All posts tagged: baking

Friday is for Food: Easiest Lemon Pound Cake Ever

So what are you doing this weekend? How about “bake a cake”? The first cake I ever baked was a coconut pound cake. It remains an all-time favorite in my family. This lemon pound cake comes a close second. It hits all the right notes. Citrusy, check. Melt in your mouth, check. Visually appealing, check. Amateur-proof, check.  That said, I made it a few weeks ago (adapted from a recipe on Martha Stewart) and this time I took pictures so I could share with you. I hope you try it. I’d really like to know how it turns out.       [recipe title=”Lemon Pound Cake” time=”1hr 15mins” difficulty=”easy”] Yield: 2 Loaves Serving Size: One slice (don’t be greedy 🙂 ) Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 3 cups all-purpose flour, leveled (sift before measuring) 3/4 cup milk Zest of two lemons, finely grated 1/3 cup lemon juice 1 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 5 large eggs Directions    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place rack in middle position. Grease and …

Christmas Is For Food… And A Note on Nigeria's Google Trends.

Someone asked me what my holiday plans are. I don’t have a lot. My ideal Christmas would have a fierce harmattan, and find me curled up in an armchair with hot Bournvita and a good book. The problem with harmattan is the drying out of my hair. Yeah, I’m wearing my hair out. All the salon women keep inviting me to come and do “Christmas hair” but I’ve outgrown such societal pressures, thank God. My earliest memories of Christmas are of feasts. Food, food, food. Peppery jollof rice, cold Coca Cola, peppered chicken, chin-chin, buns, cake. To honour that tradition (and my obsession with good food), this Christmas, I plan to cook. I think there’s something spiritual about cooking for the people you love. There’s a connection it forges, from your hands to their stomachs. And watching their eyes light up with appreciation, is priceless. Instead of giving out hampers, I plan to give out boxes of cookies, cakes and muffins I bake myself. Mostly I’m giving to friends of my family who have been more …