When I told my sister today that I’d made a lemon cake, she announced that she was proud of me for branching out. That’s what this year is all about! I may not learn a foreign language, perfect the foxtrot or get my first pedicure, but I will live it up in the kitchen. When I read a novel (usually some wonderful British one) and the tea tray is brought in, I am usually desperate to know what is on that tea tray. Scones? Crackers? Little sandwiches? Cakes? What kind of cakes? I’m curious like that.

I had a wonderful piece of my lemon cake (no tea–a terrible oversight on my part) this afternoon. Very light and refreshing, but also satisfied my sweet tooth and got me all the way to dinner without further raids on the pantry. Lemon cake is a winner at my house, too, having gained the approval of my husband and one son (the other one wrinkled his nose and made a sound vulgar enough to ruin any tea party).

I put a little buttercream icing (leftover from another cake) between the layers and piped some flowerish stars on top just for fun. Maybe I’ll have just a sliver before bed tonight. Perhaps it will give me dreams of a warm climate where lemon cake grows on tropical trees. I could use that.