Vacations and visits and reunions, oh my! Plus: "Strawberry Mojito Layer Cake"

After 2 weeks visiting home in Oklahoma, after both mine and Craig's back-to-back 20 year high school reunions, The Southern Fried Bride is back in my pink kitchen and ready to serve up a fun summertime cake!  

     

      "Southern Fried Bride's Strawberry Mojito Cake"

2 ½ cups cake flour 

2 tsp. baking powder 

¼ tsp. baking soda 

¼ tsp. salt 

1 stick butter, softened 

1 teaspoon lime zest 

1 (4-serving size) strawberry gelatin mix

1 cup sugar 

3 large eggs 

1/2 cup strawberries, chopped

3 teaspoons lime juice 

2 teaspoons rum OR rum extract 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 8” round cake pans with cooking spray. In medium-sized bowl, add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Combine well and set aside. In large bowl, combine butter, lime zest and dry strawberry gelatin mix. Beat with mixer with until light and fluffy. Gradually mix in sugar. Add eggs one at a time and mix until well combined. Add dry flour mixture in thirds until all of mixture has been added. Add strawberries and mix well. Add lime juice and rum. Mix until well-combined. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes, until the tops spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool before frosting. 

"Southern Fried Bride's 7th Heaven Mint Frosting"

1 3/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup water

4 egg whites

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

In saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil. Boil 3-4 minutes. If using a candy thermometer reads 242 degrees F (firm-ball stage). Without candy thermometer, you can do cold water test to check for firm-ball stage by dropping a little of the syrup in cold water and it should form a firm ball, one that stays in a ball shape when you take it out of the waterr, but flattens when squeezed. In large mixing bowl, add egg whites and cream of tartar and mix until foamy consistency. Slowly pour hot sugar mixture into egg white mixture, and mix on high for 6 minutes. Add peppermint extract. Continue mixing for 1 minute, or until frosting reaches desired consistency. Yield: frosts a 2 layer cake. Enjoy!