I never fully appreciated spring until we moved to Arkansas. Suffice it to say that the ceaseless wind that characterizes spring in West Texas just wasn’t nearly as pleasant as the bright, still days we are enjoying now. 
I was chatting with a neighbor yesterday that it is one of my favorite things, watching our little neighborhood come back to life each spring after a long winter of everyone staying cooped up indoors.
I love color. LOVE. Which means spring, my friends, is a perpetual state of rapture for me! Everywhere I look, there is another vivid hue to make me squeal with delight…
Another color, PINK, has me particularly tickled today. The very talented Holly at 504 Main approached me this week to ask if she could post my Santa Fe Chic Napkin Tutorial on her blog today as one of her Tickled Pink features. I am beyond thrilled! Head over to Holly’s blog to check out the post, and also to take a look around. I could spend hours perusing all of her fantastic ideas. Such talent!
Happily, I had another feature this week that was super exciting, too! Jen from Tatertots and Jello featured my Beguiling Blossoms/Memo Board tutorial on Tuesday. Click here to see the post. I was over the moon! If you aren’t familiar with Tatertots and Jello. Well. You must familiarize yourself. Head on over to see for yourself why I wait with bated breath for each and every one of her new projects!
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So the strawberry shortcake pictured above? Yes – it was a delectable as it looks. I have a go-to little cake I have been making for a couple of years now any time we have berries on hand and want to have strawberry shortcake for dessert. I do love a conventional pound cake for that purpose, too, but sometimes I don’t want to have that immense of a cake sitting around all week to tempt me. This little recipe makes just a single loaf, and it is equally terrific as a dessert or served with a morning cup of coffee.
This little recipe makes just a single loaf, and it is equally terrific as a dessert or served with a morning cup of coffee.Yogurt Cake
(adapted from Bon Appetit)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon (packed) finely grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil (The original recipe calls for 1/2 cup, but I have found 1/3 cup to be more than sufficient)
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously butter 8 1/2×4 1/2×2 1/2-inch loaf pan. (The original recipe calls for a metal pan, but I have used glass with fine results.) Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl. Combine yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon peel, and vanilla in large bowl; whisk until well blended. Gradually whisk in dry ingredients. Using rubber spatula, fold in oil. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Place pan on baking sheet.
Place cake on baking sheet in oven and bake until cake begins to pull away from sides of pan and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 5 minutes. Cut around pan sides to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto rack. Turn cake upright on rack and cool completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap and store at room temperature.)
Click here for the original recipe on Epicurious. (You will notice that it calls for a marmalade glaze, which I have actually never used. I, however, am sure it would be delicious!)
A happy weekend to all!
Amy @ Positively Splendid
Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you'll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.
@splendidamy
Mama of four, creative enthusiast, craft & DIY blogger. Find me knee-deep in my next project at http://www.PositivelySplendid.com!
Entertaining this weekend? Craft some Anthro-inspired pennant napkins to gussy up your table! http://t.co/aSNEtp88m5 via @miznelliebellie - 2 days ago
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What a great recipe. And I am so happy I found your blog. You have a new follower, such great ideas!
Your new Friday Friend..Amy
Stopping by from The Girl Creative’s New Friend Friday. Already a follower.
That first flower is gorgeous! My roses are finally starting to bloom, but we are supposed to have storms this weekend which will probbly blow all the blooms away! Congrats on all the features! That strawberry shortcake does sound really yummy:)
Stopping by from 504 Main. That first flower picture is so pretty!! What kind of flower is it? I’m going to follow via email, love that recipe!
I can only imagine “spring” in West Texas having been through Texas twice. haha. But yeah the further East you go the more colorful it gets. I love Spring. I am tickled pink for you!
That cake looks delish! And your pictures of the flowers make me long for our warm weather to get here soon.
Thanks for sharing the post on BlogFrog! I’m so excited about the upcoming Alice.com Mother’s Day Extravanganza on Thurs!
I just love your blog! I’ve been here so much this wk, I need to subscribe, think I’ll do that right away!
~Liz
you’ve piqued my interest with that felt photo… can’t wait to see what you’re working on… and i’ll email you my the info on the graphic designer i’m using (my thurs post)
You have a new follower, such great ideas!
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