Well, this is it....my summer is officially over!

This morning I am heading out the door to begin my 19th year at my school. The first four years I worked there I was the off session kindergarten day care teacher. Then our school went to full day kindergarten and I got a job as the new teacher. This is my 15th year of teaching full day kindergarten. Today is all meetings and doing the last minute things before the children start.

In our school we spend the first three days meeting the children and their parents one on one. The first day of teaching will be next Monday.

I know I won't be able to make my blogging visits to everyone in the morning once I get back to school. I'll be sure to visit you after my day is done.

I have a personality "quirk". We have to be in our classrooms at 8:15 in the morning. I usually get to school between 6:30-6:45. I like the quiet of the school and not having to wait to use the copying machine...etc. On the other end when I can leave at 3:15 I am out the door LOL!

On Sunday I made Rich his belated birthday cake. When I was a little girl I spent lots of time with my great grandmother. She used to make this wonderful orange cake. For years and years I looked for a recipe to make one like hers. I searched and searched the Internet and last year I found a couple of different recipes that I chose from and made an orange cake that was much like my great grandmother's. Rich liked it so I made one for him for his birthday. It is so good but very sweet. I brought some to my neighbors, shared some with Britt and we still have another two days left of cake to eat!

FRESH ORANGE CAKE

1/3 c. butter
1/3 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. grated orange rind
3 eggs
2 1/2 c. sifted cake flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c. orange juice, fresh

Cream butter, sugar, shortening and orange rind. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift flour with baking powder and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with orange juice.
Pour batter into 3 greased and lined 9 inch round cake pans. Bake at 350º for 25 minutes. Fill layers with orange filling.


ORANGE FILLING:

2/3 c. sugar
3 tbsp. flour
1 c. orange juice
2 egg yolks, beaten
2 tbsp. butter

Mix sugar and flour in saucepan, add orange juice and egg yolks. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook for 1 minute. Add butter, stir well. Cool before using. Fill layers of cake with filling. I added grated orange rind.


ORANGE BUTTER CREAM FROSTING:

8 tablespoons butter
4 cup confectioners sugar
4 tablespoon milk or water
4 tablespoon orange juice and a little grated rind

Cream butter and sugar well, add the flavoring and liquid until mixture is smooth.

take care,
Dawn