Happy Birthday Mariah

Mariah Noel turned six years old on New Years Day. She is a funny little girl and quite unpredictable! The day before her birthday (Matthew's birthday) mama was trying to figure out what kind of cake to fix for her. We are always so sick of sweets by this time (four birthdays since Thanksgiving on top of Christmas food!) Mariah asked mama for a cherry cake. Mama told her she didn't know how to make a cherry cake, so she then asked for lemon. Mama got up the morning of her birthday and made a lemon pound cake (it was delicious! recipe below). When mama pulled it out of the oven Mariah said she didn't think she would like it (and she didn't!) She is brutally honest! :>) Last year mama and daddy took her to Monkey Joes to play. It is an indoor playground and it was perfect because last year it was cold. The weather has been beautiful and warm lately, so there was no talk of Monkey Joes this year. The morning of her birthday she announced she would like to go to Monkey Joes. Being in a large family you don't always get what you want, and we don't typically do those types of things (especially at the spur of the moment!) but on your birthday, you get to do what you want! So......... off to Monkey Joes we went! She had fun and we were all spared any sick germs! We came home and grandma and pa came to our house. We had pizza (Mariah's request) along with the traditional New Years Day black-eyes peas and sweet potatoes (great combination!) Mariah opened her presents and had lots of fun! Then we had the cake that she didn't like and ice cream! Here are some fun pictures from her day!

~M.E.~

Every birthday mama takes a picture of her with some sort of "Happy New Year" hat.

This Year wearing a crown someone gave her when she was born.

First birthday

One week old!

Mariah in her new princess gown and wand with her cake (that she didn't like!:>)

Lemon Pound Cake

1 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour (mama used fresh ground soft wheat)
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon lemon extract
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Glaze Ingredients:
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1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/4 cup lemon juice
Preparation:Beat butter in a large bowl at medium speed of an electric hand-held mixer; gradually add oil, beating until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until blended after each addition. Stir in lemon extract. Pour batter into a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 300° for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove from pan and place directly on wire rack.
Combine glaze ingredients, stirring until sugar dissolves. Brush lemon glaze on sides of cake and spoon glaze over top, a little at a time. Let lemon pound cake cool completely.

~M.E.~