A Simple Life: Auburn Weekend, Tuesdays with Judith, Spending Time with RT AND Southern Caramel Cake

Good Monday afternoon!

I typed a very lengthy, particularly fascinating post, and was just adding one more pic when I accidentally hit a button...

Or two...

Or three...

And everything disappeared.

I kid you not.

Since it has been a very long time since I last posted (13 days), I am going to leave you with a very abbreviated blog post today, and work very hard the rest of this week to get some vital Fall information to you!

Do not worry.

I am all over this!

RANDOMNESS #1 - Weekend in Auburn - In the original post, I told you about going to Auburn for Parent's Weekend, sweating a lot during the football game, eating at a new-to-me Irish restaurant in Opelika and heading home the next day.

Today, you just get a few pics...

RANDOMNESS #2 - Tuesdays with Judith - I told all kinds of precious stories about Judith.

Really, really hilarious stories about picking out pumpkins at a local Farmer's Market and playing at a nearby park.

But now you just get the pics.

RANDOMNESS #3 - Visiting with RT - Alas and alack...

One from me...

And a beautiful Pumpkin Patch picture taken by Boss (Melia's Dad) for his nine-month pics.

This is one of so, so many that I loved.

Southern Caramel Cake

This was a cake I made this past weekend for a birthday party celebrating three of my family members.

I told you ALL ABOUT IT...

But then erased it.

Southern Caramel Cake

You will need the following for the Cake:

3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)
1 cup milk
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

You will need the following for the Caramel Icing:

One box light brown sugar (1-pound)
1/2 cup butter
7 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9-inch cake pans.

2. In a small saucepan, cook the butter and milk over low heat until the butter melts. Stir well and let cool to room temperature.

3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.

4. Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar on high speed until light yellow and smooth.

5. Stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture just until combined.

6. Add the cooled milk mixture and vanilla and stir well.

7. Divide the batter between the two pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until cake springs back when touched lightly in the middle.

8. Place pans on a wire rack and let cool 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans and let cool completely on racks.

9. Make icing. In a medium saucepan with a heavy bottom, combine the brown sugar, butter, evaporated milk and vanilla extract. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Stir well and turn heat down so mixture boils gently. Cook for 7 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.

10. Beat the icing with a wooden spoon for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.

11. Place bottom layer on a platter or cake stand. Working quickly before icing sets up, spread icing on top. Place second layer on top. Ice the top and sides. A knife dipped in hot water can help smooth the icing out.

Recipe Notes

If icing becomes too hard while you are spreading it, place it over low heat and whisk in another tablespoon or two of evaporated milk until smooth.

If you think you need extra, add another 1 1/3 cups brown sugar, 4 tablespoons butter, and 3 1/2 tablespoons evaporated milk. Plus a little extra vanilla if you desire.

NOTE FROM ENCHANTING BELINDA - She wasn't kidding about "working quickly before icing sets up." Be ready to ice this cake and ice it fast! I wasn't able to do a good job around the cake, so it was an accidental "naked cake" with smooth, delicious caramel icing on top and in the middle.

Also, that is why there are many store-bought pumpkin sugar cookies surrounding it.

I'm going to have another go at it before too long, and see if I can master the icing around the sides.

Have a great week, and I'll be back in a few days with a REAL post!

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda

P.S. Here are a few pics of the birthday party we had for Courtney, Roxie and Josh held this past weekend. I'll have more pics and EVERYTHING in between in a few days!