Thursday, May 4, 2023
Welcome back!
Thanks for stopping by!
Do you know which legendary film series is celebrated each May 4?
Yes… we were both reminded of this day each year
when our students would arrive at school on May 4 with the above greeting!
(Actually, it was the older students who’d return to remind us each year!)
While neither of us consider ourselves super fans of this phenomenon,
we both know many people in our lives who are avid Star Wars fans
and embrace this day each year!
If you fall into this group
we wish you all a…
On a completely different note
(and one we are much more familiar with),
did you happen to see Monday’s post,
filled with gift giving Mother’s Day treasures?
The ideas shared provide homemade suggestions
as well as a few we’ve purchased and loved…
From a Grand perspective, we both love any opportunity we get
to validate the young mom’s in our lives and the amazing job
they are doing as they raise those precious Littles!
Today’s post is also devoted to Mother’s Day
but with a refreshing and delicious twist!
Laura is sharing a favorite springtime recipe!
This dessert would be a perfect addition to any Mother’s Day celebration!
I’ve made this cake for birthday celebrations,
church potlucks and to cap off an evening with friends.
DELISH!
Who doesn’t love the flavors of lemon and blueberry…
Together, the flavors create a winning combination!
I hope you love it as much as we do!
While this recipe uses a cake mix, it also requires a bit of prep -
the blueberry filing adds extra moistness so it’s totally worth it!
It's topped off with a decadent lemon cream cheese frosting
made with a pound of butter and a pound of cream cheese….
Well, you get the idea!
😋
Ingredients
CAKE (and Blueberry Filling)
• cooking spray (for your pan)
• 1 box vanilla cake mix (including the ingredients listed on the box
(for me, that meant 3 eggs, water and vegetable oil)
• 2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries (you can use frozen, but I prefer the fresh)
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1/2 cup Cool Whip
FROSTING
• 2 (8 ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
GARNISH (Optional)
• blueberries
• lemon zest or small lemon slices
Directions
1). Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Use your cooking spray to grease a 9” x 13” pan.
2). Follow the directions on the box to make your cake. Once your cake has baked, let it cool completely.
3). In the meantime, make your blueberry filling: In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, lemon juice and sugar. Cook over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until the contents thicken, about 5-7 minutes. Watch closely, stirring regularly. When thickened, remove from heat and pour the mixture into a medium bowl to cool.
4). Let the blueberry mixture cool for about 15 minutes. Then fold in the Cool Whip until combined.
5). Time to make the frosting (while the cake continues to cool): Using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl. Once combined, add the powdered sugar, the lemon juice, the lemon zest, and the vanilla. Beat until smooth and fluffy!
6). Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cooled cake. Top with your blueberry filling. You’ll need to spread the filling around and gently press the filling into the holes.
7). Spread the frosting on top. Garnish the cake (or individual slices) with a few more blueberries and a lemon slice or some lemon zest… whatever you prefer!
How to Include Your Littles…
If your Littles will be visiting (or you’ll be with them) for Mother’s Day
and you’d like to make this yummy recipe, let them help…
especially if they love to bake as much as you do!!
🍋 How fun would it be to smell the lemon as you zested it
or to nibble on a few berries?
🫐 Of course, we all know how much Littles love spreading cake batter in the pan!
🍋 Best part,,, let your Littles help poke the holes in your cooled cake…
and then help spread the gooey blueberries into the holes!
🫐 Finally, invite your Littles to garnish the cake slices and serve them…
the moms in the crowd will love it!
Getting together with family and/or friends
to celebrate Mother’s Day
would be one of the best gifts we could imagine!
Honestly, we could think of nothing better…
except perhaps if it includes our yummy Lemon Blueberry Poke Cake!
This weekend I am heading once again to Wisconsin
to visit Little L and her family!
There is a special celebration in the works…
Daughter J (Little L’s mama),
and the one who made ME a mama,
is turning 30 on Saturday!!!
How can that be???
You may recall this photo that we shared on Monday as part of our Mother’s Day post.
This photo was taken on Sunday, May 9, 1993,
three days after I gave birth!
Here’s the full photo…
Four generations together... my grandmother, me, Daughter J and my own mama!
This photo was taken after our family attended church on Mother’s Day that year!
Looking past my mom's white eye shadow (!),
my funky short hair (!!)
and my big chunky earrings (!!!),
this photo reminds me of the overwhelming joy and love we each felt
with the arrival of this precious little one!
She has rocked our world. in all the best ways possible! 💗💗💗
It’s hard to believe that this photo was taken more than 28 years ago!
What do they say - The days are long but the years are short!
So true, isn't it?
In the photo above, Daughter J is about the age that Little L is now.
(Do you see the resemblance between her and Little L?)
Oh my goodness!
I'm so grateful to God
that He blessed us and picked me as Daughter J’s mama!
Happy 30th darlin’!
Can't wait to celebrate you!
As always, we invite you to subscribe to our blog
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including activities, adventures and celebrations with our Littles!
We always welcome your comments (section found at the bottom of each post) -
we love it when you share your thoughts with us!
Look for us to keep adding more Mother’s Day ideas during the coming week
AND
later today Laurie will be sharing a fun STAR WARS post there,
offering an activity to enjoy with your Littles!
We’ll be back next Monday, May 7,
with a new post,
Color Me a RAINBOW!
We’ll share engaging, simple and cost effective themed activities
perfect for exploring colors and rainbows with your Littles of all ages!
See you then! 🌈
Happy Weekend Ahead...
Cinco De Mayo, the Coronation, the Kentucky Derby and a 30th Birthday celebration!
What do you have planned this weekend?
We are grateful to join these link up parties and blog hops:
Sundays on Silverado/ The Happy Now Blog Link Up/ Making a Home-Homemaking Link Up
Karins Kottage Linky Party/ Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop/ Thursday's Favorite Things/ Grace at Home
Grammy's Grid/ Little Things Thursday/ Full Plate Thursday
Funtastic Fridays/ Spread the Kindness/ Home Matters1/ Home Matters2/ Friendship Friday
Fiesta Friday/ The Weekend Potluck/ Happiness is Homemade/ Love Your Creativity
The Good, The Random, The Fun/ Your Moment Blog Hop/ Sunday Sunshine Blog Hop
Inspire Me Monday/ A Pinch of Joy/ Senior Salon Pit Stop / A Morning Cup of Joe