Happy Friday, dear ones! Aren’t you SO glad that the weekend is almost here? 🙂
It’s been a decidedly wild but good week for me, and I’m feeling quite brave and feisty this evening after battling fears, squashing false guilt, and facing obstacles with my chin up. 🙂 There have been a few weepy moments along the way – isn’t anything worth doing sprinkled with those? – but I feel strong in spirit because I soldiered on, pressed through, and am the better for it. 🙂
Last night I was so happy to have friends, my parents, and my goddaughters over for dinner to celebrate Mother’s Day a bit early. 🙂 I had such fun treating them, but Mums, Johanna and the girls also treated me with big squeezy hugs and these gorgeous things that now adorn my kitchen counter and remind me I am loved. 🙂
We had a great visit, strolled out to watch the sun set over the creek, and the little girls had a grand time plastering me with make-up and jewelry and making me “so beautiful!”. 🙂
For dinner we had Clementine Ceviche, a lovely soup that I’ll tell you about another day, and warm Blueberry Pudding Cake with Crème Fraîche. Mmm, mmm, it was so good! 🙂 Mounds of blueberries atop buttery cake moist with blueberry juice. Delish! 🙂
Blueberry Pudding Cake
(From Epicurious)
Ingredients:
1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
10 oz blueberries (2 cups)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup whole milk
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan.
- Stir together 1/3 cup sugar with water, lemon juice, and cornstarch in a small saucepan, then stir in blueberries. Bring to a simmer, then simmer, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a medium bowl.
- Whisk together egg, milk, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl, then add flour mixture, whisking until just combined.
- Spoon batter into baking pan, spreading evenly, then pour blueberry mixture evenly over batter (berries will sink). Bake until a knife inserted into center of cake portion comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 5 minutes.
What a beautiful post! Sounds like you had a great day & those flowers are gorgeous. Been a long week here & looking forward to a relaxing weekend – ahhhhhhh:)
I'm so glad its finally the weekend too. I don't usually like blueberries, but baking them seems to be the exception to that rule. Now if only I could find some that weren't horribly tart.
Thank you, Stephanie. 🙂 I love the flowers too! They cheer me immensely. 🙂 So glad you have a relaxing weekend ahead of you. 🙂
I was so glad to have SWEET blueberries, Deanna. 🙂 The tart ones are dreadful!
Gorgeous photos, as always, vibrant and full of life. Love your pudding cake. Have a blessed weekend. Cheers!
Oh…I almost forgot. Keep that chin up! Always.
I sense that life is not all smooth sailing for you now. I do hope that things will settle down, but it is so nice to see you've kept your spirits high. I'm sure the visit with your family was successful and the dessert you made for them looks fabulous and has been bookmarked. Hang in there. Blessings…Mary
Thank you, Lazaro! 🙂 I confess I keep coming back to look at them cuz they make me smile. 🙂 Hope you have a splendid weekend too! 🙂
Yessir, Lazaro, I WILL keep my chin up! 🙂
Lovely post, gorgeous flowers. Good for you, chin up, and the sun always breaks through gloriously after some rain. Hope you have a happy weekend! xo Lidy
Thank you, Lidy!! Your posts always make me grin too. So much beauty! 🙂
Your goddaughters sound adorable! I'm so glad you soldiered on through…you are right. The good things in life are always peppered with some tears…otherwise how would we know they are good times?
That blueberry pudding looks, well. To die for. Your family must have been so happy to eat it!
have a great weekend, love!
