Swedish Visiting Cake

One of my retirement goals I have fallen short on so far over the past 3 months is trying a new recipe once a week.  It's not that I have been idle, because I certainly haven't.  I just haven't felt inspired to spend time in the kitchen.  So many other things to explore with all my new found freedom, with walking regularly at the top of my list.


Today I made soup to take over to my BFF's for lunch and along with the soup (cabbage and potato in case you were wondering), I bought a loaf of wonderful, crusty French bread and I made a new cake recipe.  It is from one of my favorite cookbook writers, Dorie Greenspan and it's from her Baking book.  Anyone who loves to bake should check out this very complete and detailed book with recipes ranging from cookies to breads, cakes, pies, and all things yummy.


This particular cake recipe was so easy which is why it appealed to me this morning.  It is a one bowl cake, requiring no electric mixer, and most people would have the basic ingredients required in their homes.  I had it made and in the oven within 10 minutes.  The end results was a lovely, subtly flavored cake perfect for after our lunch.  It would be delicious with a cup of tea or coffee for an afternoon treat.  I highly recommend this cake and I love the name of it too!

Swedish Visiting Cake

From Dorie Greenspan’s Baking Book

1 cup sugar (plus more more sprinkling on top right before baking) grated zest of one lemon
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla (I used 2 tsp of vanilla paste and opted not to use almond extract)
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup flour
1 stick melted butter, cooled
1/4 cup sliced almonds

In a medium bowl, add the lemon zest to the sugar. Rub the zest and sugar in between your fingers to release the oils, the sugar will start to smell delicious.

Whisk in the eggs one at a time.

Whisk in the salt and the extracts.

Change to a spatula and stir in the flour.

Fold in the butter.

Stir until combined. This can me made in a 9-inch cast iron skillet, cake pan, or pie pan. I used a little of the melted butter to grease the pan.

Pour the batter into the pan and top with the sliced almonds and a generous sprinkling of sugar.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes. It will be golden and the edges will have a nice crust.

Let the cake cool in the pan for about 5 minutes and then take a knife and run it around the edge of the pan.

Fifty Years of Friendship: A Love Letter

Dear Patti,
How can it be that 50 years have gone by since we first met in junior high on March 5th, 1969? I realize that date may not be 100% accurate. Perhaps we met sometime prior, but we do both remember attending our mutual friend's birthday party on that date, so we decided to make that our annual Friendaversary date.

What an adventure it has been knowing you all this time! We have seen each other through all of life's ups and downs-births, deaths, relationships, weddings, funerals, jobs, travel, and just the routines of daily minutia. Sometimes I start to tell The Husband something perhaps on the trivial side and he will say "That sounds like something Patti would like to hear" and he is exactly right. You always do (or at least you pretend well).

There are a few significant reasons why I believe our friendship has endured 50 years while other friendships have come and gone. One of those things is constant communication. There has rarely been a day that we haven't touched base with each other in one way or another.

Back in the day we had our rotary phones (ES-72340) where we would call each other as teenage girls and yack for hours, arranging outings like school trips, cruising downtown, or trips to your lake cabin as examples. When you went off to Western our first year of college, we wrote letters back and forth sharing our experiences. Once we became roommates when I joined you at WWU, our adventures really began and we never quit talking, even in the many classes we took together, much to our professors chagrin. When you married your beloved husband and he moved you away to Oregon, we continued talking over the phone constantly as our long distance phone bills indicated. Nowadays there are so many ways to stay in touch it's mind boggling. So, even though we live in the same town we are constantly finding new ways to amuse each other via Facebook, texts, and our newest discovery, video chatting. Someday we may even master that particular technology.

A second reason we have endured is our differences. You have always brought out my sometimes repressed sense of adventure and challenged my fears with your unbound zest for life. I, on the other hand, at times try to rein you in on those rare occasions when it's just a little bit necessary. I am a rule follower while you have a devil-may-care attitude. I love that about you and have always been a bit envious of that characteristic.  You accessorize, I don't!

The last and most important thing that has kept us going is laughter. Since the time we met, constant, never-ending, silly, wicked, ridiculous laughter. There was an instance early in our friendship when we were seniors in high school and we were environmental camp counselors. The school principal was making a speech to the little grade school children and you leaned in and whispered something in my ear I thought at the time was terribly naughty. I nearly died trying to contain myself.  It has been like that ever since. We have set each other off in the most awkward of situations, to the point of having to separate ourselves, or be separated by others in order to regain our composure. Museums, lecture halls, churches, jobs, funerals, weddings, restaurants-nothing is sacred.  It is this laughter that has gotten us through all of life's difficulties as well as brought us so much joy and unadulterated fun.

I could write volumes detailing the innumerable experiences we have had together, but words cannot encapsulate this amazing gift of knowing you for 50 years.  I look forward to many more years of sharing life's rich pageantry of experiences and all of their humorous moments with you.

Forever your friend,
Love, Sue