LEMON PUDDING BUNDT CAKE ~ BLOG 366.74

It’s not often I use a package mix of anything, but my friend gave me this recipe to make for her dinner night at the Eagles and I followed it to the letter. I actually recommend you do the same thing. 😀 It has a airy tender crumb that is FULL of intense flavor. I’ve since changed it up a bit and also made it strawberry by using a strawberry cake mix and vanilla pudding. The possible combinations are based on your imagination with cake and instant pudding flavors 😀

I’ve also adapted it to a scratch version that uses freeze dried fruit to make it mango or raspberry using a white cake mix.

LEMON PUDDING BUNDT CAKE
CAKE
1 package lemon cake mix
1 small (3.4 ounce) package instant lemon pudding mix
2/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup neutral oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
4 LARGE eggs

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Generously butter (NOT non stick spray) a bundt pan.
  • In a large bowl whisk together the cake mix and pudding mix.
  • Add oil, lemon zest, lemon juice and eggs, whisking to combine well.
  • Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake 35-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool 15 minutes in pan.
  • Invert onto cooling rack to cool completely.

GLAZE
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract

  • Whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla.
  • Drizzle over cooled cake and let glaze harden 10 minutes or so before serving.
  • Transfer to serving platter and serve with FRESH blueberries or berry of choice 😀

NOTE: Flavors can be altered by using 1/4 cup freeze dried fruit with a white cake mix and vanilla flavored pudding mix.

BLUEBERRY LEMON CHEESECAKE CAKE

I was originally saving this recipe for Easter, but then we had a good friend who had a birthday.  Can I just say he is very hard to buy for?  His wife suggested I just bake him something and this recipe immediately came to mind.  I sent the big cake to him to share with Heather and the munchkins, but I did have to make 2 small ones for hubby and I also. SHHH don’t tell 😀

BLUEBERRY LEMON CHEESECAKE CAKE adapted from Cafe Delites

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Lightly grease an 8-inch round springform pan with cooking oil spray and set aside.

BLUEBERRY CAKE
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (juice from 1 LARGE lemon)
1/2 cup WHOLE milk
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 LARGE eggs
1 tablespoon lemon zest (zest of 1 LARGE lemon)
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 ounces FRESH** blueberries (I like SMALL wild blueberries)

  • Whisk lemon juice with the milk and set aside to sour creating your “buttermilk”.
  • In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
  • Beat in the eggs and zest until light and creamy.
  • Beat in the lemon juice and milk mixture.
  • Add the flour, baking powder and salt, mixing them first on top of the wet ingredients, before folding them in to combine the batter.
  • GENTLY Fold in 3/4’s of the blueberries.

CHEESECAKE
1 cup light cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 heaping tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 LARGE egg
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

  • Beat the cheesecake ingredients together until smooth and lump free, about one minute on low speed.

ASSEMBLY

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Evenly pour half of the cake batter into the prepared pan.
  • Pour 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture over blueberry cake layer (DO NOT SWIRL).
  • Pour the remaining cake batter over the cream cheese; then pour the remaining cream cheese mixture over the top to evenly cover the cake.
  • Sprinkle remaining blueberries over the top.
  • Bake in preheated oven 65 – 70 minutes, until the center is just set (it will have a very slight wobble to it). If you find it is browning after 30 minutes, tent with foil being careful the foil does not stick to the cheesecake.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool for an hour or so.
  • Once cake has chilled, remove from pan onto a serving dish.
  • Pour the glaze evenly over the top and allow to drizzle down the sides of the cake.
  • Cover and refrigerate for AT LEAST 6 hours or over night BEFORE serving.

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE
1/2 cup cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup natural powdered sugar
3-4 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons water as necessary for a thinner consistency

  • Beat all glaze ingredients together until smooth.

FINAL ASSEMBLY

  • Prepare glaze.
  • Once cake has chilled, remove from pan onto a serving dish.
  • Pour the glaze evenly over the top and allow to drizzle down the sides of the cake.
  • Add a few fresh blueberries for garnish.
  • Cover and refrigerate for AT LEAST 6 hours or over night BEFORE serving.

NOTES: Frozen blueberries can be used, but MUST be completely thawed and drained WELL.

 

RED PEPPER GLAZED HALIBUT

RED PEPPER GLAZED HALIBUT
FISH
2 Halibut Fillets
FRESH ground salt and pepper
1 green onion, sliced thin

  • Adjust oven rack to 6 inches below broiler.
  • PREHEAT broiler.
  • Line baking sheet with foil.Place baking rack on top of foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Generously season fillets with salt and pepper on both sides.
  • Arrange fillets on baking rack.
  • Generously brush tops of fillets with glaze.
  • Broil fillets for 2 minutes.
  • Flip fillets. Generously brush with glaze and return to oven another 2-3 minutes until they flake easily.
  • Serve with rice, potatoes or veggies of choice and remaining glaze.
  • Sprinkle with sliced green onions as garnish.

GLAZE
1/2 cup apple jelly (I use apricot a good deal of the time)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 green onions, sliced thin
1 tablespoon avocado oil
2 tablespoons Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
1 tablespoons QUALITY honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sesame oil

  • In a small sauce pan whisk together the jelly, red pepper flakes, vinegar, green onions, liquid aminos, honey, avocado oil, sesame oil and green onions.
  • Cook over medium heat about 10 minutes, stirring frequently until syrupy and reduced by about half.

PAN SEARED CHICKEN BREAST with APRICOT RUM GLAZE

PAN SEARED CHICKEN BREAST with APRICOT RUM GLAZE
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons butter
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons rum
1/4 cup white wine
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup apricot pineapple jam
8-12 dried apricots, finely sliced
salt and pepper to taste

  • Melt butter in a large skillet.
  • Salt and pepper both sides of chicken pieces.
  • Brown chicken, turning once, until cooked through – about 4-5 minutes per side.
  • Remove from skillet and keep warm.
  • Reduce heat and add onion, sauteing until tender.
  • Add apricots, rum, wine, lemon juice and vinegar, simmering until reduced by half.
  • Add jam, blend well and simmer to desired consistency.
  • Serve over chicken and white rice with fresh kiwi.