A Gift from the South Hummingbird Cake

I recently discovered this wonderful cake while visiting Charleston.  It was one of the most flavorful, moist cakes I’ve ever tasted.  So, of course I had to try making it myself, it did not disappoint!   I found several versions of the recipe, Paula Deen’s was my favorite. (She is  a southern belle, after all).

Paula Deen Hummingbird Cake

By thillin

.  This is from her book Paula Deen Celebrates!

3 Cups self-rising flour

2 Cups granulated sugar

3/4 Cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup chopped pecans

2 very ripe large bananas – mashed

1 can (8oz) crushed pineapple

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp ground cinnamon

4 large eggs, beaten

ICING RECIPE

1 pound box confectioners’ sugar

8oz package cream cheese- room temp

6 tbs butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbs milk, more if needed

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 325*

Grease and flour three 8 inch round cake pans.  In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, oil, 1/2 cup pecans, bananas, pineapple, vanilla, cinnamon and beaten eggs.  Stir well until smooth.

Pour batter into the 3 pans and bake for 26-28 min, or until tops spring back.  Let cool in pans for 10 min.  Then cool on racks completely.

Make the icing by mixing the sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla and 1 tbs milk in a large bowl with an electric mixer.  Mix until smooth.  If needed add more milk, 1 tsp at a time for proper spreading consistency.  Ice between each layer and on the top and sides.  Sprinkle the top with pecans.  Keep refrigerated.

Heading Home ….. My New Home

When I woke up this morning, the first thing my eyes focused on, as they do every morning, is the huge palm tree outside my bedroom window. This will be the last time I see this magnificent tree standing statuesque in my back yard.  I am headed home tomorrow, up north to the mounds of snow, dirty snow, now I’m told, and the cold bitter air of the last days of winter in Pittsburgh.  My retreat, sojourn, R&R, escape,vacation, days of wine and roses….aahhh! are over.  We take this little trip to the south every year, but this time, saying goodbye to the Lowcountry will be different.

Our new home awaits me.  Sam went ahead to prepare and meet the moving van along with four or five other service people who will install, connect and prepare our carriage home for occupation.  Carriage home…just a glorified name for a duplex.  We are moving not only into the carriage home, but a new phase of our lives.  You see, most of our new neighbors are retired.  We are not quite there yet, but heading in that direction.  Semi-retired, there! I’ve said it!  We have been living with our daughter , son-in-law and two grandchildren for the past seven months, in their basement during the construction of our new home . Yes, we’ve been cellar-dwellers, in our own little sub-terrain apartment.  Now it is time to move.   Am I excited about moving, yes; ready to face the umpteen boxes and unpacking, no!  This is our eighth move,  the first one without any of our kids in tow.  Different.  Just the two of us again.

Change is good. I’ve written about it before.  It’s something we all go through, only about a thousand times in a lifetime.  Attitude makes all the difference in the world.  I plan to stay positive, embrace every aspect with eyes wide open and arms too, expecting only the best. After all our Lord has provided us with this home, our good health and His promise to remain by our side every step of the journey.  Yeah, I’m really excited!!