Sunday, April 21, 2013

Lime Pound Cake from A Tangle of Knots

image from IndieBound

This week I had the pleasure of reading the middle grade novel A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff. It is a book with many layers (didn't truly mean to drop in a cake pun). It is certainly about family and is a mystery, but has a thread of fantasy too. In addition, it has RECIPES! I love it when a book comes complete with a mini-cookbook. Another great excuse to bake. The first one that tempted me was the Miss Mallory's Peach Cake -- see video instructions below.


But then I saw the Lime Pound Cake and that was so different, that I would have to try it as soon as possible. The recipe is in the book, but is also here. I had everything but limes since it has a fairly short list of ingredients. So after I ran out to the store for those, I was in business.


To get ready, I set up the audio book I have been listening to and made a pot of tea. Then I gathered the seven ingredients.


What took the longest was the zest. I really need to get a little gizmo for doing that. I just have a grater, but it is a tricky and slightly messy process. You know what I love though, using my little juicer. The smell of the limes when they are juiced is fantastic.




And, I got to whisk. I love whisking. I feel all official when I get to use a whisk. 


Lotsa butter!




Ready for the oven. Smells yummy!


And finally, my afternoon snack.

This isn't the first time a book has led me to cooking or baking. We moved back to Ohio when I was 11 or 12. Since we finally had snow (after living in southern CA for years), I made the maple syrup candy that Laura told about in Little House in the Big Woods. Later when I taught third grade, we made homemade butter and bread after reading that book too. I have tried several recipes in The Little House cookbook. One I remember was truly wonderful, but oh, so bad. It recommended frying up your chicken in bacon fat. I made that for my husband years ago. Not on the healthy menu. I've also made strawberry jam and honey butter from Winnie-the-Pooh's Teatime Cookbook. Excellent with a nice cup of tea. I made a lemon chess pie when I read Sarah Weeks' book Pie last year too.


Do you have any favorite cooking/baking associated with a book or know of any other book related cookbooks that you would recommend?









3 comments:

  1. The pound cake looks delicious! I have the Little House Cookbook, but for some reason, haven't ever made anything from it. Can't wait to read A Tangle of Knots.
    Catherine

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  2. There are some good ones in the Little House Cookbook. They aren't all artery blockers. :)

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  3. Thanks for sending me the link to this post. I love how you have used many photos of your cake prep process. Ooops! I just pinned you on my Delicious Dishes on Pinterest. Thanks for that. Ooops! Now I just tweeted your blog step by step with photos. Great job.

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