Saturday, June 26, 2010

" Hot Day, Cool Dessert "

I don't usually do this, share my secret family recipes. As a matter of fact, I am the only one with this recipe.

Well, not the only one in the world as I got it out of a major brand name recipe book. But at least the only one in my family. 

It is a major hit with my family and church members in the heat of the summer. Katie has been requesting it for the past week so yesterday we bought the ingredients and Kate and I whipped it up together this morning.

You have to like lemon. If you don't, I am very sorry for you as you don't know what you are missing! The recipe is as follows:

Lemon Torte

3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs (12 squares)

3- eggs, separated

1-Tablespoon finely grated lemon peel

1/4 cup lemon juice (I use fresh)

1/4 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

1-cup whipped cream (whipped)
or 2-cups cool whip- thawed (I use cool whip) 

Line a 9x5 loaf pan with 1/2 of the graham crackers

In medium saucepan combine egg yolk (reserve whites in small bowl), lemon peel,lemon juice,1/4 cup of sugar and the salt.
Mix thoroughly. Cook over medium heat until it just begins to bubble, stirring constantly. It will be the consistency of pudding. Let cool.

Beat egg whites in chilled glass or metal bowl until frothy.
Add 1/4 cup of sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.

Fold in lemon mixture and whipped cream.
Pour into pan. Top with remaining graham cracker crumbs.

Chill at LEAST four hours. For longer storage cover with foil.


 
This really is a yummy frozen dessert!

Before we made the Lemon Torte I did manage to get outside by 7:00 a.m. this morning. I did get a lot of weeding done in two hours, but by 9:00 the heat was already starting to bother me so I quit.
My son came by to mow and trim for me as well. It looks so nice, it's just unfortunate that we are having such an awful heat spell right now. Today it was 109 with the heat index and the air was so thick with humidity that it was hard to breath.

Even Katie didn't bother me to go out and "Do something" after walking the dogs. It felt like walking out into a furnace. So I just stayed in the house.
We made the dessert, I cleaned, did laundry and I finished the "Toad Hop Inn"! Now all I need is a bit of rain to soften the ground enough for me to dig. Oh I have plans for this "Inn". If nothing else, I think it will be cute!

The weather people say that it is supposed to be in the 80's all next week! I pray that they are right. This heat is stifling!

I was supposed to do my gardening yesterday but I had the strangest day. Every plan that I had made fell through. Little things kept going haywire. I was trying to show Katie how to pump gas and I messed up and got gasoline all over her pant leg. So instead of shopping while we were in town I had to race across town to get her home and cleaned up. Fortunately I had a sheet in my car and we thew it over her leg. But between the heat (had to keep the windows down) and the smell of the fumes, I was getting sick to my stomach. Katie was fine, just a little smelly!

Then my daughter-in-law, Amy, called to see if I wanted to go to the store and then to the new consignment shop in town. So Katie and I piled in the van with the grandkids and off we went to the grocery store where we had intended on going to in the first place before the gasoline incident!

That was a fun trip. Jack and I shared chocolate doughnut holes while we ALL shopped! My granddaughter, Sarah snuck a package of candy in with my items at the check-out while giving me a KNOWING look!

She almost got in trouble from mom until I told her that I was buying it for her, as I gave Sarah a KNOWING look! We have a special bond. That bond between grandma and granddaughter. No mom's allowed!

After putting our cold items in a freezer bag, off we went to the new consignment shop. It was very nice. The prices were surprisingly low. So I did indulge in a few items even though I really didn't need them.


 


The three wine bottles will go well in either the living room or the dining room. I haven't decided where yet. The glass bottle I just found intriguing. But I really loved the little jewel box. It was only $2.95.


 



This will go in my bedroom which is all Victorian. I love the red velvet inside.


 




I know that some of you have been to my daughter, Ginny's new blog. I wanted to comment on it but couldn't find where to comment. A couple of you had the same problem. So I asked her about it and she said that the comment section is a little "quote bubble" under the headline of the post.
Well Shut My Mouth! I really feel old and stupid now, LOL!!!

She is doing a blog about eating only foods bought at the farmers market for thirty days. Here's the link...

This is something that I would love to do. I don't think that Kate would go for it though. Ginny's market also has meat, fish and dairy.
Ours does not. However I do believe that I could live on fruits and vegetables just fine for thirty days. Katie however, not so much!
I hope everyone has a great weekend and I do hope that nobody else has to deal with this extreme heat.

23 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

It sounds as if you have had a wonderful time with the family. That's the way it is supposed to be, right? Nice purchases, too. The little jewelry box looks like one I got from my Mom, only mine is more blue.

Barb said...

Nothing like a little frozen yummy lemon dessert on a hot humid day, Di. I have a recipe for lemon pie that is similar. I like the little jewel box, too. Keep cool! I'm in Denver - HOT!

Lynilu said...

When it's that hot, anything lemon tastes good, doesn't it? I have to admit that sounds yummy even though I'm not a fan of cool whip.

Diana said...

Lyn,
It really doesn't taste like cool whip. Because it's frozen, it tastes more like a lemon ice cream!
Love Di ♥
P.S. I still haven't given up on that tag. I may just go buy another one to plant. Being that it is a perennial and a cheap one at that! I'm all about cheap.
Did that sound bad?

Snowbrush said...

I could go for some of that lemon torte about now!

P.S. You said, "When you are in really bad pain, who do you whimper to? Do you say "Oh my God"?"

