad came up to see The Bun's room one of those weekends and she was wanting to try a frittata out of Southern Living. I hope to post that soon.

I guess that catches us up to Christmas! For my family's gathering Christmas eve, I made Goody Girl Championship Potatoes and Lady's Green Beans. Other things on our list of goodies besides the turkey and dressing was ham, Waldorf salad, macaroni and cheese, squash casserole, sweet potato casserole (the same mentioned above), pea salad, devilled eggs, cake, cookies, and more cake! Man there was a lot...I'm sure I am leaving something out!

Christmas day we hosted The Dish Washer's family at our home. With all the eating, we decided just to do heavy snack foods. We had dips and chips galore, mini pulled pork bbq sandwiches, twice baked new potatoes, and desserts coming out the wazoo including chocolate chip pound cake and Granny's Cut-Out Cookies. I also made a cheese bite that I plan to share soon and a lemon poppy seed cake that I have had on my mind since reading about it.

I also made this punch to serve and it was first time to make and try. Man this was soooo good and I am not typically a fan of hot apple cider. This has the warmth but a much different taste. It was in my handwritten cookbook that I have mentioned on here several times.

Hot Cranberry Punch

2 c. pineapple juice
2 c. cranberry juice
1 c. water
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. whole cloves
1-1//2 sticks cinnamon
pinch of salt

Put brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon and salt into percolator basket. Pour juices and water into percolator. Allow to hat for about 10 minutes or until perked. Remove basket. Can be refrigerated when cooled and reheated.

**I didn't have any cloves, so I just use two whole sticks of cinnamon instead.

Be looking for those other posts with the new recipes spread out over the next few days.