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I’m dedicating this cake to my grandfather. As most of you know, he recently passed away and his funeral was two weeks ago. This cake reminds me of him because of how simple and elegant it is and it brought me a sense of serenity when I was making it. It makes me sad that I never got to see him that often. Taiwan isn’t the easiest (or cheapest) to get to and even though we went back every two years, every two years to see all your relatives is still not enough. Don’t take for granted all your relatives and family members that live near you. See them as often as you can. It’s really true when they say that life is very short. Although my grandfather was so far, we were still close. Him and my grandmother were the closest sets of grandparents to my brother and I. My dad’s parents passed earlier on in our lives so we didn’t get to spend too much time with them. It sometimes makes me angry that I live so far away from my relatives. Every single aunt, uncle and cousin and their children are 7000 miles away from me. I have cousins who don’t even know who I am. I’m just “that aunt” when I go back to Taiwan. They’ll see me for like two days and then they won’t see me for another two years or more. What makes them really remember me, you know? I’m never there. I miss my grandfather so much. It’s really hard losing a grandparent, especially one that you’re close to. I’m just thankful I got to talk to him a week before he passed. If I didn’t make that phone call, I would’ve regretted it the rest of my life. To hear him say how proud of me he was and to hear him say that he was able to see my wedding photos – that really meant the world. It was so incredibly hard to hold back tears and have my voice not break up when I was talking to him. You wanted to stay positive for him. You couldn’t let him know that you were sad or that things weren’t going well. I had to keep saying, “take care of yourself, grandpa, I can’t wait to see you next year.” Well, there is no next year. I won’t ever get to see or hug him again. The last time I saw him was almost four years ago. It’s so hard to have family so far.
This also brings me to what I have been thinking about all weekend: life is short, keep the ones you love and that support and care about you, the closest. The ones that don’t matter, don’t mind. This is how I’ve been feeling a lot about my friendships lately. A lot of friendships in my life are such one-way streets. They expect you to make the plans. All. the. time. It’s frustrating. And you know, some of the friendships I have, are the ones where if you don’t make the effort to try to talk to them, you’ll NEVER hear from them, so in a sense, why do I bother trying? What is the point? Just cut the cord. If they don’t really care about me, then why should I always been so keen to care about them and want to hang out with them? I just feel that nothing should be a one-way street, and if it is, then maybe it’s time to rethink some aspects in your life. Not sure if this is how you guys feel about friendships, and maybe I just see things differently. I’m sorry if I’m being “too harsh” or “too abrasive” with the way I deal with these issues, but you know, after years of trying, there’s a point where you re-evaluate everything in your life. Like I said earlier, life is short. Why keep ones around that don’t support you and why keep trying to be friends with someone that doesn’t really want to keep in touch with you and always throws the ball in your court to make the plans? It shouldn’t always be on me. Why keep the ones around that always come to you when something good in your life happens? Shouldn’t they be around for the good and bad? I can’t deal with the “friends” that hear you’re doing well for yourself and then they suddenly come around, as if to mooch off you or to get in on it just so they can say they know you.
My grandfather will always be apart of me and I’ll always keep him near and dear to my heart. Knowing how great of a man he was and how ambitious he was as a businessman is what keeps me going & striving to make my own dreams come true. He made his dreams come true with his hard work and positive attitude, therefore, so can I! :)
Blueberry Lavender Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 ½ cups (341 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups (375 g) + 2 tablespoons cake flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (236 ml) 2% milk
- 1 ¼ cup (185 g) fresh blueberries, do not use frozen
For the lavender simple syrup:
- ¼ cup (59 ml) water
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon dried lavender, muddled
For the blueberry buttercream:
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 ½ cups (300 g) confectioners sugar
- 2 tablespoon 2% milk
- 15 fresh blueberries, do not use frozen
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and butter and flour two 8" round baking pans. Place a 8" round piece of parchment paper into the bottom of each cake pan, as well. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. In the meantime, whisk together the egg, egg yolks and vanilla extract together in a small bowl. With the mixer on low, gently pour in egg mixture and mix until just incorporated.1 1/2 cups (341 g) unsalted butter, 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar, 3 eggs, 3 egg yolks, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a large bowl, whisk together 3 cups of cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.3 cups (375 g) + 2 tablespoons cake flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and gently mix until incorporated. Then add half of the milk and mix until incorporated. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture then add the rest of the milk. Mix until incorporated. Add the final 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until everything is well incorporated.1 cup (236 ml) 2% milk
- Using the remaining 2 tbsp. of cake flour, toss the blueberries in the cake flour until they’re all coated. Gently fold the flour covered blueberries into the batter with a spatula, careful not to burst them.1 1/4 cup (185 g) fresh blueberries
- Divide batter evenly amongst the prepared baking pans. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes then invert onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- In the meantime, make the lavender simple syrup by combining sugar and water in a small sauce pot and bringing to a gentle simmer until sugar has dissolved. Add the lavender and with the back of your wooden spoon, crush the lavender to release more of the fragrance and flavor. Remove from heat and let steep for 30 minutes.1/4 cup (59 ml) water, 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar, 2 tablespoon dried lavender
- While the cakes are cooling and the lavender syrup is steeping, make the butter cream by mixing together butter, confectioners sugar, milk in a bowl of a stand mixer. As the mixer is going, on low, add in the blueberries. They will burst and create a nice light purple color to the buttercream and you'll see flecks of the blueberries in the buttercream. If your buttercream is too thick, add more milk, 1 tsp. at a time. If your buttercream is too runny, add more confectioners sugar.1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, 2 1/2 cups (300 g) confectioners sugar, 2 tablespoon 2% milk, 15 fresh blueberries
- Once your cake layers have cooled you can begin to assemble them. Gently grab one layer of the cake and place it on your cake stand. Place pieces of wax paper under the cake, all around the cake stand, so when you finish icing the cake, you can remove the wax paper and have a clean cake stand :)
- Pour half of the lavender simple syrup on the top of the cake, let soak into the cake for a few minutes.
