Saturday 29 May 2021

When Life Gave Me Lemons

 


Thank you so much for all the kind birthday wishes on my previous post. I passed them all on to Lily and she was thrilled to bits. 


Last weekend we enjoyed a ride along the newly re-opened Keswick to Threlkeld trail. This was the perfect opportunity for Lily to try out her new bike, and for us to see all the improvements to the path since the route was closed off following storm damage way back in 2015. It is designed for walkers and cyclists, and completely traffic free, following the old railway line from Penrith to Cockermouth.

The route passes alongside the River Greta and crosses so many bridges on the way that I lost count. There are historical information boards all along the track but we were too busy enjoying our ride and admiring the scenery to stop and read them all. 


It was a chilly day and we stopped at the park in Keswick for our picnic and a hot drink, but for some reason I struggled to warm up. Even though I was wearing gloves, my hands were freezing and I just didn't feel quite right. I put it down to feeling tired after a busy week, but the following morning I woke with a sore throat and swollen glands. Lily did too.  :( 

We've been feeling out of sorts all week now and, disappointingly, had to cancel our much anticipated camping trip that we should have been enjoying this weekend. Never mind, we'll still be getting out and about. It just means we will be able to sleep more comfortably in our own beds each night. I've been drinking lots of hot lemon and honey but I'm not entirely sure it is making a difference - it tastes good though :) 


Seeing as I had plenty of lemons to hand. I couldn't resist making some of my favourite lemon cake. 
This is the recipe I use if you would like to try it.

125g Butter
175g Caster Sugar
2 Large Eggs
175g Self Raising Flour
4 Tablespoons Milk
Zest and juice of 2 un-waxed lemons
An additional 50g of sugar for the syrup


Cream together butter, caster sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy. 
 

Add eggs, milk and flour a little at a time and mix well.
Bake in a loaf tin for around 40 minutes at 150°
Stir lemon juice and sugar together, then heat gently until the sugar is dissolved. 


When the cake is removed from the oven, skewer all over and pour on the syrup, allowing it all to soak in.

I must admit that following a busy day at work, Tuesday me was very grateful for Sunday me doing this baking. It was a delicious treat being able to enjoy a slice of the cake I'd forgotten all about. Also, this can be made into a delightful summer bake by leaving out the lemons and pouring over some elderflower syrup instead.

J. X



38 comments:

  1. I hope you are both feeling much better now. That lemon cakes looks so good, and moist. Lemon is so refreshing isn't it.? Always enjoy your pictures of the pretty countryside and wide open spaces.

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    1. Thank you, Faith. We're both still coughing, annoyingly :) So I'm hoping a good dose of fresh Lakeland air tomorrow might help. X

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  2. The cake looks yummy but have to ask did you make lemonade with your lemons as the saying goes? That looks a lovely traffic-free bike ride and I'm sure Lily enjoyed riding her new bicycle. So sorry to read you've both been unwell and having to miss your camping trip. Enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend whatever you choose to do x

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    1. I think lemon cake was the better choice in the end. It was delicious. :)
      It was disappointing, needing to cancel our camping trip, but I'm sure there will be other opportunities during the summer. X

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  3. I'm sorry you've had to cancel your camping trip, I know we've all been looking forward to getting out a bit now that restrictions have been lifted but I'm sure you'll feel more comfortable at home. Feel better soon. That looks like a great trail, especially for Lily to ride her new bike on. Lemon cake is one of my favourites, yum.

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    1. Thank you, Jo. Yes, being comfortable is far more important at the moment. I'm sure we'll have other opportunities to get away when we're feeling better. X

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  4. That looks like a great trail to ride along I bet it's great for walking too. Sorry to hear that you and Lily are unwell and you have had to cancel your trip hopefully you will be able to do it at a later date. That cake looks amazing I have pinned it to make later. Enjoy the break I hope that you feel better soon. xx

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    1. The trail is lovely. Very scenic, nice and flat, and such a smooth ride! I hardly needed to pedal :) It's very popular there, so gets quite busy, especially at the weekends.
      The cake is really good, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. X

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  5. Belated wishes to Lily. What a lovely cycle ride. Good that the track has be reinstated. Hopefully you’ll both be feeling better soon. Hot lemon always works for me. Have a good weekend. B x

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. The hot lemon didn't seem to work for me this time, so I tried some gin instead :)

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  6. Sorry you both felt rough - those sort of things are always worse when the weather is beginning to warm up. BUT THAT CAKE LOOKS A GOOD PICK ME UP.

