Wednesday, January 30, 2013

A 200th YEAR JANE AUSTEN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION



We are celebrating the 200th
anniversary of the author
Jane Austen!
January 28, 1813






I baked a special cake
 just for our tea time:


English Regency Lemon-Raspberry Cake

This recipe came from the February 1995 issue of Victoria Magazine.  Changes:  instead of the raspberry filling, I used Stonewall's Seedless Raspberry Jam and instead of making lemon curd, I used Irish Chivers Lemon Curd. (I also changed the name for the sake of Jane Austen)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cake:  You will need 3 cups sifted cake flour, 4 Tsp baking powder, 3/4 Tsp salt, 3 eggs, 1 cup milk, 2 Tsp vanilla,  3/4 Cup unsalted soft butter, 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar

Lemon Cream Frosting:  1 cup unsalted soft butter, 4 cups confectioners sugar and 3 Tbs lemon juice (I only used cups cups confectioners sugar but if I made this again - I would use a cream cheese based frosting as this is very sweet)

To make the cake:  Butter and flour 3 round cake pans and also line bottoms with waxed paper and also butter and flour the wax paper.  

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt - set aside.  In a medium bowl, whisk together 3 eggs, milk and vanilla.  Set aside.
In a larger bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter til light and creamy.  Gradually beat in 1 2/3 cups sugar, beating til light  Add flour mix alternately with milk mixture beating until smooth for 1 minute.  Divide batter between 3 pans.


Bake 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes....
check with toothpick and cool 10 minutes.





Peel wax paper off 1st layer and place on cake platter - spread lemon curd on top.  Next layer: place raspberry jam on top and then  3rd layer on top and then ice entire cake with Lemon Cream Frosting reserving 1 cup of icing for decorative effects using a pastry tube.  This cake needs to be refrigerated.





"The garden is quite a love....I live in (the) room downstairs, it is particularly pleasant, from opening upon the garden.  I go & refresh myself every now & then, and come back to Solitary Coolness. " Letter to Cassandra, 23 August 1814







There are many wonderful books available with ideas for a 
Jane Austen tea party or dinner. 
 This would be perfect for Valentines Day.


38 comments:

  1. Your cake looks wonderful, Bernideen. I know I would love to share that with someone. Your heart-shaped plates are so pretty. Deb

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  2. So lovely! Wish I could sit and enjoy the tea with you! The cake sounds delicious- and I like the way you renamed it to honor Jane Austen. Lovely.
    ~Tanya

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  3. What a beautiful way to celebrate, Bernideen! Gorgeous. It's hard to believe that P&P has stood the test of time-200 years! Amazing- xo Diana

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  4. How FUN! P&P's anniversary was actually one of our talking points at bookclub Monday night. Can you send me a slice of that yummy cake? :)

    ~Liz

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  5. A lovely post about one of my favourite books. The cake looks delicious, will have to try that.

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  6. Your cake is really beautiful, Bernideen. What a nice tea today. It's cold and snowy here...a perfect day to sit inside and enjoy hot tea or hot chocolate!

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  7. What a wonderful virtual tea party you prepared in celebration of Jane Austen. Your cake looks fabulous and I love all the cake stand you shared the other day. Wish I could really have a slice of that cake!! Thank you for hosting!

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  8. Hello Bernideen
    I'm sure Jane would have approved of your beautifully set tea table and a special cake to honour her.
    I've been adding cream cheese to my frostings too to cut the sweetness of just icing sugar and butter. I tried a chocolate cream cheese but I think I added to much cocoa powder - hubby says not.
    Today was a balmy 50 degrees but back to freezing temps again tomorrow.
    Judith

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  9. That is a lovely looking cake, Bernideen! Pretty china and a lovely tribute to a beloved author. Thank you for sharing at my HOME and enjoy your week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  10. Dear Bernideen,
    You have a beautiful tablescape in honor of Jane Austen's Anniversary Celebration. I love your pretty teapot and matching cream & sugar. I love your heart shaped plates. Your cake looks scrumptious!Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful day!
    Blessings,
    Lisa

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  11. Bernideen, I love Pride and Prejudice! You did them proud with your beautiful teascape today. The cake looks so delicious. I will be pinning the recipe. So happy to be joining you today my friend!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  12. Your cake is making my mouth water! So much fun to celebrate Jane Austen. Happy Tea Day!

