Happy Birthday, Connie! 3-16-21

Today is Connie’s birthday and last year was the first birthday lunch we had to miss. This year I baked her a birthday cake – her choice was lemon. No lemon cake recipe in my collection so I headed to the internet. This cake was highly rated as being moist with a lemony cream cheese frosting.

As I headed out of the yard with Hazel, Telly rounded the corner wanting to join us. I opened the sliding side door and prayed she’d jump over the cake. But…..she didn’t. One paw landed in the cake – wouldn’t you know! All that angst and effort only to end up with a punched in cake!

Good grief! I know Connie would give me an A for effort but I sure wish I had used a dependable Duncan Hines lemon cake mix. I will not reprint the recipe I used because it did not live up to the claims of being a moist cake. I am throwing my recipe card away so I don’t mistakenly use it again.

Here are a couple pictures of Siri – such beautiful markings!

And that’s Connie’s birthday post – now it’s back to ripping for me. I told Connie I might be a better writer than sewer – haha! Thanks for all your sympathy comments!

44 thoughts on “Happy Birthday, Connie! 3-16-21

  1. Kim J LeMere

    Oh dear, still spending time with Mr Ripper. Its the thought behind the cake that truly counts. Dont you ever wonder how pioneer woman managed to cook a light and moist cake without the box? I’m glad you were able to get together to celebrate this year.

  2. Kathleen McRae

    Happy Birthday Connie. My birthday was yesterday (on the Ides of March) and my daughter made me a blueberry and white chocolate bread pudding with a vanilla sauce. Excellent!!

  3. Danna

    Paula Deen has a good easy lemon bundt cake. It is called a mountain dew cake, but I have added 7-up or Sprite. Very good and easy. Google that for your recipe stash.

  4. Rosalie

    So glad the cake was covered!
    If you have dry cake, consider making a lemon pudding and layering the cake and pudding and cool whip like a trifle and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight to moisten. Delicious. Even with the frosting already on the cake it would be good.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Rosalie – sounds great! I will make a note to this effect!!

  5. Margaret in North Texas

    Good Afternoon, You are just not having any luck with your latest activities, except Ricks carrot cake. I’d give you an A for effort in spite the disappointments!!

  6. Margaret in North Texas

    Oh, I forgot to wish Connie a Happy Birthday and so hope she has a wonderful day.!

  7. Sue Smith

    I would bet that Connie had a good laugh about Hazel and the cake. And, a good laugh is sometimes better than cake. Plus, it’s the thought that counts. Happy Birthday, Connie.

    Just want to gloat a little. How about that great OSU win! Our alma mater. My husband graduated there and I only went for 1 year before we got married, then worked to put him through. That’s was the way in the 50s and 60s.

    Sunny weather today, but cold.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Sue Smith – can’t wait till Thursday when the games begin!

  8. Sandy

    Hi Mary, siri is beautiful and l like the colours in the rug in her photo.I’m sure the cake tasted delicious, maybe it needed some yoghurt on the side.l am trying to make quince paste but no luck so far, tastes great but not setting, any ideas welcome! Have a great day, best wishes from sandy

  9. Charlotte Shira

    Happy Birthday Connie!! So glad the foil was on the cake! Love the quilts. I have to get busy working on my DD.

  10. Gloria from CC

    Happy Birthday Connie! I hope you’re having a great day and getting lots of birthday greetings.

  11. RITA in Iowa

    Mary getting together is the most important part of your friendship. Happy Birthday Connie. Hopefully your snow is melting.
    The quilts are beautiful as always.

  12. Jan from TN

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CONNIE! 🎂🎈🥳

    Wow! Siri is a beautiful cat.

    Mary, I feel your pain. Sometimes I swear I can’t do anything right, be it cutting, piecing, etc.

  13. Marsha from Kansas

    Happy birthday, Connie! A couple of days ago I was happily chain sewing some Irish chain blocks which I always take the time to pin so no gaps in the chain. At the end of the blocks I discovered I had run out of bobbin thread on the first block. I guess at least no ripping this time. But I have chain sewn and turned a piece around before, too. I will be sewing bindings while watching ballgames.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Marsha from Kansas – oh, good grief – you are not alone because I have also done this! I’ve done it all.

  14. Rhoda Ebersole

    My daughter’s 46th birthday was last Saturday. Her daughter spent the afternoon making her a gluten free carrot cake with cream cheese frosting which they left on the breakfast counter and pulled the chairs away from the counter so Rocky their dog would not get to it while they went out to 6 pm dinner.
    Well Rocky managed to jump up on the high chairs and jump to the counter and proceeded to lick off a lot of the frosting.
    I said Kennel him when you are gone from the house!!!!

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Rhoda – OH NO!!!!! I just read this to Rick and he said “Atta boy, Rocky!” Like my sister said – you can’t make this stuff up!!!

