Lemon Berry Bundt Cake

Okay, I admit that I may be biased but I had extraordinary grandparents.😁  They were four, very different and unique individuals - each exceptional in their own way.  I value the relationships that I had with my each of them and I feel like I discover more personality traits that I share with my grandmothers, in particular, every single year.  My very young self would have described my grandmothers as lovers of people, creators of amazing meals and all around fun-loving individuals.  It wasn't until later when I started to see them as the examples of strong, intelligent, generous and compassionate women that they were.  

My maternal grandmother was a lover of walks along the road, big family gatherings and playing the piano.  This small framed, dark haired, college educated music teacher devoted herself to managing her household of 4 children and a husband.  She was truly a woman ahead of her time.  

In my grandmother's house, there was an exceptionally long dining room table.  I have no idea how long that table actually was, but somehow, there always seemed to be a seat for everyone, even at the largest family gatherings.  When I visited, we ate all of our meals at this table.   It was grand and even as a young child, I have no memory of ever seeing it without a starched, white linen tablecloth.   

My grandmother was a lover of all things sour.  "Tart" as she would say.  She loved rhubarb and grapefruit and I'm pretty sure she would have embraced the sour patch candy if she had been introduced. 🤣 I distinctly remember eating breakfast at her fabulous dining table one morning when I was somewhere around the age of 10.  I sat beside my grandmother happily devouring a stack of her famous buckwheat pancakes while my grandmother methodically segmented and scooped the flesh out of a particularly fresh looking grapefruit.  There's no doubt that I was rambling on and on to her about my latest soccer game or piano recital while she patiently listened to every story I shared.  When she had consumed the last bite of fruit, one of my Florida relatives walked into the room and pointed out that the fruit that she had just eaten was in fact ... a lemon.  🍋😅  A LEMON!!  "I thought it was a little tart" was her unruffled responce in the most even tone.  😂  

I'm not sure that I could ever sit down and eat a lemon with a knife and spoon but I have inherited her affection for "tart" foods.  I too am a lover of all things citrus.  Especially this time of year.  Adding lemon to Spring and Summer desserts just seems to add a bit of sunshine and brightness.  ☀️  Lemon Berry Bundt Cake is exactly that.  Bright, sweet and in honor of my grandmother - just the right amount of "tart."

Lemon Berry Bundt Cake
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup almond flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. finely grated lemon peel
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup prepared lemon curd
2 cups mixed fresh berries

Lemon Cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup prepared lemon curd
1 Tbsp. sifted confectioners' sugar
mixed berries

Whisk together flour, almond flour, baking powder and salt.

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in eggs, 1 at a time.  

Beat in vanilla and lemon peel.

Beat in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk.

Fold in lemon curd until just combined.

Fold in berries.

Spoon batter into a greased bundt pan.  

Bake 60-70 minutes at 350. 

Cool completely before removing from pan.  

Beat cream on high speed until soft peaks for whipped cream.

Reduce speed to low; beat in lemon curd and powdered sugar until combined.

Serve cake with lemon cream and berries.

Most of my childhood memories involve food in some way or another. 🤷🏻‍♀️  I'm not sure if that's a result of growing up in an Italian - food centered family or because I've just always been a foodie at heart. 🤣  But I'll always treasure the memories of the time that I was able to spend with my grandparents.  This one's for you grandma.😁

Ciao!

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