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  13. My sweet tooth is having a hard time as it looks at your beautiful photo's...yummy and I'm sure Jane would approve!

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  14. Lovely post Bernideen! I love your gorgeous photos! The cake looks sumptuous...I think Jane would be in raptures! What an unforgetable book...although I forgot the anniversary until reminded this week.
    Ruth

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  15. I'm up for celebrating--Pride & Prejudice is still one of my favorite, all-time books. I love the movie version with Colin Firth:-D BTW, I'm bringing Strawberry Sweet Buns to the celebration, XOXO

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  16. What a way to celebrate. The cake looks so amazing. Jane Austen would be proud....Christine

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  17. Visiting from Home, the cake looks so yummy.

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  18. A very nice post. The cake looks yummy and I'm sure it is! What a nice way to celebrate Jane Austen.

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  19. What a nice celebration. Your cake and table look so inviting.

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  20. JUST PERFECT! the cake looks wonderful - beautifully done - the post is just gorgeous. I appreciate you hosting and sharing,
    Kathy

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  21. What a gorgeous post this is, Bernideen! Your cake is beautifully decorated, and I love your table setting. The whole display made me smile.

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  22. I am going to have to try to join you next week. The dessert looks so yummy and the tea setting is light and pretty. I do like white dishes. A sweet way to celebrate Jane Austen.

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  23. Hi Bernideen,
    thats a birthday which just call for a romantic tea time. I am sure Jane Austen would be thrilled by your lovely cake and the table setting. I would love to join your table for that yummy cake. What a luck, I can join the party virtuell. Thank you for the nice post and for hosting this sweet event.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  24. What a lovely way to honor our beloved Miss Austen!

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  25. HELLO BERNIDEEN,
    YOUR POST IS LOVELY.....AND YOUR CAKE IS SO PRETTY AND DELICIOUS I'M SURE..
    I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN YOU FOR TEA AND A SLICE OF YOUR YUMMY CAKE....HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.....RIZZI

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  26. Simply beautiful Bernideen! Your cake looks delicious and your heart shaped plates are adorable.

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  27. Just discovered your beautiful blog Bernideen and really love it and love your linky party.
    what a wonderful way to celebrate Jane Austen. you have set your table so beautifully and your cake looks amazing.
    rita

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  28. Bernideen,

    Your post is gorgeous, so beautiful!

    I could delve right into that fluffy work of art - talk about a REALLY delish looking cake, yum yum.

    I love your china too- the heart salad plates are purdy purdy purdy!

    Thanks for your loyal visits, and thanks for the reminder, been kind of pre-occupied today, as you know.

    HUGS!!!

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  29. And I celebrated the amazing day sipping tea at our local English Bakery with other members of our JASNA chapter ... your tea party looks AMAZING ... such a very pretty cake. Thanks so much for sharing!!
    And isn't it amazing that is been 200 years since the best book ever written was published??!!

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  30. Oh everything looks just lovely. I wish I had a piece of that raspberry cake my friend. I love raspberries.
    Thinking of you....
    Linda

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  31. Thank you for sharing your lovely post at my HOME. I really like your new header too. Have a beautiful day, Bernideen.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  32. Delish! food + photos !
    thank you for the party invite, Bernideen ~ totally enjoyed my visit as usual =)
    new at FHC is pinterest
    def with a Tea Time board! welcome..

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  33. Hello Bernideen, I appreciate you sharing this post with Home and Garden thursday - I will be featuring your post in this week's party,
    Kathy

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  34. How fun!!! I love your party idea! I saw that it was the 200th anniversary, what a fun idea to celebrate! :o) Pride and Prejudice is one of my absolute favorites!

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  35. Oh yummy and oh so pretty! Thank you for sharing this at Rustic Restorations Weekend!

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  36. I'm visiting this again, my friend, and oh my, what a tea party you had. That cake is spectacular.

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  37. I am enchanted with your beautiful post!Hugs!

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  38. Oh my goodness, this is a stunning celebration that only you can do. I'm so happy you reposted it for us.
    I love that white teapot and that cake makes my mouth water!
    Thank you for sharing.
    Hugs,
    Fabby

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