Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake and a KitchenAid mixer giveaway
Today is our wedding anniversary, hence the cake.
It’s a light, lemony creation, which I’m serving up with a dollop of ricotta and maple-roasted rhubarb that was picked straight from my garden. Spring, long weekends, anniversaries – there is much to celebrate these May days and cake is just the ticket.
In addition to the recipe for Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake with Roasted Rhubarb, I’m sharing about the cookbook that has been living on my kitchen counter: Make It Easy: 120 Mix-and-Match Recipes to Cook from Scratch–with Smart Store-Bought Shortcuts When You Need Them. Oh, you’re going to love it.
And since we’re celebrating, our friends at KitchenAid want to give one lucky Simple Bites reader a brand new stand mixer! This post is packed, so let’s jump right into the fun.
A little over a year ago, I dined with my friend Stacie in a jam-packed bistro in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn and she told me about a cookbook she was writing.
As a working mother of two committed to wholesome family meals, she had figured out a solution to reclaim scratch cooking for busy, modern parents. I listened, nodding, as Stacie described how her book would give home cooks a laid-back and flexible approach to family meals by using healthy store-bought shortcuts for maximum flexibility and full control.
I instantly knew this book would be a success because Stacie was writing what she knew. For years, she’s been sharing her common sense approach to eating on her popular blog, One Hungry Mama and Cool Mom Eats, honing her skills for a book.
Fast forward to today, and Stacie’s beautiful cookbook Make It Easy is on bookstore shelves everywhere and on my kitchen counter. I was fortunate to receive an advance copy and I’ve been cooking and baking my way through the chapters for over a month now. It’s fantastic; no surprise there.
Before I continue, I want to say that I take my cookbook recommendations very, very seriously here on the blog. Sure, I have previous connections with Stacie, but I always set aside the personal stuff when I am testing a new book. It is always about the recipes. Always.
I had an experience last month with another cookbook, a hot new release that I had been eagerly anticipating for a while. Design-wise, it was a stunner. The photos were gorgeous; the layout very reader-friendly. But the recipes were seriously flawed. I made a total of seven recipes from start to finish, with mostly disastrous results. Expensive ingredients went in the garbage. Others were salvaged only because I applied practical cooking knowledge and overruled the recipes. It was a disappointment, and I scrapped the post I had planned. I didn’t want to waste another second of my time – or yours.
Sometimes that’s how it goes. Since writing my own, I am a fierce judge of cookbook content. It has to be so much more than a pretty package – yes, even though I’m a sucker for visuals and story.
Make It Easy cookbook
But let’s talk about a cookbook that works! Make It Easy is one of the most relatable cookbooks to come out in a while. (Perhaps the last one was The Homemade Kitchen, another favourite). It’s full of real talk from Stacie that is instantly applicable, because she’s been there, in the kitchen, day after day. She knows what it’s like to have kids with selective palates and stubborn routines.
The recipes are solid; very clear and well-written. They are simple enough for beginner cooks (hey, we all were beginners once) and yet exciting enough to spark the interest of the advanced home cook. Best of all, Stacie’s philosophy is served up without an ounce of guilt. How refreshing!
Here’s a handful of recipes from Make It Easy that we absolutely loved and will be adding to our family’s meal rotation.
- Everyday Waffles – Fast, fluffy and favoured by all.
- Yogourt Chia Breakfast Pudding – Brilliant combination.
- Sweet and Salty Granola Cereal – Great for weekday mornings (and snacking anytime)
- Country-Style Greek Salad – new fast picnic fare, bulked up with chickpeas.
- Curried Cauliflower and Red Lentil Soup – So delicious, and freezes well, too.
- Paprika Chicken – Quick, easy and yummy.
- One-Bowl Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake (pictured above) – Totally genius recipe.
For my Canadian readers, I should note that the Supermarket Guide in the back of the cookbook is mostly American brands. I recognized a few names that we can find up here, such as Eden Organics, Kashi and Nature’s Path, but for us this isn’t the most helpful part of the book.
