Aunt June's Cake

My aunt June who lived in Barbados gave my mother this recipe. This post is dedicated to her loving memory.

Ingredients

• 3 sticks of butter
• 1 3/4 cups of sugar
• 1 3/4 cups of flower
• 9 eggs
• 2-3 tablespoons (tbsp) of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of mixed (or vanilla) essence
• some pumpking spice and nutmeg
• and a little bit of lime for a nice kick
• oven heated at 360 degrees

Directions

1. Flour baking pans (pans of course are optional. If you want to make cupcakes, put them in the cupcakes pan. If you're making a regular cake, grease the pan with butter because it adds good flavor, not PAM or any of that crazy stuff. After you've added the butter, place a small amount of flower in the pan, and move it around so a light layer of flour is around the pan. This stops the cake from sticking to the pans.
2. Cream butter & sugar for about half an hour or more until it's light and fluffy
3. Add in the eggs, lime juice and essence
4. Make sure everything is evenly blended
5. Add flour, baking power, spices and blend
6. Place into the oven until golden brown, and make sure to use a toothpick to stick the cake. If it comes out clean, that means it's ready!
7. Frost cake as desired or eat it plain

Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cake

This is my specialty! I first tried it when I was eleven years old. My aunt made some, brought it over to the house and I was hooked! I told my mom and that I had to try to make it. Both of my parents thought I was too young to bake an entire cake by myself. Little did they know that I was determined to make the best Red Velvet Cake EVER. I have tried many recipies but this is by far the best!

Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 ounces red food coloring
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar
Directions
1. In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter, beat until light and fluffy.
2. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition.
3. Mix cocoa and food coloring together and then add to sugar mixture; mix well.
4. Sift together flour and salt.
5. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk.
6. Blend in vanilla.
7. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to mixture.
8. Pour batter into 3 (8-inch) round greased and floured pans.
9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from heat and cool completely before frosting.

This came from Paula Dean's recipe. She's an amazing cook. She always makes me smile and inspires me.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/grandmother-pauls-red-velvet-cake-recipe/index.html