Sweet Word Sunday: Bloom & Lemon Sunshine Cake

This word was placed on my heart Friday as I was making Garlic Knots for my family to go along with a pot of spaghetti. Does anyone else out there do that? Fix something really simple but try to jazz it up with either a fresh made yeast bread or special side dish? I always feel guilty for giving my family spaghetti because really it is a low effort meal. Now mind  you Friday I was really getting sick, and was very lethargic so I was thankful that was what was on the menu.

For the garlic knots I needed to allow my yeast to proof.. or bloom. And that is when it hit me. I mean look at this glorious photo of my yeast mixture!

Bloom can be defined as being in a flourishing healthy condition. Yeast is not useful unless it is in a flourishing and healthy condition. Have you ever try to make some type of rolls and they were hard as hockey pucks? Well often that was the result of your yeast not being in a thriving condition. If the water is too cold, it won't bloom. If the water is too hot, it dies. It has be in an environment that is just right for it to be useful. Same goes with us.

We must be in a place (environment) where we too can be useful to bloom. If we are in an environment that is too cold (bitter/cold/dreadful) we will not grow into anything. We will remain stagnant, perhaps even begin to keep other things around us from growing too. When we are in an environment that is too hot we have no choice but to wither and die from being parched, over heated, and unable to breath. Funny thing is... we cant' blame anyone or circumstances on how we bloom ~ or not bloom. That choice is ours. See we are not yeast tossed into a bowl. We place ourselves where we are. We place ourselves in the environments we are in.

Now for some Lemon Sunshine Cake

I love to make this cake on Spring like days, and into the summer time. I know it's January... but I needed some sunshine. Besides for dinner I am making a new recipe (which will be shared on Tuesday) that also uses lemons and so this will just be the perfect end to Sunday dinner.

Ingredients
1 box Duncan  Hines Lemon Cake
1 small box of Lemon Instant Pudding
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs (WHOLE ~ do not skimp!)

Directions
Spray Bundt pan with Pam. In a large mixing bowl dump all ingredients in and whisk until well combined. Pour into pan bake in a preheated 350* oven for 40 minutes. Let set and cool in pan for 15  minutes. Revert onto a cooling rack and allow to cool completely. To ice, I usually warm up 1/2 a can of lemon frosting and drizzle on top. TADA!