Monday, July 18, 2016

A Quiet Weekend with Blueberry Lemon Tea Cake and Flowers


Hello, Dear Friends,
I hope that you had a lovely weekend! 

Here, it has been quiet - a time to catch up on chores
and enjoy some sweet rewards for hard work.

He: Fence mending, lawn mowing, a trip to the recycle station.
Me: Marketing, Floor washing, laundry, gardening......

and baking. 


The weather has been exactly what
 you would expect in the mountains. 

Cool, frequently wet and misty, and very green,  

Perfect for baking year round. 

Not to say that we don't get very hot and dry weather.....
but this year has been cool.  
I am glad, as the last few years have 
had terrible forest fires here in Washington State. 


A typical summer day this year. 
Clouds moving over the mountains
leaving lovely shadows. 


If we are lucky, Mt. Rainier will appear, 
but most days 'The Mountain' stays hidden
behind the clouds. 

It makes for a lovely surprise when it does appear. 


So while the clouds float endlessly by, let's bake! 

With fresh blueberries in the markets right now, 
I wanted to bake something to take advantage 
of the bounty. 

This recipe is so easy and so good! 

Blueberry Lemon Tea Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan; set aside. 

1 cup blueberries
1 + 2/3 cups flour, 
plus 1 Tbsp for dusting blueberries. 
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 + 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
grated peel from 1 large lemon

Glaze

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

****

Toss blueberries with 1 Tbsp flour
and set aside. 



In large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar
until light and fluffy. 


Beat in eggs one at a time. 
Add milk, remaining flour,
baking powder and salt. 

Beat until just combined. 
(You can use a mixer, 
but I simply used my favorite wooden spoon :)

Fold in prepared blueberries 
and lemon peel. 


Transfer to your prettiest loaf pan :)


Set the timer for 1 hour. 
(You may need to bake a little longer)

Test with a toothpick - if it comes out clean, it's done. 



While it's baking, clean up 
so you will have a pretty kitchen 
to eat in. <3


Then go out and cut
some pretty flowers.


Put them in a charming vase.
(A recent thrift-store find)


Bring them into the kitchen....


Something to cheer a cloudy day.


Add a few hydrangea for my
Grandmother, Beatrice Euphemie's
flour sifter.


A little sunshine for the kitchen.


A few leftovers for snacking.

I hear the timer chiming.....
The tea cake is done  :)


Time to make the glaze......

Glaze: In a small saucepan combine
the 1/4 cup sugar with 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Heat to boiling, stirring until sugar dissolves.


Prick slightly cooled (10 min.) tea cake
with a toothpick all over.
Brush top of cake with hot glaze.
Use all the glaze. It will sink down into
the toothpick holes and form a sugary
coating on top.

Can you say, 'Yum'?!?


Set the tea cake aside while you brew a pot of tea.


Look back often to admire your hard work :)


Slice thickly.....


Enjoy!


Then go out and watch the moon rise
as the sun sets.


A beautiful end to a quiet weekend.


xoxo

Thank you for visiting, Dear Friends!


A little note: We have been having electrical outages here
 and I have lost my 'Five on Friday' post, so if you
thought you saw it, you did! I had to re-boot my computer,
my television, and re-set my modem. In the process, the
page I was editing was lost. Lost in space......Poof!


Anyway, it wasn't your imagination that my post was once there.....

xoxo


Today I am linking with:

Cooking and Crafting with J&J

43 comments:

  1. Oh, what a delightful treat, my friend! The blueberry and lemon combo sounds wonderful and perfect for summer. Thank you for sharing the tasty recipe.

    And oh my, that last photo of the moon is truly stunning! Have a splendid week. Hugs to you!

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  2. Thank you for the recipe, Karen. My two favorite loaf cakes are lemon and blueberry so this will be a winner. :) It looks like a wonderful tea cake. Mmmmmmm...I adore your kitchen. It is so cute and must be fun to bake in. You have personalized it so beautifully. The window-sill behind your sink looks so wide and must be fun to decorate. Deb

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  3. Sounds like a pretty good weekend to me, and what a yummy sounding cake.
    Merle.....