I can see how this guide is invaluable for my US readers, however! Stacie is extremely thorough and explains her choices, rather than just rattling off a bunch of lists.
One-Bowl Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake with Roasted Rhubarb
If the photos haven’t yet convinced you, let me encourage you to add this recipe to your weekend baking. You could pair it with fruit salad for brunch with friends, wrap it up as snack cake for a picnic in the park, or dress it up with whipped cream as dessert for a lazy, al fresco dinner.
I’ve been sending it in my boy’s lunchboxes and carving myself slivers every afternoon at tea time. A loaf never lasts more than a day or two, so it’s a good thing the cake is simple to make. And yes, I took the suggested shortcut and used store-bought ricotta, although you could certainly make your own.
My rhubarb patch is thriving, and so I roasted up a tray with a drizzle of maple syrup to adorn the pound cake. Lemon and rhubarb are a classic spring pairing; don’t you agree?
One-Bowl Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake with Roasted Rhubarb
Ingredients
- 8 Tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, plus more for pan
- 1 cup raw cane sugar
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese store-bought or homemade (plus more for serving, if desired)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest from about 1 lemon
- 4 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice from about 2 juicy lemons
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 4 large eggs ideally at room temperature
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pound young rhubarb stalks
- 3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a large bowl that works well with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the butter, sugar, ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt on low speed until just combined.
- Mix in the eggs, one at a time, making sure to fully incorporate each egg before adding the next.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda to the same bowl. Use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to mix until just incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top. Bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Meanwhile, cut the rhubarb into 2-inch lengths and toss with the maple syrup. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet and roast alongside the cake for 10-15 minutes. Time will vary with the tenderness and freshness of the rhubarb. When the rhubarb has softened, remove pan and cool completely.
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing from the pan to finish cooling on a wire rack.
- To serve, slice cake and arrange on plates. Top with roasted rhubarb and a little extra ricotta. Serve warm or at room temperature.
- If you are using the cake later, wrap it tightly all around in plastic wrap and store on the counter for 2 to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Grand Prize Giveaway!
**This giveaway has ended.**
I’m delighted to partner with De Capo Press and KitchenAid USA for a very special giveaway.
One winner will receive a copy of Make It Easy by Stacie Billis and a KitchenAid® Artisan® Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer! This beautiful mixer has 10 speeds, a 5-quart mixing bowl, and over 20 colours to pick from. Yes, the winner may pick any colour they choose and KitchenAid will ship the mixer to their front door.
Please note that this giveaway is exclusively for my lovely American readers, just this once! But don’t fret Canadian friends; I am cooking up another very special KitchenAid giveaway just for you shortly.
To Enter the giveaway: Leave a comment on this post and answer the following question: “What is a typical ‘make it easy’ dinner in your house?” Giveaway is open to United States residents only.
** This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner Karen Rust of Cherry Valley, IL!! A BIG thank you to all who entered.**
KitchenAid has provided the stand mixer for this giveaway, but all opinions are my own and based on a decade of working with KitchenAid appliances in my kitchen.
Winner will be announced here on this post, as well as directly via email. Good luck to all!
So many easy dinners to choose from but tonight we had baked potato with broccoli and cheese on top.
I’ll join the crowd that goes with Mexican- it’s been on the table a lot lately with good avocado around. Nachos, quesadilla, or even a salad with lots of avocado. And we don’t seem to get tired of it- the cilantro tastes especially good right now too-sort of a taste of spring and summer.
And it would be fun to win!
TexMex -rice, chicken, salsa, and cheese all in one!
A crustless quiche that includes eggs, cream, turkey bacon, spinach, shredded carrots & smoked cheddar.
Tacos!
Homemade pizza, I use the bread dough I make on Sundays and often use up leftover bits of vegetables and meats to top. No two are the same!
Easy dinner? We love Breakfast for Dinner – scrambled eggs, waffles or pancakes, maybe hash browns.
