Oh Lemons!

My parents recently returned home from a trip to southern California with a bag of lemons fresh off my aunt's lemon tree. Guy and I have put them to good use making lemon drops, sole a la meuniere (which I learned to make in my Julia Child cook class and turned out fantastic), and most recently lemon bread, which should more appropriately be called pound cake. The bread was a snap to make and was fantastic with the fresh lemon juice and zest.

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons (packed) grated lemon peel
1/2 cup whole milk
* Because I didn't make the glaze I added 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to the batter.

What to do:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Stir flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add grated lemon peel. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with milk. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake until tester inserted into center of bread comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar and fresh lemon juice in small heavy saucepan and stir over low heat until sugar dissolves.

Transfer lemon bread to rack. Cool lemon bread completely in pan on rack. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Turn bread out onto rack. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature.)

From: Epicurious

Tote Bags, Get Your Tote Bags Here!

I made myself a new gym bag/tote this weekend. For Christmas I made a pair for two of my friends and figured I needed to make one for myself so that I could match. These little bags are pretty straight forward to make and don't require much time or skill. Here's how to make one in 10 simple steps:

1. Cut out two squares for the bag.
2. Clean finish the top edge on both pieces.
   
3. Using a coordinating fabric cut out two rectangles 4 inches longer then where you want the bag to hang.
   
4. Fold each strap in half and stitch along one short end and the open long end, leaving the other short end open.
   
5. Turn the straps inside out and sew the remaining end closed.
6. Pin the straps to the fabric, I placed mine 6 inches from the sides and two inches from the top, and attach them. I formed a box by stitching along each side of the strap.
   
7. Pin the two squares, with straps, right sides together so that the straps on each side are even with the other side.
   
8. Using a 1/2 inch seam allowance stitch the two sides together, for extra reinforcement go along the bottom seam twice.
   
9. If you feel like being fancy finish off the edges with a zig zag seam.
10. Turn the bag inside out, push out the corners and VOILA! you have yourself a tote
    

A picture of my ever willing guinea pig trying out the tote.