Oh, my god, Diana. I'm an atheist, so of course I don't say, "Oh, my God." They would pull my card if I said that.

Diana said...

Hey Snow!
Exactly WHO would be pulling your card? Love Di ♥

Wanda..... said...

Your lemon torte recipe sounds like a good one Di...perfect for the hot days of summer. We had awful humidity a few days ago, but it's better now. I'm like you, any yard work gets done "before" 10am.

I didn't leave Ginny a comment either, but I thought she had the sweetest voice, Di.

Diana said...

Awww Thanks Wanda, we sound alike so I will take that as a compliment LOL!!!! Love Di ♥

Snowbrush said...

"Exactly WHO would be pulling your card? "

Why, the National Consortium of Atheists, Liberals, Communists, Pinkos, Godless Professors, and Affiliated Vituperations, Abrasions, and Viral Invasions, of course. I guess you're now going to tell me that you haven't heard of us!

Bill ~ {The Old Fart} said...

Your Lemon Torte looks delicious. I hope it cools off for you.

My Gram had one of those Jewel Boxes,

I had a horrible day, it is posted on the new blog.

Vicki said...

Hi Diana, your Lemon Torte looks really, really good. Sounds like you had a busy couple of days. Thanks for dropping by and commenting on the angels...your the best! Love you. Vicki

~sWaMpY~ said...

This is very similar to a dessert my mother made called, "Lemon Ice Box Pie." Hers had Eagle Brand Milk in it.
Thanks for visiting my place.
I promise I washed my feet before I posted here.

Arlee Bird said...

I keep hearing about all this heat and humidity. My mother in Tennessee said it was 106 yesterday and my daughters in NJ said it was uncomfortably hot there. I'm not missing that weather.

I'll probably never have that dessert unless I visit someone who fixes it or something. I know I won't be making it and my wife doesn't really cook much at all. I like lemon stuff-- especially in the summertime.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Rebecca said...

I think your lemon dessert sounds out-of-this-world!

Your day ended up fine - after starting out weird... Love the consignment buys.

I hope, hope, hope it DOES cool off - for YOU and all of us who are weary of it! We've had enough summer as far as I'm concerned.

anupama said...

Dear Diana,
NAMASTE!
Good Evening!
Aha!It's raining here,in Kerala!Heavy rains and so refreshing!
The jewel box is so beautiful!
Di,you are living each and every moment!Hope the heat is less.
Wishing you a lovely evening,
Sasneham,
Anu

Teresa said...

Hi Di,
Great post today. It is a bit humid here too, but not nearly that hot. I love heat but not the humid kind.

Yum, your Lemon Torte looked wonderful...however I am trying really hard to stay away from things like that...I have no control, and if I made it, I would end up eating the whole thing!!!

I will go back and try to comment on Ginny's Blog. I have been following (do you know how to add her to your Blog list?) Her Blog is so modern...lol!

I don't think anyone would 'pull our card' if we said we didn't believe in Jesus, do you? I didn't know so many people were monitoring Atheists these days...kind of scary. Poor Snow. Too bad he is so loveable.

Hope you get some relief from that humidity soon...oh and I loved your little jewel box you found.

Yesterday, I went to the farmers market and found a bottle of Saskatoon wine, I bought it and sat out in my little space in the shade, and thought how much I would enjoy having you as my guest.
Oh, the tales we could tell.

((((HUGS)))) TT

Diana said...

Hi Teresa!
At the top of her page there is a tab that says "Subscribe" that's how I did it. It took a couple of days to show up on my google reader.
That wine sounded good, I would have loved sitting there and sharing it with you! It is so hot again today, I had to come back in the house. Next week, the 80's they say! I sure hope they are right! Love Di ♥

Mary Ann said...

Thank you for the lemon dessert recipe. I love lemon!

I hope it rains here today to break the heat.

Going to visit your daughter's blog now.

Pramoda Meduri said...

Wow..interesting recipess di..:) Many thanks..:) I liked ur table cloth..:)

U wanna me tell u the indian recipess?? hehe.. they are more of chilli..:)

ANy wyass...njoyy

Eileen said...

Well, nothing sounds very appetizing to me yet, Di, (still having stomach problems) but Ray loves lemon, so I'll try the dessert for him. Thanks for sharing!

We are having a heat wave here too, but the weather next week is supposed to be beautiful. I'm still not feeling one hundred percent so I'm happy to have an excuse to stay indoors!

I loved all your thrift finds, very unique!

I'll be back later tonight when it's quiet to catch up on all I've missed here.
Love to you,
Eileen

Sniffles and Smiles said...

That lemon torte looks fabulous! Wish I weren't allergic! The heat has been horrendous, hasn't it? Good to stay in! Keep cool! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!!! Fruits and veggies sound perfect in the really hot weather...Love you!! Janine XO

Bernie said...

Fallon and Olivia would absolutely love this desert...so.would.I. I hope to make it on Saturday with them.

We don't have near the heat and humidity that you do....We did have a huge storm last night that seemed to stop and start all evening.

I have some of those little jewellry boxes, they are cute, my mother and grandmother gave them to me......take care sweetie, hope your arthritis isn't giving you too many problems......:-) Hugs

Diana said...

Hi Bernie,
The arthritis has been acting up a bit but it's been way worse! If you make the dessert, just make sure that you freeze it solid, it tastes better that way! Like ice cream.
Love Di ♥