Barefoot Contessa's (California) Strawberry Country Cake
Raindrops on roses.
Brown paper bags tied up with string.
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes.
Favorite Things. Rock.
It's Day 3 of my week long celebration of National Library Week! Today, it's all about favorite things!
Up first, California Strawberries! They are delicious, delicious, delicious and the first sign of the soon-to-come onslaught of stone fruits and other lovely summer delights! Strawberries have always been my favorite!
This is the Barefoot Contessa's Strawberry Country Cake. It's Cake (my favorite). It's Strawberries (oh yes). It's Whipped Cream (come on, who doesn't love fresh whipped cream!?!)
You can find the recipe here on the FoodNetwork website. It makes two cakes and you freeze one for later in the summer!
One of my favorite shows is America's Best Dance Crew on MTV! Congrats Los Angeles Quest Crew! Not that I'm a hip hop dancer (remember, I have so little rhythm I can't do the rhythm method), I found myself txting in votes along with 14-year old kid next door. Sigh. One day I'll act my age.
People, check out that Head Spin!! These b-girl librarians are krumping, popping, locking, and gliding to a mix of Lady Gaga and Ne-Yo (you just can't see it in this photo :) Please note that the Librarian Action Figure don't do much action. Nothing moves on her except her arms...in order to do a Shushing motion!
It's National Library Week! All this week, I'm highlighting a library thing. Today, it's movies and music. I know some adults haven't been to their library since they were kids and think libraries only have books...but many libraries have current DVDs and music CDs in their collections. Sometimes you might have to wait a bit if there is a queue, but the check outs are often free or less than a rental store. In our current economic situation, libraries may be able to entertain you with movies, books, and music!
To celebrate Day 3 of National Library Week, I'm giving away the following to one lucky winner:
a. The Food Librarian's Favorite Things from Trader Joe's
b. Handmade beaded bookmark (designed by my friend Julie!)
c. Disneyland book bag (carry all your library books, DVDs and CDs in this cool bag)
d. $10 Starbucks gift card...okay, is this a bit of regifting or "sharing"? Ever 56 days or so, I donate a pint of blood at my local hospital and receive a Thank You $5 Starbucks giftcard. I don't drink coffee and the Starbucks near my work has closed...so I don't go often. I know Starbucks is a "favorite thing" of many people out there so I thought I would pass these along!
b. Handmade beaded bookmark (designed by my friend Julie!)
c. Disneyland book bag (carry all your library books, DVDs and CDs in this cool bag)
d. $10 Starbucks gift card...okay, is this a bit of regifting or "sharing"? Ever 56 days or so, I donate a pint of blood at my local hospital and receive a Thank You $5 Starbucks giftcard. I don't drink coffee and the Starbucks near my work has closed...so I don't go often. I know Starbucks is a "favorite thing" of many people out there so I thought I would pass these along!
This is a crazy assortment of MY favorite Trader Joe's stuff. I love the whole store and unfortunately can't send you the refrigerated Mocha yogurt, goat cheese, thin spinach pizza, mochi ice cream and so much more. Included: Mini milk chocolate peanut butter cups (addicting), Japanese ginger cookies (soooo yummy), my favorite pretzel sticks, lemon curd (easier than making it from scratch and you can't see how many yolks you are eating), dark chocolate bars, chile spiced dried mango, tomato and roasted red pepper soup (I can live on this), and my new (childhood memory) favorite: Trader Joe's O's. (Librarian Action Figure not included)
To enter the Day 3 Giveaway, simply leave a comment below (one entry per person) and I'll pick the winner from a hat. Deadline: Monday, April 20, 2009 at midnight PDT. If your comment isn't linked to a blog where I can find you, please leave your email or check back on Tuesday, April 21st to see if you won. Shipping to U.S. addresses only.
Enter the Day 1 Giveaway for mini-cake pans and Day 2 Giveaway for mini-loaf pans, bookmark and bag. Deadline is also Monday, April 20, 2009! Coming up tomorrow...more miniature stuff giveaways!
119 comments:
A gorgeous springtime cake! Delicious and very similar to Victoria Sandwich!
Cheers,
Rosa
oh strawberries, I miss strawberries. I am a poor college student that hates to go grocery shopping so no strawberries for me.
and I loved Quest Crew too! <3.
Yay, sign me up!
