Plum Delicious

With the change in our weather I was in the mood to bake something. I used my tart, sweet plums that are one of the highlights of the Autumn season. I made a delicious plum cake.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter room temperature plus more for pan

1 1/2 cups plus 2 tbsps all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)

1/2 tsp of baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 tsps finely grated lemon zest

1/4 cup of sour cream

3 plums, halved, pitted, & cut into eighths

confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. In a large bowl whisk together 1 1/2 cups of flour, baking soda, and salt.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. With mixer on low beat in eggs, one at a time until incorporated beat in vanilla and lemon zest. Beat in 1/2 the flour mixture, then sour cream. Add remaining flour mixture; mix until combined.

3. Spread batter into pan and smooth top with a knife. In a bowl, toss plums with tablespoons flour and sprinkle over batter.

4. Bake until cake is golden, about 30 minutes; loosely tent with foil and bake until cake pulls away from side of pan and a cake tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes more. Let cake cool completely in pan. Run knife around cake edge and remove cake from pan. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

Prep time: 25 minutes

Enjoy!

Kira's room

I have been anxiously waiting to get Kira's room done since I bought her bedding, and I bought the bedding when I found out we were having a girl [16 weeks ago, GEEZ]. As you all know we had lots of other projects around the house that had to come first in order to set her room up. We got the furniture put together the night before the shower and a few other things set up in the room. We are so blessed with the generosity of our family and friends. We got tons of stuff at our shower. Her room was so full of bags, bows, and boxes. I have been going in her room constantly; anxiously waiting to set everything up, but I had to wait for the dresser and hutch to be replaced. The furniture was replaced yesterday. In the mean time I have been doing a lot of washing and I haven't even made a dent in washing all her stuff. Thank goodness she has a descent size closet because she is going to need it. She has lots of clothes and shoes.

P.S. Thanks to my wonderful sister- in- law Melissa, I got this room in order. She offered to come over last night and help. She put together the swing, pack-n-play, and helped me organize [oh, and taught me a few things]. I appreciate all she has done and so does Joe. He has been so busy working, and now he doesn't have to worry about putting anything together.

Decor

Owl switch-plate cover

Kira doll