Grandma Virginia’s Light Lemon Cake

Who doesn't love a recipe that has the word Grandma in the title? You know it's going to be good.

This recipe was made by a real Grandma. Mindi at Home Grown Beets got this recipe from her hubby's Grandma one 4th of July and Mindi has been making it ever since and I can see why.

There was a time when you could not get me to eat anything with lemon in it. I was a lemon hater. I don't know what happened. I guess my tastes have changes cause now I'm a freakin lemon lover.

I saw this on Pinterest. I see everything on Pinterest, I just don't get around to making 98% of what I pin! This lemon cake was calling my name.

Yes, it uses a boxed lemon cake. Get over it. Boxed cake mixes happen (and instant pudding too!). This cake is super light and delicious. It's not overly lemony or artificial tasting. The texture is almost like a sponge cake and that topping is so light and fluffy, I could have eaten it with a spoon!

This is the perfect refreshing summer dessert! I'm already planning on serving it for my 4th of July party.




Grandma Virginia's Light Lemon Cake
recipe from Home Grown Beets
Printable Recipe
For the Cake
1 box (18.25oz) Lemon Cake Mix
1 box (3.4oz) Instant Lemon Pudding Mix
1 ¾ Cups Water
3 Egg Whites

For the Topping:
3/4 Cup Milk
1/2 tsp. Lemon Extract (optional, I omitted)
1 box (3.4oz) Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 Carton (8 oz.) Frozen Whipped Topping

Combine the lemon cake mix, the pudding mix, water and egg whites. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 x 2 in. baking pan. Bake at 350 for 23-28 minutes or until cake test done. Cool.

Combine all the topping ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat on low for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cake. Keep refrigerated.

Mandarin Chicken Salad

I know I've been a bit laxed with posting lately, but it's spring and my yard is alive and I have lots of stuff to do! There is a garden to be planted and flowers to tend to and a yard that is finally sprung to life after a long hard winter. I have to admit, I haven't been in the kitchen a whole lot. I usually drag myself in and have to spend 20 minutes cleaning the dirt out from under my nails before I can even begin to think about dinner.

We've had more than a few salads lately. Quick and easy dinners are what's happening at the moment. This salad is my new favorite.

I could eat it by the boatload, I swear. I'm a little obsessed with it right now.

Sometimes I add the chicken in, sometimes I don't. I think this would work well with cooked shrimp too. Yeah. Now I'm going to have to try that.

I love the tang of the mandarin orange and the crunch of the noodles.

I substituted broccoli slaw from the original coleslaw mix that was in the original recipe. We just like it a lot more, but if coleslaw is your thing, go right ahead and use it.



Mandarin Chicken Salad
Adapted from Betty Crocker Cookbook
Printable recipe

2 tablespoons butter
1 package (3 oz) chicken-flavored ramen
2 tablespoons of sesame seeds
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 Tablespoon of sesame oil (or vegetable oil if you don’t have sesame)
2 cups cooked chicken, diced
1/4 cup dry-roasted peanuts
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 bag (14-16 oz) broccoli slaw
1 can (14 oz) mandarin orange segments, drained

Melt butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Stir in ramen noodle seasoning packet. Break up the noodles into bite-sized pieces and add them into the butter mixture. Cook for 2 minutes stirring a few times. Add in the sesame seeds. Cook until noodles are golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.

For the dressing
Combine the sugar, vinegar and oil. Whisk until combined.

In a large bowl, combine the broccoli mix, mandarin oranges, green onions, peanuts and chicken.
When you are ready to serve the salad, add the dressing and the noodles to the salad mixture and toss.

ScentSational Spring Giveaway!

Sorry I've been away so long. Spring has sprung and we've been out working in the yard and getting some projects done. No time to blog until now!

I'm kicking off spring with this wonderful giveaway from ScentSationals!

I’m a candle lovin’ fool. If you walked into my house you’d swear I owned stock in Yankee Candle. I love the jarred candles. I even have a primitive cupboard in my living room that is filled with nothing but candles and candle accessories. That’s how obsessed I am.

Now I found something new and I want to share it with you all.

ScentSationals Wickless Candles. You can read more about them here. I love this product!

I love that there are dozens and dozens of warmers to choose from. I mean there is a style for every person you’d want to buy for. I scrolled through and wanted like....oh 15 of them!

I love that some of them use an Edison bulb to melt the wax. That Edison bulb is so cool looking!

Another thing I love about them is, you’re not just getting a wax melter, you’re getting a light for your room. My nautical warmer casts a soft, warm light across half of my living room!

I can’t gush enough over the fantastic way it makes my house smell. Once that wax melts, the whole room is bathed in a beautiful scent. I’ve had lots of tart warmers over the course of my life and none have smelled so good for so long. Plus, you don’t have to worry about leaving a candle burning.

Here’s mine. I choose the nautical warmer because I liked how you could see the bulb really well.



I love them so much that I asked the nice folks at ScentSationals if I could get one to host a giveaway and they said “yes”. So I’m giving away this beauty and some tarts to go with it!



I might have to pick this one up for myself! It's got that shabby chic look that I love.

Wouldn't you love to have that in your home? Well here's how to enter:

1 lucky winner will be chosen. Contest only open to folks in the USA.

Answer this question:

What's your favorite scent?

If you don't have a blog, please leave me an email address to contact you (no email and I'll move on to the next name).

There are three ways to enter: (1) leave a comment on the blog (2) If you haven't already, go “like” The Cutting Edge of Ordinary on Facebook or (3) Already a fan? Just leave a comment here or on Facebook to let me know! Facebook comments will count as entries.

Giveaway ends on midnight Wednesday, May 14th eastern standard time.

One lucky winner will receive this warmer plus a variety of tarts!