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  4. Oh yummmmm! Love sights around your homestead. I just think that vase is delightful too!

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  5. You really do have wonderful summer weather. It's way too hot to bake here but not too hot to eat! heehee! That looks good and your views are spectacular! Hugs, Diane

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  6. A lovely lovely post, I truly enjoyed it. I love it all the hosier cabinet with the vintage green glass I have that large gr. Bowl I found it among my mamas things in a box fell in love. It looks so pretty in your cabinet among the rest. Your tea cake sounds lovely and the mountain and the calmness of your baking... I had a quite weekend just me.. Did some long o er due cleaning. Lobed all your photos thank you for sharing with love Janice

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  7. I guess we both had berries on our brains, Karen dear! Ooo would I ever love to sit with you and enjoy a slice of your lemon blueberry bread and a cuppa tea, while chatting away, and enjoying your view. I would also love your cooler temperatures! I'm looking forward to Fall and Winter!

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  8. Yum. A beautiful looking loaf cake. It was a delight to once again admire your beautiful kitchen and views.

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  9. Karen, my dear friend, thank oyu for those lovely and wonderful pictures and for a delicious recipe! I love Blueberries ( just had some for Breakfast ;O) ...)
    Have a wonderful week, my Dear,
    sending Love and hugs and blessings,
    claudia xo

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  10. Karen, your blueberries are wonderful!!!
    Have a nice day

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  11. I was with you all the way baking that cake. What a lovely post. Perfect way to end the weekend, with the moon rising. Beautiful :) B x

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  12. Oh how I would love to sit in that glorious kitchen of yours and enjoy a slice of Blueberry Lemon Tea Cake and a cup of tea. Or......sit on that beautiful deck of yours with Mt Rainer in the background. Bliss!

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  13. Lovely pictures my friend! The cake looks delicious. I think this is a must try! Your flowers look like they are thriving in your weather. Have a beautiful week, Lynn

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  14. Love your thrifty purchase! how perfect for a small bouquet!
    I make the same cake...but I call it Blueberry Lemon Breakfast Cake...it is one of our favorites...blueberries on sale now...think I'll stock the freezer!
    Enjoy your week Karen..
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  15. Don't you just love this weather we have been having? I sure do and it has turned me into a crazed downsizing mode. I am preparing to do a garage sale after being in this house for twenty years. Looking to move and the market has slowed so I am not finding what I need. Love your beautiful views of THE mountain. Lucky you! Your deck and flowers are so amazing...great job.

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  16. Ok, I'm hungry now! Yummy! You have beautiful views out your window- you are so lucky to live near the mountain!

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  17. That looks so yummy!

    Your views are spectacular.

    Your new vase is so sweet.

    Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

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  18. Ah...blueberries and lemon. One of my favorite combinations! Your recipe looks yummy and I'm going to save it to try.

    The views from your home, as always, Stunning!!

    Marilyn (in Dallas)

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  19. That blueberry lemon tea cake sounds delicious! I bought California peaches and Washington blueberries at Trader Joes and just had to make a peach/blueberry pie with the leftover pastry dough from a chicken pot pie we had for dinner. Plus we've been eating on the peaches and blueberries and enjoying it all so much! Beautiful photos...love that green depression glass!

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  20. What a delicious cake!! Glad to have the post mystery solved, things like that make me worry about my pals!

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  21. Blueberries and lemon, a divine combination!!! I love to bake, year round, using "in season " produce!!! You lichen always looks so lovely, even with a sink filled with dishes!!! I love your cabinet, filled with the green glass!!!!

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  22. I just love fresh blueberries ... especially with double (Heavy) cream, but your recipe looks delicious!

    Quiet weekends are so enjoyable aren't they.
    Love all your pictures.

    All the best Jan

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  23. You don't know how much I'd love to be sitting looking at that view and noshing on that delicious cake and sipping some tea with you right now.

    Thanks for sharing your recipe - it is one I know my husband would love.

    Hugs! ♥

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  24. Blueberry lemon tea cake, sounds perfect on a cool, wet, misty day. You know, when I bake, I use a butter knife to tell if it's done or not. It's funny how we use different things when cooking. Your pink flowers on your deck are so pretty, and I love the vase you put them in. The green glassware is lovely also. I bet the sunset was spectacular, Karen. You are always making goodies for your family; they must enjoy it very much.

