~Lemon Chiffon Cake~

  Is there anything that makes you think summer more than lemons? Lemonade stands, iced tea with lemon, lemon desserts, lemon curls, even their bright sunny color....(the list could go on) whenever I see a lemon, summer is what comes to my mind =) So I love lemons, maybe mostly because I love summer, but either way I think they are great!
  I found this recipe awhile back & knew that I would be trying it at some point....

~Lemon Chiffon Cake~

7 eggs, separated

2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 cups sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup oil

4 tsp grated lemon peel

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

LEMON FROSTING:

1/3 cup butter, softened

3 cups confectioner's sugar

4-1/2 tsp grated lemon peel

dash salt

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder & salt. In another bowl whisk the egg yolks, water, oil, lemon peel & vanilla; add to dry ingredients. Beat until well blended.

In another bowl, beat egg white & cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form; fold into batter. Gently spoon into an ungreased 10" tube pan. Cut through batter with knife to remove air pockets.

Bake on lowest rack @ 325* for 50-55 minutes or until top springs back when touched lightly. Immediately invert pan, cool completely, about 1 hour.

Run knife around side & center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate. In a small bowl combine frosting ingredients; beat until smooth. Spread over top of cake.

  I've made two of these cakes so far, the first was a smaller one (just made half of the recipe to make sure we liked it) & took it into Daren & his coworkers. The frosting is definitely lemon so I  told the guys if they didn't care for lemon they probably would not like the cake. Well it was a hit, especially with the one guy...he wanted me to leave a big piece for his breakfast, which I did. (although I saved a small piece for myself to enjoy later =))
  I made the second one for a family gathering & made the whole recipe this time. Ended up bringing alot of it back home with us because there was sooo much dessert there that not much of it got eaten, But that's ok with me! Put some of it in the freezer & the rest we have been making disappear. ;)

 

Definitely spent  more time making it look pretty for the family gathering than for the guys =) Was fun having things in my flowerbeds etc that I could use for decorating. The lavender also added a nice flavor to the frosting; well at least to the places that it was touching.

Happy Summer!!!! :)

~Sheila