Adorable! Love the dance-moves! And the cake looks divine...I love strawberries in season. And awesome giveaway as well :)
Hi just to say that i really love your blog, I´m a follower from Portugal, to bad for me can´t enter in the giveaway :-( but just want to tell you that I really enjoy your work...
Everyday, Im reminded by your posts in my reader, that I have overdue books. Have I taken them back yet? No, no I have not.
Cake look awesome! I cant wait for berry season. I see jam. Lots and lots of jam.
LOVELY cake.. I havent tried this one of hers yet.. I want to after seeing your pictures.
I have got to get my hands on a Barefoot Contessa cookbook!
I've really been enjoying your blog.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this giveaway - I don't have a Trader Joe's anywhere near me and I hear so much about it. Hope I win. (giggle)
Michelle
http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/
That looks gorgeous! I love strawberry cream cake.
That cake looks wonderful! And your dancing librarian is cracking me up over here!
What an awesome giveaway!
I can't wait to make this cake. :)
LOL LOL LOL The cake looks amazing, fresh and totaly Spring-ish! ...the librarians are too funny with their string-attached breakdance moves... and the bookmark is even prettier than the one yesterday! LOL I NEED! I NEED! LOL (but no, no! I didn't come for the bookmark, you know I wouldn't do such a thing, huh?)
Oh, Mary! This post was a great way to start my morning. I'm loving the Librarians bustin' a move! That's HILARIOUS!! The cake looks terrific. I will be thinking about those b-girls a lot today!
Those TJ chile mango is a staple here! I am hooked onto your blog.......will be even after your giveaway ends. Well, I am off to my local library right now with kids in tow for storytime! Keep up the good work!!
that photo of the cake looks incredible! and your figurines that popped up amongst the ingredients made me laugh :)
i love trader joe's! i love disneyland too!
Perfect timing of your cake for me... im in search of a recipe that calls for strawberries & cream! Thanks.
I didn't know Nancy Pearl had such dancing talent! =)
Those are a few of my favorite things too - cake, strawberries and whipped cream.
I love to see librarians cut loose. When do they throw off the glasses and let down the hair?
Gorgeous cake!
Yummm strawberry cake.My Dh will love this.
I'm going to have to make that cake. Yum. (Spotted from Tastespotting.)
I love Lady Gaga even though she is kind of a freak for not wearing pants. I also love to check out DVDs and CDs from the library. It is only cheaper than renting if you actually return them on time instead of several days overdue....Uh..not that I would know...
That cake looks so wonderfully delicious! I love strawberries and whipped cream and you've thrown in some cake for an added bonus!
I cannot get enough of the librarian action figures :)
Wow! This is a VERY generous giveaway and so far the one I'm most excited about. And this cake!
THis cake looks like a giant shortcake and I'm drooling. I'm heading into work with a PB and Jam sandwich and instead I want this cake. No fair :-(
I love your dance crew librarians. I recently had lunch with the NYC Shushing Librarian (http://auntienettiesattic.blogspot.com/2009/04/ladies-who-lunch.html), so I'm always on the look out for her other antics!
I'm definitely making this cake for a friend's birthday next week. It looks delicious! Oh, and I LOVE Trader Joe's! :-)
One of my favorite things: YOUR BLOG! I don't know how you have the stamina to bake and photograph all of these lovely things, but I'm so happy you do.
Wow-ee, what a great set of gifts from trader joes! Everything looks delicious (though of course not as delicious as your strawberry cake...but I guess that'd be hard to mail! ;) ).
LOVE the dance crew librarians!
I don't want to win but I want to know how good that mocha yogurt is before I buy it.
One of my favorite things is the Barefoot Contessa in addition to Strawberries. So - that means this post has become one of my new favorite things.
Mmm it's like a giant strawberry shortcake. How could you go wrong?
I've always wanted to try those Trader Joe's spaghettios.
I have strawberries and whipping cream at home right now. I was going to just put the two together, but what a great recipe that is! Thank you so much!
I'm intrigued by those chile spiced mangos! Sign me up for the random drawing!
I have to go buy some strawberries Right Now!
When I lived in Ohio I had my library card number memorized. I love the library; it's definitely one of my favorite things! And I really enjoy reading your blog!
this cake is perfect for april. and may. and june through december. and i suppose i mustn't neglect january, february, or march either. :)
the cake looks wonderful! I ordered that book for our collection and just checked it out.
Wow the cake looks so good, I have been hording my fair share of the strawberries but have yet to make anything with them.