They are cute as bugs, Joanne, and absolutely crack me up. 🙂 I'm so glad you like the pudding. Mmm, so very, very yummy. 🙂
I hope your weekend is fabulous too, dear lady! 🙂
This entire post has Spring written all over it! I love the bright flowers and the green grass behind them. And that pudding cake is brilliant! 🙂
Thank you, dear Mary. You sensed correctly. It's been a really rough time but things are steadily getting better and better. I'm so very grateful. 🙂
Oh, you're so right, Valerie! It IS springy! 🙂 Just writing about the pudding cake made me crave it again. 🙂
hmmm that blueberry pudding cake sounds lovely. I might have to explore lol
Oh yes, Duchess. I HIGHLY recommend it. 🙂
What a lovely post! Your shot on the blueberry pudding cake is art gallery worthy. Very beautiful with all those colors, texture, and patterns. The cake looks mucho delicious. …Susan
Oh, thank you SO much, Susan! Your words are so very encouraging. 🙂 The cake was so yummy! 🙂
I've never tried a pudding cake but this looks amazing…especially with blueberries. Glad to hear things are looking up. Keep plugging away!
Your flowers are beautiful and I am making this cake today ! Thank you x
the blueberry pudding cake… oh so perfect for a day like today!
Pudding cakes are so good, El! I like them because they're so simple yet turn out so deliciously. 🙂 I will keep plugging away, thanks. 🙂 Onward!!
Thank you, Belgravia! I'm so glad you like them and I hope you enjoy the cake. 🙂
I agree, Tia! 🙂 I will have to make another batch soon. 🙂
Tears are the cleansing wipes our eyes need to see differently. It is well……On to the pud – SUPERB: I LOVE Creme Fraiche….that's my fave dairy ever……This weekend, I'll be attending a Girl's scouts event with daughter #1 and later going to a play in the evening. Maybe tomorrow, we'll see out an Italian restaurant! Enjoy yours dearie
Fantastic photos Krista! Your pudding looks fantastic! full of blueberry goodness. yum.
Krista, I hope you are ok now! And yes it's good to be reminded that you are so loved as I know you are 🙂 And what a gorgeous pudding-look at that colour! :O
Oh, your weekend sounds splendid, Ozoz! 🙂 I agree, creme fraiche is my favorite dairy too! So rich, so creamy. 🙂 You're so right about tears. They wipe all the bad stuff away so we can see clearly. 🙂
Thank you, Amy!! I had grand fun taking them. 🙂
I'm doing VERY OK, Lorraine! 🙂 Sun is out, afternoon spent by the creek, dear friends visiting, it's a wonderful weekend. 🙂
What a gorgeous post! I'm just writing to tell you I've printed out the recipe for your Bluberry Pudding Cake. This is one I'll be making very soon!
Very feisty pudding! Love it. Absolutely gorgeous.
Thanks so much, he needs food 🙂 I hope you enjoy the pudding cake! It's such happy comfort food for me. 🙂
Aw, thanks, Ellie! 🙂 It was so delish, so comforting and happy. 🙂
this sounds 99.99% delicious. nice pictures too!
This cake looks so good! It really reminds me of what my grandmother always called her 'bluberry buckle', sort of a cake, sort of a custard, sort of a crumble. Yum!
LOL, Todd! 🙂 Thanks for your almost overwhelming vote of confidence. 🙂
Thank you, Cozy! Yes, it is very similar to a buckle, just switched around with batter on the bottom and blueberries on the top. 🙂
sounds like a pretty perfect day and i guess i'm not the only one stepping up to say "yes! i'd be very happy to have some!" blueberry pudding cake – YUMMM!!!!
It sure was, Paradis. 🙂 If you were closer, I'd totally share some pudding cake with you. 🙂
This pudding looks simply lucious. I'm enjoying the flowers too, my local florist is rubbish!!
Thank you, Sarah! 🙂 It is so yummy and I can't wait to make it again. 🙂 I'm learning the best flowers often come from my Mum's garden. 🙂
I made a stew an I am only 6 years old an I put meat an vegatabls in it an cooked it on the hot stove an the dog ate it too the other dog is a wolf
Ossie Dropbear
Ohhh, you make me laugh sir. 🙂 I’m glad your stew turned out so well. Only 6 eh? Care to add a digit to that? 🙂
>Only 6 eh? Care to add a digit to that?
Add a didgit why is that my big pointing finga or my little piggy finga grandma said it is rude to point a finga at sumone
Ossie Dropbear
Ohhh, you make me laugh, sir. 🙂 Crazy man!! 🙂