Tuesday, September 02, 2008

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 350ยบ 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

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Dawn,
You have a great first day hack. I am an early bird too...and always ready to go at 3:15.

We have been in school here for so long it seems. Maybe we have more breaks than you all. The kids go 180 days I think.
Cake looks yummy. I'm sure he loved it
diane

Darlene said...

Oooo you do get to school early! Happy 19th year back!!

That cake looks great!

Darlene said...

To answer your question, yes my hubby cut them out and I painted them many years ago.

Anonymous said...

Happy first day, Dawn. I woke up this morning thinking of you heading out to school.

You are (and have been) such a blessing in so many young lives.

Maybe I'll stop by for some of that cake this evening.

Unknown said...

Hi Dawn,
It's about ten to 8 A.M. just now, so you are probably at school already. I hope that you had a wonderful first day of school. Those children are so blessed to have someone like you as their teacher.

Dawn, I have an award for you over at my post today. When you get a chance stop by and take it home. The name of the post is A Bouquet of Awards, if you need to stop by later in the week.

Have a wonderful week at school and thanks for that yummy recipe. Karen

SmilingSally said...

Like you, I always arrived at 6:45, but our school began at the weird time of 7:25. Odd, I know.

I know what you mean about the lovely quiet time in the classroom that allowed me to think. However, high school kids find out who comes early, and it wasn't long before I had visitors. Bye-bye quiet time.

I know that today is a time of excitement and that you

That cake sounds yummy.

Anonymous said...

Morning, Dawn. Have a wonderful first day of school!! I'll come by when you get home this afternoon and we can sit down and you can tell me all about your day and I'll eat some of that yummy looking cake!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Nola said...

Bless you for baking old fashioned cakes from scratch! There is something about a "scratch" cake that just sets it apart from "box" cakes. It looks delish, and what a treat to come home from school to!

Anonymous said...

Ooo... that cake sounds yummy!!! I might see if I can scale it WAY down to make a smaller version for me & Bob!

Mya said...

The cake looks and sounds wonderful. Hope you have a great school year. Happy Pink a few days late by the way.
-Mya

CIELO said...

Hope you had a wonderful 1st day of school! and thank you for stopping by my blog for Pink Saturday! and by the way, hope you could participate in our Enchanting Window Party.... only thing you need to do is show us your favorite window in your home.... it promises to be fun!
cielo

Anonymous said...

Have a wonderful school year!

Cottage Rose said...

Wow Dawn; when you make a home made cake you really mean home made. I am the dump the cake box type. lol it looks and sounds very delish... Maybe you could send me some.... what ya thinkkkkkkkk!! :0} I hope your first day of school when the kiddies are there is a smooth one.
have a great week teach.

hugs
Alaura

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Dawn....6:30!!! LOL! Oh my, what time do you get up and out to school? That is too early for me! LOL! I came over to ask you how your first day went. For some reason I was thinking it was today! I can just imagine that you are fantastic K teacher! I bet the kids just love you! :)

Your cake sounds so yummy! I would like to try that one during the holidays! ~Rhonda :)

Debi said...

19 years...wow...and congratulations! I would be the exact same way as you, heading in early to get things done in the peace and quiet. That early morning peace and quiet is my favorite time of day around here, and by far my most productive!

That cake looks absolutely heavenly! I'm definitely going to be trying that one...despite the fact that I'll gain 10 pounds, because I know I'll eat way too much of it myself. ;)

litanyofbritt said...

that cake lasted in my house about a day and a half. mmmm....

{oc cottage} said...

YUM!!! That looks amazing!

M ^..^