A favorite in our house is Pork Chops with apple butter and potatoes. Cut the chops up into small pieces, stir in a little fajita seasoning, apple butter and Dijon mustard. Cut up about a pound of Yukon golds. Throw the potatoes into the crockpot, put the pork mixture on top, cook on low for about 4-6 hours. melt 4oz of cream cheese in a pan and add about 6 oz of baby spinach. serve the pork and potatoes and top with cream cheese mixture. it’s on our every other week recipe rotation. My kids love it!
I have a few “make it easy” dinners that are fall-backs whenever I’m too tired for a more elaborate meal I might have planned, or when my meal planning falls a bit short from time to time. Here are my favorites: Tuna Curry (nowadays I make it with canned wild-caught salmon)–sounds weird but is a very tasty old family favorite; Tacos or Taco Rice (using ground beef with my own taco seasoning) with typical toppings; Salmon Patties (served with rice and some sort of buttered vegetable); and a simple Japanese dish that we love, Oyako-Donburi, served over rice of course. Another easy and much-loved meal (but one that requires a little more planning) is Cincinnati Chili.
Thanks for the giveaway!
My make easy dinner meal skillet lasagna! Ground beef bow tie pasta in a red sauce and a ceasar salad!
Any easy dinner dish is hard to find in my house with five people agreeing does not come naturally. I’d say for myself an easy dinner is anything that can be made in thirty minutes or less, but that doesn’t mean that everyone will eat it. My best bet is usually some kind of pasta dish or Mexican. Although some complain that my style of Mexican food is a tad spicy.
I do have several dinners that make our rotation often, but one that never fails is a recipe that my mom and I stumbled upon a long time ago. We call it Black Bean Burritos. We whip up a batch of my high school Spanish teachers easy peasy salsa by blending a can of tomatoes with one jalepeno, a handful of cilantro, and pinch of salt. Mix 1/4 cup of salsa with 2 cans black beans, one finely diced tomato, and a small handful of chopped cilantro. Spoon mixture into tortilla shells, top with cheese, and wrap up. Place into any size baking dish. We use a smaller one to microwave the prepared burritos for 7-10 minutes. Serve with the remaining salsa and sour cream.
a make it easy dinner at my house is spaghetti! just cook noodles and use a jar sauce and your good.
Baked Spaghetti Casserole is my easy go-to dinner.
Spaghetti with red sauce and buttery garlic bread, crockpot roasted chicken and veggies.
Spaghetti with red sauce and garlic bread
Red beans and rice. Ours is made with Indian spices.
I make a big pot of brown rice at some point during the week, then all I have to do is a quick protein and some frozen veggies and we’re good to go in 30 minutes. With a hungry two year old and pregnant mama its super important to us to get wholesome good food on the table quickly!
My favorite quick meal is brown rice and French lentils with Carmelites onions and curry seeds.
Beans & rice!
Homemade Mac & Cheese
My quick go to meal is mexican rice and beans. tortilla chips and guacamole.
Black beans & rice with curried sweet potatoes on the side.
Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce and Garlic Knots
A few dishes I keep in my back pocket come to mind… I adore my slow cooker and try to plan meals in two week intervals, but if all else fails…
Tacos, a kid favorite with ground turkey, black beans, Doritos and toppings galore!
Breakfast for dinner… Waffles with strawberries and cream or blueberry pancakes with homemade maple syrup, oven baked bacon and eggs from our very own chickens.
Or lemon garlic shrimp pasta… Super quick cooking, easy and yummy!
We call it Pasta, Tuna and Beans – inspired by a pasta recipe in a cookbook my husband had when we married. Prepare pasta of choice, farfalle is a good option. Juice a lemon and mix with an equal amount of olive oil. Dish up pasta, top with drained and rinsed Great Northern or cannelini beans, pour some sauce over each serving, add some canned tuna. Garnish with chopped parsley or chives. Easy and appeals to all ages!