I also live in Cali and love the awesome strawberries. I made some strawberry jam the other day, man it's good.
Omg, your dancing librarians are too much. I have a confession...I may be the only person in the world who doesn't like whipped cream. I know! I am crazy. I do love strawberries so I would maybe have to try this cake and make a change.
YUM whipped cream on anything is delicious!! I remember TJ's used to have these individually wrapped white chocolate filled strawberries in their frozen dessert aisle. they were soooo good!
quynhnvo(at)gmail(dot)com
Oh that just looks perfect - I wish I could get fresh strawberries this early in the year :( And TJ's mini PB cups really are addictive. Dangerously so!
oh what a nice cake! delicious ! just ideal for spring :)
I love the library! I catch up on all my favorite TV series like The Closer and Dexter! Love all your Trader Joe faves
these are amazing giveaways, i really want to win one!! thanks :)
your cake looks absolutely amazing!
Love the cake! Love your blog! Love your giveaway!
Lizzy Stevens
Mary, this is gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous!
What a beautiful cake - I love strawberries and whipped cream! I really like TJs too and I love seeing what other's favorite products are, because it inspires me to try new stuff!
I just picked up a ton a strawberries at Costco this morning. Now I must go into the kitchen and bake!
Count me in!
i've wanted to make this cake ever since seeing it on her show years ago--glad to hear it's a good as it looks!!
First, I was going to comment about the cake--wonderful! Then I saw the librarian dance crew--hiliarious. But then, oh man, I saw the chili mangos from Trader Joes. I love those I can eat them nonstop, which is why a rarely buy them. I love them!
Just in time for strawberry season. And why do they say Randy Jackson's ABDC? Where is Randy Jackson?
Those action figures are fantastic! I wish I had a social worker action figure! The cake looks pretty perfect for spring.
Gorgeous strawberry cake you have there! I worked in a library when I was in high school and *almost* went the librarian route!
I love Ina Garten... and I love Trader Joe's! This is a great entry.
Yum, I need a slice of that with a cup of tea and a good book! Pam
I love the librarian dance crew! So cute!!
Okay NOW I am sad - I have to choose between the Armaretti Torte and the ultimate Strawberry Cake! Argghhh!
The b-girls are the best!
This looks like a great cake and I love anything that Ina makes.
I love Ina!!!! Can't believe you're giving away all this stuff. Thanks so much!
Mmm...cake! And YAY, libraries! We love ours not only for my crazy book habit, but also for the DVDs for my son--it's a great way to keep up with his ever-changing interests, and as a bonus, we get to get rid of the really annoying DVDs after a week!
This is awesome!! I can't believe you are hosting daily giveaways this week!! Happy Library Week! You would be happy to know that I go to the library daily (well, because I'm a graduate student). However, I do enjoy going to the library to read leisurely. I miss those days.
I hope I win!! Thanks!
Oh! I forgot to mention that the dance moves are HILARIOUS!!!
just made my way here for the first time, thanks to 'tastespotting.' libraries + baking = two of my favorite things!
Gorgeous cake! I love strawberries!
I don't have a trader joe's anywhere where I live, so I'm always so jealous when you show your yummy things from there!
-Melissa G.
I'm a fan of Barefoot Contessa, but haven't made the strawberry cake recipe yet - looks delicious!
I'd love to win these!
ptinaw at gmail.com
We love TJs too! When we lived in So Cal, there were two within walking distance. In Maryland, the nearest one is half hour away - same goes for Whole Foods :(
Diane and Lily
yum i love barefoot contessa!
I heart Trader Joes
You are so generous, giving all of this great stuff away! My hat's off to you.
Your cake looks fan-tabulous!
I'm impressed with the krumping librarians! Your cake looks great too!
I love libraries!
Gorgeous cake! I too lived on Spaghetti-Os (and Chef Boyardee ravioli) as a kid, ah, memories.
I love California strawberries and Trader Joe's also! :)
Love your give-away! At our library we loan the DVDs and videos for 3 weeks. People are amazed. The selection is pretty good, too.
My birthday is May 1st - and I always have strawberry shortcake on my birthday - this may take the place this year! :)
That cake looks scrumptious! I'll have to try it in the very near future.
The dragonfly at the end of that bookmark is a very nice touch.
That strawberry cake looks amazing! I need to make some Barefoot Contessa recipes soon!
I think raspberries could also be good with this cake. I've recently fallen in love with the orange flavored cranberry's at TJs.