  15. Kate

    I see recipes all the time that claim to be the very best of what they are and then I make them…. Maybe it’s me, but a lot of times they aren’t very good. I tried the Cracker Barrel Hashbrowns recipe that was online and I thought it was horrible. I’m sticking with my tried and true recipes. Now if you ever want a really good chocolate cake recipe, I do have one after trying countless chocolate cake recipes. My husband asks for it all the time and he’s not that fond of chocolate.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Kate – well, since you offered, I would love to have your chocolate cake recipe! And I’m sure others readers would, too. Put your recipe in the comments. And thank you, Kate!

  16. Nancy TD

    Happy Birthday, Connie. Hope you have a great day!
    Lemon cake is my favorite. You are a great friend to bake her a cake.

  17. Linda Schluchter

    The minute you mentioned Telly I winced because I’ve had similar misfortunes with my bunch. It’s the thought that counts! And I’ve also had similar disappointments with recipes that sound good, then I wonder if the person who praised it really knows what’s good.

    Happy birthday to Connie and may she have many more happy days!

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Linda Schluchter – yes, who tasted this cake and voted it the best???? I have a lovely trifle bowl which I should have used after the fact!

  18. Connie

    Hi- Connie here
    Thanks for all the Birthday greetings! I wanted you all to know the cake is delicious!!!! I had a piece for lunch and will probably have another for dessert tonight! When will the diet start?

  19. Peggy Butts

    Here is my favorite lemon cake recipe. My mom used to make it and one of my sisiter’s. It is the only cake my other sister wants and she doesn’t bake, so I try to make one when I go to visit her.
    1 lemon cake mix
    1 package instant lemon pudding
    4 eggs
    1/2 cup oil
    3/4 cup lemon juice
    Mix well and bake for 50 minutes at 350

    Glaze
    1/3 cup lemon juice
    2 cups powdered sugar

    Heat until powdered sugar is melted and brush on the cake.

    I make mine in a Bundt pan

    If you don’t want it as lemony, substitute water for the lemon juice.

  20. Lynn in Scottsdale

    Happy Birthday Connie!

    Your quilts are always so beautiful. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.

  21. Julie D.

    Happy Birthday today Connie!!! Hope you’ve had a wonderful day!! And Mary I wouldn’t worry a minute about that cake–it was covered–so I’m glad you took it (at least I think you took it). It is a birthday cake to remember!!!!
    That Siri is a beautiful cat! All the dirty dozens you’ve been posting are all outstanding. Mine to come very soon.

  22. Kathy in western NY

    Only pet lover and owners imagine how you and Connie had a good laugh over the paw in the cake. Just getting together anymore with anyone is the icing on the cake !!! Many many more birthdays celebrations Connie! We love hearing friends can safely get together finally.

  23. Jo in Wyoming

    I’m still laughing 😲😂😂😂! That piece was meant for Betty.
    Happy Birthday to Connie!
    And Mary…thanks for sharing, with pictures.

  24. Mary from Davenport

    Happy birthday to Connie.Mary the recipe from Peggy is a really good recipe I have the same recipe I got the recipe from a friend 40 plus years ago and probably bake 2-3 times every year

  25. Beverly Lockmiller

    That Lemon cake recipe from peggy is really good . I have uesed it a lot. Happy birthday Connie.

  26. ruth

    I see by your cake picture that you used up the rest of the frosting by slathering it between saltines and triscuit crackers, my favorites. When there’s leftover chocolate frosting, my husband gets out the graham crackers and slathers away. Any reason to celebrate deserves a tasty treat!

  27. Diane in WI

    A day late and a dollar short!! Happy belated birthday to you Connie. I hope you had a wonderful day. Siri is a beautiful cat. The quilts are great as always. Reading through the comments, I’m glad others have problems,too. Life can be very frustrating. Have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

  28. Launa

    Happy Belated Birthday Connie!
    It’s the thought about the lemon cake that counted…even with the dog’s paw print of approval!

    Another sunny day without new snow…just plenty of old covering the acreage.

  29. Betty Klosterman

    From my view for both Connie and Mary, a paw print on a cake seems rather appropriate! Just one of those things. Not the end of he world, but memorable! It is probably a seal of approval.
    I think spring is here. It is beautiful outdoors, muddy, but we aren’t complaining. I passed the park near us and the snow was perfect with no footprints. It was beautiful. The air is so cool and fresh and just makes me smile. It feels balmy. Take care everybody. We will survive. Betty in Rapid City

  30. Kathy Hanson

    Oh My’. Well, I Am sure Connie had a wonderful birthday anyway but hard to see a masterpiece ruined!!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNIE!!!

  31. Susan K in Texas

    Happy Birthday Connie!
    So sorry about your cake. How disappointing! When I was little my dad was in charge of dinner. My mom had just had my little sister. He made a heat and eat pie. He put it in the hallway to cool while we ate dinner. My sister stepped right into it. As I remember we still ate it and enjoyed it.

Comments are closed.