Monday, June 29, 2009

1234 Lemon Cake!!

Lemon Cake is my Dad's FAVORITE CAKE!! So I decided to make this cake for him on Father's Day. He LOVED it!! And I must admit that this recipe was VERY GOOD. The cake was very moist, and the butter cream icing was very very good :) I made a few adjustments to this recipe. I used cake flour instead of all-purpose, I doubled the lemon curd recipe, I used a lemon butter cream icing, and I added about 1 tbsp of lemon juice to the cake. Well try this out and ENJOY!!! It’s really good :)

1234 Lemon Cake

· 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
· 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
· 1 tablespoon baking powder
· 1 teaspoon baking soda
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 2 cups granulated sugar
· 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
· 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
· 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
· Grated zest of 2 lemons
· 3 cups Lemon Curd
· Sweetened Whipped Cream
· 12 ounces assorted fresh berries
· Confectioners' sugar, for dusting


Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.arrange two racks in center of oven. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Dust bottoms and sides of pans with flour; tap out any excess.
2. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium speed until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating on medium speed until lightened, 3 to 4 minutes; scrape down sides once or twice. Drizzle in eggs, a little at a time, beating after each addition until batter is no longer slick, about 5 minutes; stop once or twice to scrape down sides.
4. On low speed, alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, a little of each at a time, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat in vanilla and lemon zest.
5. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake 25 minutes, then rotate the pans in the oven for even browning. Continue baking until a cake tester inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, 10 to 20 minutes more. Transfer pans to wire racks to cool, 15 minutes. Turn out cakes; set on racks, tops up, until completely cool.
6. Remove the parchment from bottom of each cake. Using a serrated knife, slice each layer in half horizontally. Set aside the prettiest domed layer for the top of cake. Place another domed layer, dome-side down, on a serving platter. Spread 1 cup lemon curd over surface to within 1/2 inch from edges. Place second cake layer over the first, and spread another 1 cup curd over top. Repeat with third cake layer and remaining cup curd. Transfer partially assembled cake to the refrigerator.
7. Just before serving, place reserved dome on top of cake. Spoon sweetened whipped cream over the top. Sprinkle with mixed berries, and dust with confectioners’ sugar through a fine sieve.

LEMON CURD

Makes 1 1/2 cups
· 3 large egg yolks, strained
· Zest of 1/2 lemon
· 1/4 cup lemon juice
· 6 tablespoons sugar
· 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into pieces


Directions
1. Combine yolks, lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar in a small saucepan. Whisk to combine. Set over medium heat, and stir constantly with a wooden spoon, making sure to stir sides and bottom of pan. Cook until mixture is thick enough to coat back of wooden spoon, 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Remove saucepan from heat. Add butter, one piece at a time, stirring with the wooden spoon until consistency is smooth.
3. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the curd to avoid a skin from forming; wrap tightly. Let cool; refrigerate until firm and chilled, at least 1 hour. Store refrigerated in an airtight container up to 2 days.

LEMON BUTTER CREAM ICING

4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons milk

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Earthly Father



I forgot to post this closer to Father's Day... But I did make my dad his FAVORITE cake... I will post the recipe next :) But in the meantime this is just a mini note I wrote about my Dad. Trivial words can't express your parents so I stopped trying and just wrote this as a mini tribute..


Today is your day
The day we celebrate you
Few and exceptional
Brave and Courageous
Brilliance and Wisdom
Earthly Father
Today I celebrate the blessing that is YOU


My Dad is soo Handsome :) I LOVE you Daddy!!!!


~Nina~

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Hold My Heart

The song is Here

How long must I pray, must I pray to You?
How long must I wait, must I wait for You?
How long 'til I see Your face, see You shining through?
I'm on my knees, begging You to notice me.
I'm on my knees, Father will you turn to me?
One tear in the dropping rain, One voice in a sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breakin' heart?
One light, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Won't You come close and hold my heart
I've been so afraid, afraid to close my eyes
So much can slip away before I say goodbye.
But if there's no other way, I'm done asking why.
Cuz I'm on my knees, begging You to turn to me
I'm on my knees, Father will you run to me?
One tear in the dropping rain,
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breakin' heart?
One light, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Won't You come close and hold my heart.
So many questions without answers, Your promises remain
I can't sleep but I'll take my chances to hear You call my name
To hear You call my name
One tear in the dropping rain,
One voice in a sea of pain
Could the maker of the stars
Hear the sound of my breakin' heart?
One light, that's all I am
Right now I can barely stand
If You're everything You say You are
Won't You come close and hold my heart.
Hold my heart, could you hold my heart?
Hold my heart.


This song just gave words to my unspoken heart.. I am still praying for peace, the peace that Jesus promised to leave all of us. To come and fill my heart. To hold my heart in a world of worry. A world that I am daily trying to submit to HIM. I can't do this by myself I need YOU to hold my heart!!!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Broken Hallelujah

You can listen to the song here... Then just meditate on the words.......
(I suggest right clicking the link and opening a new tab.. its easier)

With my love and my sadness
I come before You Lord
My heart’s in a thousand pieces
Maybe even more
Yet I trust in this moment
You’re with me somehow
And You’ve always been faithful
So Lord even now
When all that I can sing Is a broken hallelujah
When my only offering
Is shattered praise
Still a song of adoration
Will rise up from these ruins
I will worship You and give You thanks
Even when my only praiseIs a broken hallelujah
Oh Father, You have given Much more than I deserve
And I have felt Your hand of blessing On me at every turn
How could I doubt Your goodness
Your wisdom, Your graceSo Lord hear my heart
In this painful place
Chorus
Hallelujah
I lift my voice
Your Spirit moves
I raise my hands
I reach for You
Chorus

*In tears, Jesus this is what I want to tell you. YOu are sooo GOOD even when my heart is breaking. I know you love me. And as I praise you I feel your presence. Thank you for listening to this one voice in a sea of broken hallelujahs........

