Summer is my absolute favorite time of year. And although there are lawns to mow, gardens to weed, and extra laundry to wash, just about everyone has a shady spot to sit with a glass of lemonade and read. For me, it's my screened-in porch where I read, work, or simply watch the deer coming and going as the sun sets. When I know friends will be dropping by, I brew a batch of iced tea, mix up some lemonade and bake this luscious treat. Bake two and freeze one, so you'll be ready when neighbors arrive unannounced. Just remember to take it easy...after all, it's summer! And if you tell me about your favorite "cool" dessert, you'll be entered in a drawing for a Bath & Body Works gift & one of my books. USA only. Good luck, readers. Mary Ellis
Fresh Lemon Sheet Cake
Cream together:
1 ½ cups white sugar
½ cup butter (1 stick)
Mix dry ingredients in a separate
bowl.
2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
Add dry ingredients to creamed
ingredients alternate with 1 cup milk.
Next add in the juice of ½ lemon and about 2 tsp lemon zest. (Optional:
a few drops of lemon food coloring)
Fold in 2 well beaten eggs last.
Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees –
your oven temp may vary)
For approximately 25 minutes or until
toothpick comes out clean.
Hint:
This cake is great with lemon sherbet for a cool summertime treat or you
can frost with a lemon butter frosting…
LEMON
BUTTER FROSTING:
Cream 3
tbsp room temperature butter
Blend in
2 egg yolks
Stir in
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp grated
lemon rind (zest)
2 tbsp
lemon juice
Leave me a comment about your favorite summertime dessert and you'll have a chance to win a Bath & Bodywork gift set, plus one of my mysteries. US only. And you must leave your email address.
Good luck!
Good luck!
I am going to try your desert yum looks so good. I really Like watermelon fresh from the garden and ice cold. It seems so refreshing for me. This summer trying to cut back on lot of sugar deserts. But I am going to have to try this. I love your books and Bath and Body is a added treat. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Diana
opps sorry I forgot.
Deletejoeym11@frontier.com
ice cold watermelon fresh from the garden is one of my favorites, too! And your dessert, Diana, has far fewer calories than mine! thanks.
DeleteNancydarby2007@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite summer time treat is watermelon with salt. And spiting the seeds to see how far they will go.
I love love love that fragrance of bath and body works. Energy! Orange and ginger. I look forward to reading your book.
My husband and I sit on the porch and have watermelon seed spitting contests! how crazy is that. I will have to try salt on watermelon next time, Nancy.
DeleteNancy Darby, you're the winner of the Bath & Body Works gift set, along with What Happened on Beale Street. I will be contacting you via email for your address. Congratulations.
DeleteHomemade pies from my peach tree!
ReplyDeleteWow. You're very lucky to have your very own peach tree! Peach pie is one of my faves.
DeleteCherry or Strawberry Cheesecake. Your dessert sounds and looks yummy.
ReplyDeleteparalegal7@hotmail.com
Strawberry cheesecake is my husband's favorite dessert. Good choice.
DeleteIce cream is our favorite anytime dessert. Ourstuff64@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely no bad time to eat ice cream. Thanks for leaving a comment.
DeleteButter pecan ice cream. lclee59(at)centurylink(dot)net
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful...both salty from the pecans and sweet.
DeleteIce cream :)
ReplyDeletesmincer10(at)gmail(dot)com
ice cream sounds like the crowd-pleaser!
DeleteYour lemon cake sounds so yummy! I'm going to have to try it.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite desert any time of the year is mint chocolate chip ice cream.
duellonlysis(at)aol(dot)com
Mint chocolate chip sounds perfect for the summer. Thanks for leaving a comment.
DeleteSummertime "dessert" is usually watermelon with salt however, I have been know to make no bake oreo cheesecake for July 4th get gatherings.
ReplyDeleteYour favorite is much easier to "make" than mine. lol. thanks for dropping by.
DeleteI am going to try this. I love a fresh pineapple cut in half, filked with fruit cocktail drained and melons cut up. Cover with whipped cream. jrs0350@yahoo.com Jane Squires
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a perfect lunch. I will have to try this. I love fresh pineapple.
DeleteIce cream. Actually that’s probably my family’s all-year-round favorite.
ReplyDeletemindyhoungATmsnDOTcom
You're so right...ice is good year round. Thanks for leaving a comment.
