Since I was already so far behind in all areas of my life, I decided it was time for another baking group. See, when the Sweet Melissa Sundays group was formed last year, I had no idea who this Melissa person was or what made her so darned special that my favorite bakers/bloggers wanted to make her recipes each week. Then I started seeing what they were making, and much like The Bread Baker's Apprentice event, I regretted not joining once I realized they were close to new members.
Until recently, that is. When I checked again the other day, lo and behold, they were taking new members! I emailed my request to join and ordered the cookbook, and when I found I was in, I got to work making this week's recipe, Lemon Walnut Sour Cream Pound Cake. I've had plain, chocolate, lemon, poppy seed and brown sugar versions of this quintessentially American cake, but never one with nuts. I made it early this morning to take to a gathering, and I made three mini loaves so it would bake more quickly. The recipe was chosen by Raeann of Basically, Baby Boots. I had to read it as a preview on Amazon but it came together quickly. To completely infuse the flavor, I rubbed the lemon zest into the sugar a la Dorie Greenspan. Although Melissa calls for butter and shortening, I only use butter so I used all butter and cut back 1 tablespoon on the sour cream. My mini loaves baked for 35 minutes. After waiting 20 minutes, I brushed on the lemon syrup and hurried out the door.
This pound cake was a huge hit at our gathering. The cake was absolutely delicious, so light and fluffy, and the walnuts gave it a nice crunch to compete with the tart and sweet lemon glaze. I'll make this one again and again, including suggestions I saw on the P&Q--clementines and pecans (Spike Bakes), orange and pecan, and maybe a few other variations. Check out what the other SMS bakers did with this one...you'll find them all here. If you'd like the recipe, Raeann has it here.
To all the Sweet Melissa Sundays bakers who have been working through this wonderful cookbook from the beginning, thank you for letting me join you! I can't wait to delve into this wonderful book...as soon as my copy arrives!
15 comments:
Im so happy your a part of the group. It's been fun baking this past year!
Your lemon pound minis look so good and Im glad they were a hit with your friends! I loved the lemon flavor and the nuts the best!
Welcome to the group Leslie! Your cakes look wonderful...love the browned nuts on top! Perfect!
Hey Leslie! I'm so glad you joined SMS! It's going to be so much fun to have another SMS buddy. Your cakes look perfect, and making minis to cut the baking time down sounds like a great decision.
I actually joined the group when it first started, but had to drop out because so many of the recipes had nut issues for me (it's my daughter that's deathly allergic to them). So I quit, but have thoroughly enjoyed watching my friends bake their way through. And lemon pound cake sounds delicious!
Welcome to the group! Your cakes look beautiful, such a nice golden brown color.
Welcome to the group! Your cakes look amazing! We're halfway thru so I hope you'll be with us for the remaining recipes.
First, a huge welcome to the group! You baked this as a preview on Amazon? I can not believe it! You definitely wanted to get started =). Well, your loaves are beautiful and a success.
Thank you for the compliment on my bread pan too. I love that pan but sometimes batter gets stuck in the leaf and petal parts.
Yay!! I'm so glad you joined us Leslie! Hooray for a successful first recipe too :) Your pound cakes look lovely.
Leslie, I'm so happy you've joined us! Good timing checking the site when new members are being accepted. I have only missed one recipe (last week's, actually) since I joined and all but a couple have been great.
Your little loaves look terrific, this is a perfect recipe to take to a gathering, very yummy.
Welcome to the group! I'm so looking forward to baking with you again. Your little loaves are great!
Leslie,
welcome to Sweet Melissa Sundays! I'm so glad that you were able to find this recipe on-line and join in with us this week. I can always email next weeks recipe to you in case you still don't have the cook book - just let me know. Your mini pound cakes look great, I'm happy to hear that they were a hit at your group meeting.
Raeann
Welcome to SMS! Your cakes look delicious. Glad they were a hit!
glad to have you in the group! I recommend the clementine version- worked for me
Welcome to the group, Leslie. It's a great group, fairly small, if you compare it to TWD, so that makes it kinda cozy. Your loaves look great. I skipped this week's recipe but am looking forward to making the black bottom brownies next week. Let me know if you'd like me to send you the recipe for that, if you don't have the book by that time.
These look just so delicious!
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