We make pizza as a quick dinner. It is a win-win as the kids get to eat some hidden veggies in the sauce or under the cheese 🙂
My easy dinner is usually pasta with whatever veggies I have in the fridge 🙂
Omelets!
I’d have to say our go-to make it easy recipe is our baked chicken and rice. A whole chicken, a little over one hour give or take with lemon halves inside, EVOO, seasoned salt, fresh garlic, pepper, thyme or savory and a sprinkle of paprika on top for nice brown color. The skin is always crunchy and delectable. Then season the rice with some bay leaves and lemon and do a steamed veggie with butter and *heaven* Could do this dish with my eyes shut. Dipping a piece of bread in the chicken drippings is our “dessert”.
An easy dinner would be grilled chicken, salad and vegetable (whatever is in the garden) right now it’s asparagus, or sometimes oven potatoes.
Pasta, Veg & Parm! Thank you for the opportunity!
An easy dinner in my house has to satisfy my picky 5 yr old, be easy to eat for the 2 yr old, be fast and easy enough to make while holding the 6 month old, yet be tasty enough for my 12 yr old’s more refined palate. So it would have to be cheeseburger macaroni with fresh whole green beans. Ground hamburger can almost always be found thawed in the fridge, brown it up while the macaroni cooks, throw it all together with a cheese sauce and simmer while I trim ends off the beans and toss into a garlic bacon butter sauce to cook for a few.
We’re a big fan of loaded veggie fried rice – great way to clean out the produce drawer and use leftover rice from earlier in the week!
Pasta with veggies, walnuts, goat cheese, and olive oil.
My typical make it easy recipe is frozen shrimp + frozen veggies for an easy stir fry. I’ve so been wanting to read this cookbook!
Tacos or homemade pizza! I use your honey wheat pizza dough recipe and keep some frozen dough in the freezer for an easy dinner.
soup and sandwich
A typical ‘make it easy’ dinner in my house is definitely a chicken quesadilla, spaghetti, or a Caesar salad with kale. 🙂
Definitely burrito bowls – always my fall back when I need something easy, quick.
I have been doing a lot of sheet pan suppers where you cook everything on one sheet pan in oven. That won’t work once the weather heats up this summer. I also like the crock pot for super busy nights. Taco night is also a HUGE hit and very quick.
I love to make DIY pizzas!
A typical ‘make it easy’ dinner in our house is usually roasted chicken, rice and vegetables. I feel like I’ve been better in the past with the variety of easy dinners that I have done, but I think I’ve been in a rut lately. 🙂 I could desperately use some help – the cookbook sounds delightful! Thank you for the opportunity to win that and the mixer. <3
My go to dinner would be grilled pork chops sprinkled with my sweet and smokey homemade rub with sweet corn that I froze last fall. I just sprinkle the chops, 6 minutes on the grill, nuke a potato…done.
Our typical “make it easy” dinner would have to be when we pick up fresh pizza to throw in the oven at our local grocery store, with a tossed salad
A bowl made with cooked roast chicken, some healthy grain and roast veggies.
“What is a typical ‘make it easy’ dinner in your house?” ~ Oven roasted anything ! Love Veggies (Fish & chicken, too) all all kinds brushed in EVO, and roasted on a cookie sheet !
Burrito bowls
One of my favorite and easy meals are fajitas. They are easy because I have everything prepped and ready ahead of time. I buy green/red/yellow/orange bell peppers when they are on sale and slice them up with onions and freeze in “meal size” ziploc bags. I also usually have one steak or chicken breast left from a meal and I slice and freeze those as well. Then when it’s fajita time, just cook up the peppers and onion, add sliced meat and homemade fajita seasoning. Chop an avocado, shred some cheese, top with salsa and sour cream, and serve with tortillas warmed in the microwave. So easy and delicious.
Our go to simple meal are tortillas, wrapped in whatever is in the fridge. You can tell how close we are to pay day by any extras, or lack thereof, in the tortillas! Avocados signify pay dirt! Love your blog and recipes. I just roasted some rhubarb for the first time, so am excited to try this cake.