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

You are STILL My GOD


This song really spoke to me today and for the past week. When you decide to follow Christ you will go through a process of becoming detached from this world. But whether I am standing on a mountain or drowning in the sea.. Jesus, You are STILL My GOD. I just want to pray and request pray for all of us to rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is our reward. Lord I believe help my unbelief.. :)


Actual Song Here

Still My God
Up and down like the tide is moving
In and out, we’re in motion
And the ocean pulls us under and even there,
You’re found You never change so I will sing
If I’m standing on a mountain or drowning in the sea
If I am filled with hope or crying out for mercy
If I’m singing Hallelujah or scared to make a sound
If I am learning how to walk or when I’m falling down I’m saying
You are still my God Still my God
In a world where so much seems uncertain
You remain both for the strong and broken
No matter where we are You are never far
And nothing changes who You are
If I’m standing on a mountain or drowning in the sea
If I am filled with hope or crying out for mercy
If I’m singing Hallelujah or scared to make a sound
If I am learning how to walk or when I’m falling down I’m saying
You are still my God Jesus
You are still my God
You were, You are, You will be forever You were, You are Yeah Yeah You were, You are God
If I’m standing on a mountain or drowning in the sea
If I am filled with hope or crying out for mercy Yeah
If I’m learning how to walk or when I’m falling down
If I’m standing on a mountain or drowning in the sea
If I am filled with hope or crying out for mercy
If I’m singing Hallelujah
When I am learning how to walk or when I’m falling down I’m saying
You are still my God Jesus You are, You are still my God Jesus You are still my God
Still my God Still my God

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Beautiful

I wish I could tell you how beautiful you are
How much I love you
Not only because of your beauty but
Because I created you
I wish I could tell you how much I love you
Convey to you this love that I feel in my heart
I want to be with you for all eternity
I gave my life to make it our reality
I just thought you should know
That I will never love anyone the way I love you
That you are uniquely forever mine
You really are beautiful
I love you
Lately you seem distracted
But I know your heart
I know that you really love me too
That’s why I think you should know
He is lying to you
He tells you you’re beautiful
His words enter your mind
He thinks he stole your heart from me
Momentary distraction....
A future broken reaction...
I want you to know
I’ll pick up the fragments
Yes finally whole
Come to me because I know you are tired
You are broken
But I can fix you
I still love you
And you will always be beautiful to me

~By Nina~



Some beautiful ppl this is dedicated too, Our #1 loves us!!!!











P.S. I LOVE YOU







Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Message from the Sunflower-- "I am Thirsty"

Microchipped plants can now send text messages to a farmer’s cell phone and request water.

"It's akin to a clip on earring, very thin and smaller than a postage stamp, and is affixed to the plant leaf," said Richard Stoner, President of AgriHouse, a company marketing the technology.
You could use your regular cell phone service, and the plant would send you a text message when it needed water.

I am sure the wheels in your head are turning. The moment I read this article mine started as well.

George sent this link to me a few days ago. The moment I read it I immediately thought what if this concept could be translated to animals… Especially dogs.. Right now I am going through the housebreaking PROCESS with Ava Marie. Can I tell you its FRUSTRATING :) But her sweet little CUTE self kind of balances this equation.. But anyway the point is what if this whole concept could be transferred onto animals. If she could tell me she had to “go” we could speed up this process.. But back to the article at hand.

For areas that receive regular or generous rainfall this whole idea might not prove to be useful or economical. But for the western United States, where much of the water comes from underground aquifers, conserving water, and more importantly, conserving the electricity that pumps it to the surface and across fields, could save farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

They have also listed the implications for outer space. The original idea of cell phone plant communication was actually developed years ago by NASA scientist engineering future manned missions to the moon and Mars.

"You need plants on future space missions," said Hans-Dieter Seelig, a scientist at the University of Colorado at Boulder who worked on the original NASA project.

Of course plants convert carbon dioxide waste into breathable oxygen and the astronauts can use the plants as food. They also concluded that astronauts wouldn’t be able to bring along near enough food or supplies for the estrimated two-year mission to Mars. Therefore this can be used to reduce the amount of time and supplies necessary to sustain crops. Astronauts would know exactly how much water to give the plants.

During the initial NASA tests the scientists were able to reduce the amount of water necessary to grow plants by 10 percent to 40 percent.

The existing sensors have to be connected to a power source to take readings and transmit them over commercial cell phone towers. Stoner hopes that future sensors can be equipped with batteries, solar panels or even piezoelectric generators to generate the power necessary to run the sensors and transmitters.
Water in the western United States might be relatively cheap, but the electric bills to pump the water from underground aquifers do add up.

Bottom Line is sustainability in space might keep astronauts alive, and on Earth it's likely to save farmers time and money.

Actual Story-- Tech lets Plants Phone for Water