DeleteHomemade ice cream!!! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteice cream seems to be the winner. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteI love the no bake lemon pie on cookie crust. dixiegran@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYour recipe sounds delicious and easier than mine. Good work.
DeleteFresh strawberries, peaches or blueberries with a little sugar. Maybe some whipped cream on top. Would love to win one of your books! paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet
ReplyDeleteYou're the first reader to mention berries! Yet I know folks love summer berries with whipped cream.
DeleteMint ice cream with bits of chocolate, watermelon, and other fresh fruit: blueberries, peaches, and nectarines. . . Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway, and for you being a blessing! Would love to win a print copy of your book:) Lual Krautter My email is: krautter12ATbresnanDOTnet
ReplyDeleteice cream with berries sounds perfect. Thanks for leaving a comment.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFresh strawberry shortcake with strawberries from our local farmers market. My mouth waters thinking about it :-)
ReplyDeleteThat lemon cake looks so good,I'll have to save the recipe so I can make it at my house! Thanks for sharing it and the giveaway chance, Mary.
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
Thank you, Trixi, for being a Suspense Sisters reader. and strawberry shortcake shouldn't be forgotten. That was my mom's favorite and I like it too.
DeleteThat lemon cake looks divine! My favorite summer treat is a white chocolate ice box pie with raspberries! So yummy on a hot day! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteshellbaby_sd@yahoo.com
Wow. that sounds good. I'll have to look up the recipe.
Deletethanks for sharing.
My favorite summertime dessert is typically just some fruit... strawberries, watermelon, white nectarines, plums. Or, ice cream. Your lemon cake looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Kelly
kelly @ dkcountryarts (dot) com
Blessings on you, Kelly. Thanks for posting your favorite. Fruit in the summer is always a treat.
DeleteMy favorite summertime dessert is ice cream.
ReplyDeleteccutting70@msn.com
Good choice. thanks for posting.
DeleteWe love that lemon sheet cake. Great recipe. My favorite summertime dessert is peaches fresh from the orchard, and then making homemade ice cream with them.
ReplyDeleteWow! Peaches from your own trees and homemade ice cream? That sounds wonderful. Good luck.
DeleteI love watermelon in the summer.. but also love yummy homemade banana pudding.
ReplyDeleteWatermelon is a close second, behind ice cream. thanks for dropping by.
DeleteOh my this cakes sounds delicious. I will have to make it to try. Don't enter me in the giveaway. Keep up the wonderful writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl, for your kind words about my writing! You you keep getting well. hugs.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy husband made a great strawberry shortcake the other day but soooo much work and soooo many dirty dishes a quick dish of ice cream or even better a cone— no dish to wash! Thanks for sharing. The lemon cake looks great. Maybe I can talk my husband into making it 😉
ReplyDeleteAnne at Rightler dot com
Sounds to me, Anne, that you married the right man. Perhaps he can whisper a few hints into my husband's ear?? lol. Thanks for the post.
DeleteJello cake topped with matching fruit is our "go-to" summer dessert although that lemon cake looks tempting.
ReplyDeletedawn.nicol@gmail.com
Goodness, I haven't had jello cake in awhile. I'll have to fix one of those! I think it'll be peach. thanks for dropping by.
DeleteThat lemon cake looks delicious! I love anything lemon, but since my husband is diabetic I try not to have sweets around too often. We stick mainly to fruit for dessert when we have one, and an occasional trip to the local custard stand for sugar-free ice cream for him. Thanks for the giveaway! eldora2193@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteI love anything lemon too. And sugar free ice cream is much better than it used to be. Thanks for leaving me a comment.
DeleteHomemade ice cream, especially old fashioned vanilla, with fudge brownies.
ReplyDeletetumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com
Do you have an ice cream churn? I have no idea how a person makes ice cream. But old fashioned vanilla sounds yummy.
DeleteThe lemon cake looks refreshing. My favorite summertime dessert is mint chocolate chip icecream.
ReplyDeletedebsbunch777(at)gmail(dot)com
I have bought mint chocolate chip in a while. thanks for the reminder and thanks for leaving me a comment.
Deletewatermelon
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
your answer is tied for first place. lol.
DeleteMy favorite summer dessert is strawberry shortcake.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
I better make that soon since strawberries are in season right now.