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    1. Thank you, Pat. We feel a little better, but the coughs are just a nuisance now. I'm sure the cake was of far more benefit than the hot lemon :)

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  7. I've noticed the old railway bridges when driving on the Penrith-Keswick road. Wouldn't it be good if it went the whole way! Even better if they reopend the railway (maybe with a path alongside).

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    1. There is a campaign to re-open the line here. Wouldn't it be marvellous if it actually happened :)

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  8. I'm glad you and Lily got to enjoy riding along the newly opened trail, but, so sorry to hear that you both felt unwell, afterwards and had to cancel the camping trip you had been looking forward to. Hot lemon and honey sounds good and that cake looks delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe. Enjoy your weekend and take it easy. Hope you both feel well, soon.

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    1. Thank you, Bless. We're beginning to feel a bit better now, so I'm determined to make the most of our week off.
      I hope you're managing to remain pain free. Xx

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  9. I'm sorry you had to cancel your camping trip - is that to the place I'll be going to at the end of June? Maybe you can re-book for another time. The new traffic-free trail sounds good, your second photo reminds me of something similar which I cycled along in Italy several years ago.

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    1. Hi, Eunice. Yes, it was, so hopefully we can visit at later date. X

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  10. Lemon drizzle makes everything feel a little better. Hope you are both on the mend. Looking forward to doing that railway walk again now that it has been repaired. X

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    1. Unfortunately, my cough has got worse as the week has gone on. It's becoming more of a nuisance. I've turned to ice cream for it's medicinal qualities now :)

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  11. Oh, I am so sorry you have cancelled your camping, you often mention how much you look forward to those trips.

    Hope the decent weather this weekend makes up for it a little.

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    1. It was disappointing more than anything, Jayne, but there will be other opportunities. We're having a great week though :)

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  12. Colds can make you feel rotten, I hope you and Lily are feeling better soon. My go to remedy is a hot toddy. I'm not convinced it works but at least it warms me up. The trail looks perfect for a bike ride and the cake looks delicious, I'd definitely not have forgotten I'd baked that! xx

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    1. Thanks, Suzanne. My cough is a nuisance - It's seen me awake since 4am! But I'm still determined to have a great week. I've turned to ice cream for my latest remedy :)
      I hope you had a lovey Birthday. X

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  13. We call that a Pound cake. And I'm sure yours is delicious.

    Hope you all are feeling better soon. You can't be too sick, with being able to get out and about though. -smile-

    Gentle hugs.....

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    1. It was a delicious cake, I should bake another one soon.
      I was glad I had managed to get out before becoming unwell. Fortunately I could rest up on the Sunday but now I've been left with a horrible cough which is becoming a nuisance. It's not stopping me from getting out though :)

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  14. The first recipe I have ever wanted to bake. It looks like the perfect spring cake.
    Seeing a photo of Lily on her bike took me back to the days of joy and freedom I had on my cousin't bike. Thank you. Thank Lily for me. :)

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    1. The cake is delicious. I don't make it all that often, as it's not the easiest cake to take on a picnic, with it being so sticky :)
      The new bike is a huge hit and, of course, Lily had to 'woooooh!' as we rode through the tunnels. X

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  15. Oh, yum! I love lemon cake. I hope you are feeling better. What a shame that you had to postpone your camping trip. That bike path looks fabulous! You and Lily are always doing such fun things together. I love reading about your adventures.

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    1. Thank you, Stephenie. It was disappointing having to cancel our trip but we've still been able to get out. I just wish I could get rid of my cough.
      I love that Lily likes to spend time outdoors and we are very lucky to live somewhere we can do this regularly. X

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  16. I'm so sorry you and Lily have been under the weather. Typical when you've got something exciting planned. Hope you both feel better now.
    That lemon cake looks absolutely delicious! xxx

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    1. Thank you, Vix. We're still enjoying our time off, just without the camping part. X

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  17. The trail looks and sounds good.

    Sorry to read that you and Lily have been unwell, I hope you both feel better soon.

    What a yummy lemon cake, perfect with a cuppa :)

    Take care, feel better and have a happy month of June.

    All the best Jan

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    1. The trail is great and very scenic. It can get quite busy, so I would say it's better to go early in the morning or in the evening.
      Thank you, we're both feeling much better now, but my cough is still lingering. X

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  18. Camping and I are done...far too uncomfortable...however lemon cake and me...we're verryyyy close! x

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    1. If I had to choose between the two, I think the lemon cake would win :)

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  19. belated happy birthday wishes to Lily. I'm sorry you've been feeling so unwell, hope you are on the mend now. x

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