Meet Me On Monday Q's

Questions:

1. What is your favorite yogurt flavor? Yoplait Key Lime
2. Ankle or knee socks? and on the same theme, white socks or coloured?? Ankle socks....white.
3. How is the weather right now? The temps today dropped to the low 80's, a much needed relief from the almost 100 degree temps last week. It was sunny & breezy-perfect weather today.
4. Are you a fast typer? Not really.
5. Red or White Wine? Neither.

Copy Cat Recipe - Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake

I'm copying this recipe from Jenn's blog over at Eat Cake for Dinner. It is Olive Garden's Lemon Cream Cake. Can't wait to make it!!!
Olive Garden Lemon Cream Cake
adapted from: Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2

Cake
1 Betty Crocker white cake mix
1 1/4 c. water
1/3 c. vegetable oil
3 egg whites
Note: Measurements are based on a Betty Crocker cake mix. Using a different brand, the ingredients/measurements might be different.


Lemon Cream Filling
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 c. powdered sugar
3 Tbl. lemon juice
1 c. heavy whipping cream

Vanilla Crumb Topping
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. cold butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract


Make white cake according to the directions on the box. Divide batter between two 9'' cake pans. Bake according to box directions. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pans for 15 minutes. Then, invert cakes to cooling rack and cool completely.
Make the lemon cream filling by mixing cream cheese and powdered sugar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in lemon juice. Whip the cream in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until it forms stiff peaks. Fold cream cheese mixture with whipped cream. Stir gently by hand until blended.
Make crumb topping by combining flour and powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Add butter and dribble in the vanilla extract. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to mix cold butter into flour and sugar. Break butter into smaller and smaller pieces as you incorporate it into the dry ingredients. Be sure not to press the mixture together. You want to end up with a very crumbly consistency with pieces no bigger than a pea.
When the cake is cool, spread all but 1/2 cup of the lemon cream mixture onto the bottom half of the cake, then carefully place the top half of the cake over the filling. Spread remaining filling over the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle the crumb topping on top of the cake and press it onto the sides all the way around the cake. Now chill the cake for at least three hours before you serve it. When you are ready to dig in, slice cake into 12 slices. Serve each slice topped with powdered sugar tapped through a strainer. Serves: 12. Keep refrigerated.

Six Word Saturday.......

Only 2 days until summer break!!!!!!!!!

Everyone is so ready for summer break....especially Nathan! On Tuesday, he will officially become a junior in high school. I cannot believe my little boy only has 2 years left before graduation. Where does the time go? {sigh}

Blog Hop Giveaway....check it out

Hop on over to the Blooming Hydrangea for a giveaway!!!!


Ange is giving away a large utility tote from thirty-one!! Stop by her blog and enter!!

5Q Friday 6/10

1. How close to your childhood dreams is your life now? Well, I knew I wanted to get married, and have children---I have a wonderful husband & we have 2 awesome sons!! Growing up I thought I might become a teacher someday (my Dad was a teacher), but I didn't follow that dream. I guess I did the next best thing though, I was a substitute teacher for about 20 years. Actually, the job I have now, managing the b&b, is something I thought I'd love to do, but this is more my grownup dream!
2. What is one must have item for the summer? Flip-Flops
3. Do you have your kids stay up on school stuff during summer vacation? (Or, if you don't have kiddos, did your parents make you keep up on school stuff during summer?)No, they have such a heavy work load throughout the school year, summer break is all about summer FUN!!!!
4. Do you can or freeze fresh produce?Are you kidding me? It doesn't last long enough at our house to store away for later. It would be nice though!
5. Do you get ready for the day first thing in the morning? Definitely! I can't do a thing until I get out of my jammies, get dressed, & make my to-do list for the day. :O)

21 Day Organizing Challenge - day 2

day 2 - magazines/catalogs/books
The end table in our den where I keep magazines, catalogs, & books.
Wow! That's alot of stuff!!!
I took the old magazines to the b&b.
I threw away alot of stuff.....some of the catalogs were dated Dec...yikes! I'll put these books on Ebay......
Here is the clean, organized cabinet now........all that's left in there are a few catalogs & books, the phone book, and my reservation books from past years which I like to keep handy. Thanks to the 21 day organizing challenge I'm getting organized.....one day at a time!!

Hoo Are You???? Q's

1. How often do you wash your vehicle? About once a month, Peter takes the SUV through the car wash. He really keeps that thing clean-inside & out!!
2. When riding in a car with someone who usually drives, them or you? Them.
3. How many states have you traveled to or through? Let's see.....traveled to.....Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, & Maine and traveled through......Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. I've also traveled to Washington, D.C. So total states I've traveled to or through: 15
4. What kind of music do you listen to the most? Top 40
5. Do you prefer the window down or air conditioning? I much prefer the windows open-one of my favorite things!, but when it's HOT I just gotta have a/c!!!