Sweet things

I got some sweet things this weekend. Number one sweet thing, this lacey little cake plate my sweet friend Shayna gave me. I have wanted one like this for so long...with the drop down edges and the eyelet holes. Thank you, dear friend, I couldn't wait to make a sweet little cake just for it.

And this sweet dress! Our roomate Steve raided his grandfather's attic a few months ago and came back with hundreds of vintage clothing items...amazing, amazing things, beautiful things...you wouldn't believe. And this saucy number went to me. He thinks it might have been his grandmother's "fancy" dress. I think it's so cute that she was just my size.

Look at the lace and the beading...I'm truly in love. Cole, you better have your Christmas party this year. Because I have my dress.

And back to the cake...just for my new cake stand, a cranberry walnut spice cake with maple buttercream frosting and marzipan rosebuds. This is an adaptation of the spice cake from...what else: Nourishing Traditions. The cranberries add just the right amount of tartness, and the walnuts add crunch, and it's pretty delicious. And sweet.

Cranberry Walnut Spice Cake

1/2 cup yogurt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 tbsp. celtic sea salt
1 1/2 cups spelt flour
1/4 cup water
1 cup sucanat (evaporated cane juice)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup walnut pieces
1 cup dried cranberries

Blend yogurt, butter, flour, salt and water. Beat in sucanat, vanilla, spices and baking soda until dough is very smooth. Stir in walnuts and cranberries. Line two buttered 8-inch pans with parchment paper, butter and dust with flour. Divide batter between two pans, bake at 300 degrees until done...it takes about an hour. Let cool before removing from pans.

Maple Buttercream Frosting

1 cup butter, softened.
4 cups powdered evaporated cane juice (sold in some places as "organic powdered sugar")
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. maple syrup

Beat butter until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and whip until very frothy and yummy looking.