This weekend coming up has been scheduled to within an inch of its life. I've got family coming to stay, things to do, places to go and cakes to bake. Surprisingly, it's the planning for the cake that's proven to be the biggest challenge.
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I've got my heart set on baking this lemon velvet cake and while finding the lemons and buttermilk has been a breeze, the same could not be said for lemon essence. Can you believe that lemon essence doesn't even have a spot in the supermarket baking aisle anymore? You can get bubblegum, cola, chocolate and coffee flavourings but not good old lemon. It could be a sign of the times, that home baking is getting so fancy and celebrity chef inspired.
Just as I was shelving my lemon cake dreams, I had a thought. Perhaps I could try the tray of essences and food colourings that I've had stashed away from all my past baking adventures.
Sure enough, there it was. An almost full bottle of lemon essence. No expiry date anywhere but it still looks lemon yellow and it definitely smells the goods so I reckon it'll be okay.
Have you had a lucky find in your pantry recently?
Does your local supermarket still stock lemon essence?
I follow an instagram account (super_natural_mum) who is really into those oils and I'm constantly agog that she uses them in her cooking all of the time. (I realise that's different to lemon essence, but still...) I'm just a little shocked that you're so easily able to substitute an aromatherapy oil to give cooking a specific taste.
ReplyDeleteAm not an oils person myself. I keep meaning to consider it but never seem to remember to buy what I need etc... #teamlovinlife
I know how hard these things can be to find at supermarkets. I recently searched high and low for coconut essence needed for a particular recipe with no success. Lucky find for you! I think I'm more likely to find a heap of things that are past their use by date (by years!) and need to be tossed! lol #TeamLovinLife
ReplyDeleteGlad you're feeling better and up to cooking SSG! :) I only have vanilla essence in my pantry, ha! I'm not a baker. As much as I enjoy cupcakes, I don't like making them as much!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy cooking (not so much baking!) but I don't really like the "lets get fancy" parts. If you made it and you like then you're a winner in my book. I think the supermarket layout part that bugs me is the maple syrup isn't next to the pancakes!
ReplyDeleteI hope you post a photo of your creation, SSG. Enjoy your weekend xx
ReplyDeleteI am ignorant but if you have lemons do you need lemon essence?
ReplyDeleteStella
I have never had the need for lemon essence to be honest. But then again, I am not a chef, cook nor baker. LOL. Looking forward to photos of the cake!
ReplyDeleteHappy scheduling #teamlovinlife
SSG - what do you use for vegetable shortening in the recipe?
ReplyDeleteLouise
HI Louise
DeleteI use butter.
Hope this helps!
Excellent, thanks. I'm going to try the white velvet recipe from the same site.
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