Happy New Year!! I cannot believe that 2012 just whizzed past in some blur. It seems that time goes by faster and faster every year. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who support me by reading my ramblings and commenting and trying out my recipes. Maintaining this site is only fun because I get to meet so many wonderful bloggers and people from all around the world who take their time to visit my site and leave wonderful comments and thoughts. So, thank you! Your support means the world to me!
This week I am in The Lone Star State visiting my friends and family. The plan came about quite suddenly since Trace was able to secure a week off from work and once the children found out, well, there was no getting around it. Besides, the best time to visit Texas is in the winter time, when it’s tolerable and most of the bugs are absent. We’re on a whirlwind tour starting in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and ending in San Antonio to visit my father in law.
I thought I’d start the New Year off right by posting a sweet recipe. One of my favourite bread/loaf/cake, lemon cake. This is a very tangy, pound cake like loaf but without all the butter of a pound cake. I used Ina Garten’s recipe for her lemon yoghurt cake and made a few changes of my own. This makes 2 large loaf cakes or 1 large and 3 mini loaves like I made. The large loaf gives 8 very generous slices.
LEMON LOAF CAKE
3 cups/420g plain flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups/400g sugar, granulated
1 teaspoon salt
5 eggs, large
1 cup/236ml oil
2 cups/472ml yoghurt, plain
1/4 cup/59ml milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
zest of 2 large lemons
juice from 2 large lemons
1/2 cup sugar for soaking syrup
optional glaze: 2 cup icing sugar and 4 tablespoons lemon juice
Preheat the oven to 350℉/180℃
Grease and line bottom of 2 large loaf tins (9″ x 5″)
Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar together in a bowl and put aside.
In a mixer bowl, add the eggs, yoghurt, oil, milk, lemon zest and vanilla extract and mix together until combined.
Add in the flour mixture and mix till well combined.
Pour into the prepared tins and place in the oven on a baking sheet.
Bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and firm.
Insert a toothpick and check to see if it comes out clean.
While the loaf is baking, take the lemon juice and heat in a pan with the 1/2 cup of sugar.
When the loaf comes out of the oven, let cool for ten minutes and then pour the syrup over the cakes.
Let the syrup soak in.
Let cool the rest of the way and then remove from the tins.
If using the glaze, mix the powdered sugar with the lemon juice.
Put the loaf cakes on a wire rack and pour over the glaze.
Let set and then enjoy!
Here’s wishing you all the best for a wonderful 2013. I may be gone for a few days as I travel through Texas but will be back very soon.
UPDATE: I am entering this lemon loaf in the Tea Time Treats. Karen at Lavender and Lovage and Kate at What Kate Baked host this event every month. The month of January is citrus month. Check out their sites for the other great entries in this event.
Thank you for reading!
Citrus cakes always go down well in our house, I’m sure this will become a favourite !
Happy new year Nazneen and what a gorgeous entry into tea time treats! Lovely cake, lovely photos and a thoughtful and wonderful post! Thanks so much! Karen
Karen recently posted..5:2 Diet Fasting and Feasting! Lemon Chicken with Cannellini Beans and Rosemary Recipe
OMG,
This looks incredible! Would love a slice of this with a hot cup of chai.
Asmita recently posted..Pumpkin Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Icing
That’s exactly how I had my piece! Thanks Asmita.
Oh MY Goodness, Nazneen…this cake looks amazing! Lemon is my absolute favorite, and I was between some lemon cookies or a lemon loaf to bake tomorrow! I may have just found my answer! Carol xox
Carol | a cup of mascarpone recently posted..laura bush’s cowboy cookies
Thank you Carol! I am so happy you might try it out. I too love lemon and especially lemon cake. Thanks for stopping by!
Nazneen
I love a good lemon loaf (oh how I love it) and yours looks wonderful. Happy New Year to you and your family! Enjoy your time in Texas!
Thanks Barb! Happy New Year to you too. I had a great Ike in Texas. Pretty much ate my way through the cities!
Nazneen xx
Your pictures scream EAT ME! Love this burst of sunshine during Winter =)
Thanks Squishy! Lemon or any kind of citrus is perfect anytime but does bring a sunny disposition to winter!
Nazneen
I love Lemon Cakes and this looks mouthwatering. Hope you had a great trip 🙂
Minnie@thelady8home recently posted..Chicken Chaap – A Gorgeous recipe
Thanks Minnie! My trip was awesome!
Nazneen xx
Oh please come to visit Australia. 🙂 You’d have such a good time. All the bloggers I’ve met are so friendly and helpful.
I love your lemon cake. I make one similar to this and then when it comes out of the oven I drizzle sugar crystals and lemon juice over it and the sugar melts and makes a lovely crust on the cake. I want one now. 🙂
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..Noosa
Australia has always been one of the places on my list to visit, from a very young age in fact. I have been fascinated by Australia. I hope to visit at least once in my life time!
Your cake sounds delicious too. I love citrus in anything.
Nazneen xx
Your loaf looks perfect! I love lemony flavor, especially for cake. Sweet and tangy flavor is my kind of thing. Love the glaze on top! 🙂
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Pickled Cucumbers きゅうりの浅漬け
Thanks Nami! It was pretty good. Hope you had a good New Year!
Nazneen xx
Blogging is such a wonderful platform where we meet some enthusiastic people with their kitchen experiments. I adore anything lemony and if it is a cake I enjoy more. This looks well baked. Have a great New year week with your friends and family.
Balvinder recently posted..Urad Daal Pinni / sweet lentil discs
Thanks for dropping by Balvinder! Thank you for your kind words!
Nazneen
happy new year hun!
this lemon loaf looks like a great way to start off 2013…i like how you soaked it in that lemon syrup. it must have added so much moisture and flavor…
Happy New Year Abeer! I hope his year brings you all the best! The loaf was really good and I took some to my family and they it too. Syrup makes a big difference. Looking forward to coming and see what you’ve baked up since I’ve been gone.
Nazneen xx
Hi Nazneen, Happy New Year to you too!
My dear Mother used to make an orange cake that had an orange syrup poured onto it just out of the oven, it was heavenly! I adore lemon so I think I would also enjoy this version. Thanks for the memories of my Mom’s lovely cake.
Eva Taylor recently posted..A little sojourn to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Thanks Eva! Your mum’s cake sounds gorgeous too…I love orange! Hope you had a great New Year!
Nazneen xx
Your lemon loaf cake sounds terrific…it must be very moist. I totally agree with you about visiting Texas in the winter. I was there visiting family in Houston in January, and I thought is was still warm and oh the humidity.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
Thanks Karen! Houston was freezing this time! Fort Worth was worse. We took only light jackets and could barely do anything outside! Still, I prefer cold Houston to hot Houston!
Nazneen
A very Happy New Year to you too. It’s great to have the time to visit family and friends. Enjoy your time together. GG
glamorous glutton recently posted..Christmas Gifts – Border Biscuits
Happy New Year GG! Hope you and the Glam Family had a great one.
Nazneen xx