- Take your offset spatula and place a generous amount of buttercream in the middle. Working from the middle out, spread the buttercream all over the layer, leaving a 1" border.
- Gently grab the top layer of your cake and place it on top of the bottom layer. Pour the remaining half of the lavender simple syrup on the top of the cake and let soak into the cake for a few minutes. Place a generous amount of buttercream in the middle, and again, work from the middle out and go all down the sides and all over until you cover the entire cake.
- Cut and serve! You can keep this cake in an airtight container for up to 5 days. I would keep it in the fridge and let it come to room temperature before eating again.
Notes
Nutrition
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I know just how you feel — the grandfather I was closest to passed away almost two years ago and the pain is still so fresh sometimes. But this is such a wonderful dedication to his life — doing something you love and are so good at. :) Lovely recipe, Julie!
Thanks so much Stephanie :)
It sounds like your grandfather was very special, and I’m happy you had that last call with him. I am so very sorry for your loss, Julie. Life is indeed short.
My entire family lives on the other coast of Canada and I have a host of nieces and nephews that are growing up so fast. Skype helps to keep in touch and when we DO see them, I try to have a ‘date’ with them. Kids remember! It’s worth making that effort.
Beautiful cake. I’ll accept a slice in honour of you and your new motto on friendship. Hear, hear.
Thanks Aimee. Skype is such a wonderful way to keep in touch. I’m glad you do that with your nieces and nephews! xoxo
So sorry for your loss, but I’m sure he’s smiling down at you and how much hard-work you are putting in realizing your dreams :)
Gorgeous cake!
Thanks Kiran :) you’re too sweet!
I’m so sorry for your loss. I was incredibly close with my grandfather, and I can tell you that years later, it still hurts. Grandfathers are a gold mine of wisdom, laughs, and support. I don’t think sweeter hearts exist.
Thinking of you & your family
xo
Christina
Aw Christina *hugs* wish we could have coffee together and share stories about our grandfather. I swear there’d be so many fun stories and happy tears to share. xoxo
Really nice post. And the cake is beautiful!
Thanks, Nessa!!
So sorry about your grandfather. I remember how hard it was when I lost my grandfather a few years back. I didn’t get to see him that often either so having those regrets were kind of hard. I turned to cooking to to help. It can be so calming can’t it? This cake is beautiful. I just made a blueberry cake not too long ago but used lemon. Now I have to make another one and try lavender. Not that I’m complaining :)
Thanks Des! Yes, one of the reasons I love to cook is because of the calming effect, haha not to mention the lavender in this made it somewhat calming too ;)
So sorry to hear about your grandfather :( Losing a family member is always so difficult.
Your cake is beautiful though and this post is just touching!
Aw, thank you Angelyn!
Aw, so sweet to read you talking about your grandfather so lovingly. I’m glad this cake reminded you of him. I agree on the friendships. I have several where if I don’t call or email, I’d never hear from them again. I’m kind of ready to stop calling and emailing. Sigh.
*sigh* I could go on and on about the friendship situation…more of a reason you should move to Arlington :)
I think food is one of the best ways to remember loved ones when they are no longer with us. This is touching!
Thanks, Cassie! Food definitely is the best way to pay tribute and to remember loved ones.
It was very touching to read all that Julie, I’m so sorry for your loss. And for the record, I have never thought that you were too harsh or abrasive, I actually really admire how straightforward you are about things. You just tell it like it is, and honestly, more people could benefit from being like that. Your pictures are absolutely stunning today; they just keep getting better and better! You should really look into doing a photography post, we could all learn a thing or two! :)
Thanks, Mimi. That means a lot. I sometimes don’t know how my tone comes across and there have been some people who have written me emails saying they’re tired of being “yelled” at. Well, I’m sorry! This is my blog! Haha :) I always hope to tell it like it is and to be HONEST and upfront. Thank you for accepting that.
I do want to do a photography post but I honestly don’t know where to start. I feel like I’m not even that good to be giving professional advice! Thanks for thinking I am though – I’ll definitely consider it. I’ve gotten quite a few requests. I’m just timid about it :)