Love that cake. Those strawberries look delish.
Ahhhh - Spring & Strawberries. i really need to experiment with more strawberry recipes like you have here. It looks amazing.
Now - the TJ prize...I have no access to a TJs, so seeing this loot makes me sad and envious. Hope I win!
what a fun giveaway. You're the best
Mmmmm, the kids would love this one. Anytime they see strawberries they request strawberry shortcake. This looks much better & I like that I can freeze the second cake for later! Yay, two for one!
~ingrid
Love the photo of the break dancing librarians!!!
Thanks for reminding me of this great cake! In the past I've layered cubed pieces of this cake with the cream and berries and a little bit of cooked strawberry sauce- it was fantastic.
Ha! I love seeing Nancy Pearl, the Action Librarian, breakdancing. You know, she's even better at it in real life...
The TJ's gift pack is such a great idea. I'll have to hold off on the strawberry cake, though -- strawberries aren't in season in Oregon for another 2 months!
This is the best National Library week contest ever. Thanks so much.
Love strawberries!!!
My comments don't match your entries because I'm reading in the wrong direction :-)
I love audiobooks. I use to have a manufacturing type job. I don't know how I would have survived without them.
I first "read" Sophie's Choice that way. There were so many titles I loved but can't recall over a decade later
Um...if I don't win this particular giveaway, will you send me those peanut butter cups from Trader Joe's anyway? :)
I am LOVING this week and your special librarian friends. LOL
We just got 2 huge containers of strawberries from Costco and I was thinking they would be delicious in a cake! This would be absolutely perfect!
I wish we have Trader Joe's down south. That cake looks super yummy! Are you giving away all of these treats? You have been doing some major baking!
You're having just a bit of fun with the Librarians aren't you?
Count me in!
@lagina on Twitter introduced me to your blog. Libraries and cooking are two of my favorite things, being a librarian who likes to tinker in the kitchen myself. :) But your baked goods are far beyond mine. Your strawberry cake looks divine. I do love the Barefoot Contessa recipes, they always turn out fabulous.
Anyway, I've added your blog to my feed reader!
I love strawberries! I can't wait until the ones in my garden start popping up!
My. How wonderful it all is.
It's interesting.. I grew up in California, and I knew about Trader Joe's.. and there was one about half an hour away... I just never went there. Ever. And then I moved to Texas only to find out they don't have any here. But I am curious as to what their stuff is like.
Again, I am in love with that beautiful beaded bookmark! And, if you'd be willing to give it to me, I'd attempt to say "beautiful beaded bookmark" fifty times fast!
betheygreen@aol.com
I want a Trader Joe's! None down here in little old Naples
What a delicous Strawberry cake, oh yum!!!
Cute action figures.
I've been missing fresh California strawberries since I moved (to a giant desert) almost a year ago. That cake makes me envious, it looks delicious
That cake looks really good! Barefoot Contessa is one of my favorite Food Network chefs. You can't go wrong with her recipes.
gosh i would love to sample YOUR favs from trader joes
i recently discovered joes when i began college (they dont have them any where near my home town) i am graduating in june and i just dont know what i will do with no trader joes when i leave!
I just got strawberries on sale at the store this week, I might just have to try out this recipe!
Love these giveaways! And your blog rocks!
whitneyellen77@gmail.com
I've never watched America's Best Dance Crew, but I LOVE So You Think You Can Dance. It starts in just a another month or so and I can't wait. And maybe I'll make myself some of Ina's Strawberry Cake to eat while I watch. That'd be heaven!
I'm a grad student, so I'm in the library all day every day... but this cake makes me want to forget the books for a few hours and head home and bake!
Yes, please.
Yum, I love strawberry cake (especially the ones at Asian bakeries). Your cake is beautiful.
Cheers,
Kat
bluelawcat@yahoo.com
Cake looks perfect for warmer weather... Yum.
So, it's supposed to be about 90 degrees here today in San Francisco--record-breaking warm weather for the bay area. And, all I can think about is how lovely it would be to have some of your strawberry country cake. It looks totally scrumptious!
Thanks for the giveaway! Love your blog!
Laura
happypillbug at gmail dot com
Waiting patiently for strawberries too look good and be on sale here! Yum to the cake!
That Strawberry Country Cake looks so yummy! Love all your favorite things...even if I'm late to comment!
Oh my, this looks good! I have all her cookbooks, I'll have to check it out!
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