Apron in my Kitchen

If you recall, the first of this month, Susan, at My Mother's Apron Strings, chose me to receive her March apron.

Today, I will wear the apron for the last time, before sending it off to another recipient. If you click on Sisterhood of the Traveling Susan Apron, you can read how this wonderful gift I've received, will begin another journey.

This Morning, while having my breakfast tea, I decided the Lemon-Raspberry Coffee Cake would be the send-off recipe. The coffee cake recipe came from the April issue of Better Homes and Gardens.

I decided to use my two favorite bowls.  Then I checked my list of ingredients.

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs (1 for each layer mixture)
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
Powdered (confectioners) sugar (optional)

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease bottom of pan with parchment. Grease and lightly flour pan; set aside. For cake, in a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2.     In medium mixing bowl beat 1 cup of the granulated sugar and the butter with mixer on medium to high until combined. Add 1 egg and the vanilla. Beat on low to medium 1 minute. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to sugar mixture, beating just until combined after each addition; set aside.

3.     For cheesecake filling, in small mixing bowl beat cream cheese and remaining ¼ cup granulated sugar on medium to high until combined. Add lemon peel and 1 egg. Beat until combined.

4.  Spoon half the cake batter into prepared pan, spreading to edges. Pour

      cream cheese layer, carefully spreading to edges of pan. Then top with remaining cake batter.

5. Bake 20 minutes or until puffed. Gently press raspberries into cake. Bake 25 to 30 minutes more or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen edges of cake from pan; remove from pan. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.

Note: Layering the batters…..Keep the cheesecake filling from mixing into the cake layer. Spread half the cake batter into the pan and evenly top with the cheesecake filling. Using two spatulas, dollop remaining cake batter over the filling and carefully smooth top.

Still warm and smells so yummy!

I have to admit, I did fret over naming the first kitchen the apron would visit. I wanted to send each of you an apron. But, there is only one apron!

In the end, I decided to send the apron to Elaine at Pear Tree Log.

So look out UK, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Susan Apron will soon be on holiday, traveling to your beautiful country.

I will keep you up-to-date as it moves from kitchen to kitchen.

Enjoy your week end

Meggie Mac

More Than Just an Apron

As the days have come and gone since Susan first chose me as her March recipient of her special apron, I have become a believer in the magic of the apron.

The very first day, I was aware of something special about the apron...and with each day passing, it grows and grows. Susan has reminded me the apron chooses the recipient.

I woke up in the middle of the night, thinking about the post for today. My thoughts were churning around in my head. I was afraid I wasn't a good enough writer to get this message across to you. This post is about the day of arrival.

The apron has arrived...







It felt like a delectable piece of chocolate...you know what I mean. It tastes so wonderful you want to take very tiny bites and savor each morsel.

And so, I carefully removed the postal envelope. I just stared at it for a few minutes. It was obvious Susan had taken such care by precisely folding the apron.  Enclosed was a card.

Let me say, the pattern style is unique and....

Chicks and Cooked Eggs

The fabric prints were perfectly chosen to compliment each other.











If you are waiting to hear me say I danced around my kitchen with it on...you can forget that. I will never admit to it....well, maybe a little dancing!

The story of the enclosed handmade card by Susan, I will save for another day's post.

If you read my previous post on the apron, you will remember it will become a "traveling apron". I plan on sending it to one of my followers. The goal is to create a common thread that will connect Susan and our blogging friends in a very special way. Each recipient (blogging friend), will be wearing the apron for a while and then passing it on.

"Susan, my dear new friend....the credit all goes to you!"

Read her blog, My Mother's Apron Strings and bring another friend into our circle. It is not my place to tell her story...she does it so much better.

It may seem like I have overused the words unique, special, magical and apron in this post, but Susan is definitely worthy of any praises I may sing of her....

Meggie Mac

Sisterhood of the Traveling Susan Apron

Borrowed Photo from Susan's Blog

Susan has just notified me that I am the March winner of one of the beautiful apron's she sews and then gives away each month. If you are looking for wonderful recipes and photos, check out her blog, My Mother's Apron Strings. Attached to her recipes are many heartfelt stories of life and family.

I've decided to keep the wonderful gift for two weeks and write a few words in a journal about what I did in my kitchen while wearing the apron. Then, I will pass the apron and journal on to one of my blogging buddies, hoping she will do the same. Just think, in a year, Susan's apron will have traveled to 24 different kitchens.

Yes, this is a knock-off from the book and movie, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Somehow, I think we will have less trouble fitting into the apron than we would the pants.

Thanks again, Susan! I am honored that you chose me......

Meggie Mac