    ~Sheri

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  25. Hi Karen, my that loaf looks delicious! I may have had something like that in the past, I can taste it now. I'm going to have to try that recipe for sure. I love all your photos, you always make your posts so interesting. Enjoy the rest of your day, Kelly.

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  26. Hello Dearest!

    That cake sounds like an absolute bit of summer heaven! Mmmmmm! I'm copying that one right now. ;) Love recipe swapping with you my Friend!!

    And your beautiful kitchen goodies, gorgeous flowers and majestic mountain always make me smile. But the YOU in your posts makes me happiest of all. I could hang out in your kitchen and chat with you all day.

    Blessings on the rest of your week Karen! xoxo

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  27. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipe. What a shame the pesky pidgeons have stripped my blueberry bush oterwise I would be in the kitchen now having a go!
    Have a wonderful Wednesday :)

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  28. Love your cabinet makes me want to rearrange mine.and the green glass, it's great you use it also as well as having it displayed. I use about everything I have and love it. The recipe sounds awesome too. I made a boxed cake and added blueberry muffin mix to it over the weekend, topped it off with cream cheese frosting and fresh blueberries. It must be a blueberry kinda week lol

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  29. Oh my that does sound very good, I might have to try that the next time the kids come over, that way it isn't just hubby and I eating it :) Glad you are having cooler weather this year and everything is staying nice and green with no hint of fires, Beautiful pics, I never tire of seeing the mountains!

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  30. Everything is so pretty and the cake looks delicious!!

    I’d love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, and tips: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

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  31. Karen, I so enjoyed my visit with you ~ admiring the scenery, baking the delicious tea cake, picking flowers, tidying up, and having a cup of tea along with your something sweet treat! Thank you for including the recipe. I want to make this!

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  32. I love all the green glass items! I collect ruby glass and cobalt. But I'd really enjoy having some green mixed in.

    Blueberries, lemons...two of my favorite flavors. There is nothing like fresh blueberries picked right off the bush/plant. My mouth ends up purple because of 'em. lol

    Beautiful flowers, lovely mountain scenery and wonderful ambiance outdoors at your home.

    I enjoyed it all.

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  33. Hi Karen! What a lovely lovely post---so enjoyed it. What a beautiful view yall have! The cake sure looked delicious. I love seeing all your pretty dishes and knick-knacks too and looks like all your flowers are doing great.

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  34. Hello Karen,
    Oh your cake looks so good. I pinned this recipe to try sometime. I just love your mountain and never get tired looking at it. Have you made a sketch or painting of it?
    Thanks for sharing at Cooking and Crafting with J & J.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Julie xo

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    Replies
    1. Hi Julie. love when you stop by! Oh, I have not sketched it, but that is a wonderful idea! I always wanted to try watercolor painting - maybe someday.......xx K

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  35. What a lovely post with cakes and beautiful thing´s!
    Have a great day...
    Titti

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  36. Such a lovely visit with you. So much eye candy inside and out! The tea cake sounds delicious and I recognize my loaf pan that is now being used so much!

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  37. Dearest Karen,
    There is nothing that smells more like HOME than baking something sweet in the oven!
    Your blueberry lemon cake, together with some artfully displayed fresh flowers creates the stage for happiness.
    We are not able to bike as we get lots of showers with thunder. During the day it is way too hot for biking so we have to skip...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  38. This looks delicious and we love blueberries. Been seeing a few delicious recipes around blog land lately and I love them all. You're presentation of it all is wonderful and I love all your dishes and accessories.

    Blessings,
    Jill

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  39. This recipe sounds very similar to one I posted a while back. Great minds...

    I stopped by last night but couldn't comment so I followed Carrie's link and it took me here, but I can't find the 'home' button so just figured I'd comment on this older post.

    Your recent post was delightgul, although because if the Internet connection I was unable to see all your photos, but I did see your precious grandson! What beautiful blue eyes he has!! You must love taking care of them :).

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

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