DeleteYour lemon cake sounds so refreshing & yummy! My favorite summer time sweet treat is homemade strawberry ice cream! Enjoy your summer! rw620 AT aol DOT com
ReplyDeleteI sure do give you credit for making your own ice cream. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteHomemade vanilla ice cream using the fresh cream from our Brown Swiss cows!
ReplyDeleteeclitton at gmail dot com
Wow. You make your own ice cream from cream from your own cows?? That takes the "cake." lol. I love seeing Brown Swiss cows. Their large ears make them so cute and cuddly.
DeleteOh my! That lemon cake looks so delicious! Perfect summer treat! I love cheesecake, preferably with raspberry or blueberry topping.
ReplyDeletewhthomas13 at yahoo dot com
That's my hubby's favorite dessert. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteThe lemon cake looks really good. My favorite summer dessert is ice cream. Can't get much cooler than that! Thanks for your giveaway. It would be fun to win.
ReplyDeletepmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
You're right about ice cream being the "coolest." thanks for leaving me a comment.
DeleteI am mad about strawberry shortcake in the summer or ice cream with balsamic cherry sauce (I moved to MI last year and am loving all the cherries that Michigan has to offer!). The lemon cake you shared looks yummy! I will definitely try it. I love those little lemon cookies that are all covered in powdered sugar as well as lemon bars so I think I'd really like it!
ReplyDeletekellyblackwellwrites(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for a great reply, Kelly. And good luck with your new home in Michigan.
DeleteI love fresh honey dew melon and strawberries.
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138atgmaildotcom
Sounds delicious! Thanks for the reply.
DeleteI like home made ice cream
ReplyDeletejwisley(at)aol(dot)com
I love any ice cream so homemade would be over the moon. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteHands down it’s my “everything from scratch “ strawberry spongecake.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had homemade spongecake since my mom passed on. Thanks for a great suggestion.
DeleteYour desert sounds yummy! Love lemon deserts! One of my favorite summers deserts is peach cobbler or berry cobbler. Love it with ice cream!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win an awesome prize!
faithdcreech at gmail dot com
thanks, Faith. Cobbler with fresh berries and whipped or ice cream is always a good summer choice.
DeleteI’ve just discovered Sonic slush pops in strawberry lemonade. So refreshing and only 80 calories. Great for those 100 plus degree days!
ReplyDeleteperrianne(DOT)askew(AT)me(DOT)com
Perrianne Askew
Thanks for the suggestion, Perrianne. There's a Sonic right down the street from us.
DeleteI eat low carb, so it's fresh raspberries, blueberries and blackberries topped with fresh homemade whipped cream
ReplyDeleteI have my very own blackberry patch in the backyard. I pick some everyday and eat right from the bush. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteCherry or peach Cheesecake or ice cream.
ReplyDeletegood summer suggestions, Emma. Thanks for being a Suspense Sisters Reader.
DeleteYummy looking dessert. I like watermelon 🍉 & sometimes homemade orange crush ice cream.
ReplyDeleteI could just imagine orange crush ice cream. Yummy.
ReplyDeleteI love Ice cream! :D vanilla, peach, Chocolate.......
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever had peach ice cream, although I love peaches. I'll look for that in the store. Thanks, Sabrina, for leaving me a comment.
DeleteWhen I can find a nice chocolate/cherry ice cream I am thrilled. It doesn't even need any chocolate syrup on it. Thanks for the chance to win one of your books.
ReplyDeletedebbiewilder (at) comcast (dot) net
Thank YOU, Debbie Wilder, for being a reader of Suspense Sisters and for leaving me a comment.
DeleteWhen my system could tolerate sugars more, summer and sweets were always good. I loved the tart lemony pies, cakes, and pies. I made a fresh coconut cake using the 1,2,3,4 cake recipe, fresh grated coconut on 7-minute icing with lemon jelly filling between the layers - yummy. Now I prefer something like watermelon for summer deserts.
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone, Vera Godley. I too need to cut down on the amount of sweets I consume. Watermelon sounds just perfect.
DeleteThanks to everyone who took the time to tell me their favorite summertime dessert. The winner of the Bath & Body Works gift set along with one of my books is Nancy Darby. Readers, be sure you're entered in our BIG July contest. The prizes are fantastic.
ReplyDelete