What Do We Do for an Encore?

By now, culinary expectations at the 18th Birthday High Tea are set.

We need a dessert that fits the theme, has a sense of elegance, and is intensely delicious

enough for a room full of budding gourmands.

 Back in the kitchen, people!

We have Lemon Tea Bread to make!

Preheat the oven to 325 Fahrenheit.

 1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

Zest of two lemons

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup milk

2 tsp lemon juice

 Spray a standard loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Did that really need to be said?

I mean, do they make stick cooking spray?

That would be sold on the same shelf as chewing gum with nuts.

Anyway, this particular pan is from Crate and Barrel and is on sale NOW for $9.99.

Go get one; we'll wait.

In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter. Add the zest and eggs and blend well.

And seriously, enjoy that smell.

Add the dry ingredients, then the milk and lemon juice.

 Blend until smooth and pour into the loaf pan.

How easy was that?

Bake for one hour and pierce the cake with a fork to test it.

 Let this cool on a wire rack for no more than 10 minutes.

 Before you "unloaf" your creation, take a bread knife and trim off the hump.

Put it on a plate and feed it to your guests.

Chortle with glee at their enthusiasm.

 Set the cake on a rimmed plate not too much larger than the confection itself.

 Now for the glaze...

 Those two lemons you zested?

We have a job for them.

 Squeeze both into a small bowl.

 This lemon press gets EVERY drop.

 Add 1/2 cup of sugar and stir until it's dissolved.

Now drizzle it over the still-warm cake.

The heat will help all that liquid absorb.

You can serve this warm, or take it out to the workshop fridge past your guests amid chants of,

"Cake! Cake! Cake!"

I did the latter.

In about an hour, you'll have a moist, chilled, gooey treat with an intense

citrus zing and a shiny glaze.

Top simply with sparklers for a festive flourish.

 Call the hoard.

 Relish the perfection of your art.

You know those moments.

You are, at that time, the best. Mom. EVER.

 Have your newly adult daughter make the first cut.

 Then zero in on a diner for a photographable reaction.

 Okay, bad choice.

We of course made a Berry Pudding, which was served the next morning 

with the Overnight Guest's Brunch.

What? You thought they were going to LEAVE?

Tomorrow, we'll wrap this up with the table, decorations, favors, the bar,

and the most ridiculous party game ever invented, which will literally cost you nothing to play

if you have paper and a television.

Bake yourself a snack and join us!