Strawberry Lime Layer Cake

Once again this week feels like it's flying by.  But it's been so good too.  We've enjoyed some great weather, so it's been a bit hard to get myself to sit down and do my regular blogging.  And the coming week may not be much better.  That's because one week from tomorrow (Saturday), I'm scheduled to take a big fat standardized test to keep my teacher's certificate active.  So from now until then, it's crunch time.  So I probably won't have nice meaty blog posts until after next week.  But never fear, I've got a few quick posts already in mind so as to not completely desert my blog this coming week.  (All the grandma's can now breath a sigh of relief.)

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So, onto the post for tonight.  I thought I'd post the recipe for the birthday cake I made the other day for our little girl.  Very yummy and actually a pretty easy recipe.  I got this recipe from a Betty Crocker Super Moist Cakes magazine style cook book.  You know.  Those little half size magazine cook books staring you down in the check out aisle at the grocery store.  At some point, I gave in to the stares and bought one of these.  Fortunately, this cookbook has not disappointed.  I've made several cakes from this little cookbook, and all of them have been great.

CAKE:
1 box white cake mix
water, vegetable oil, and egg whites called for on cake mix box
2 tablespoons grated fresh lime peel (I used 1/2 tablespoon of lime juice instead, but I couldn't taste the lime, so next time I'll up the juice or break down and just buy the lime)

*Heat oven to 350*F for shiny metal pans (or 325*F for dark or nonstick pans).  Generously spray bottoms and sides of 2 (8 or 9 inch) round cake pans with baking spray with flour.
*Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil, and egg whites; stir lime peel into batter.  Divide batter between pans.
*Bake as directed on box for 8 or 9 inch rounds.  Cool in pans 10 minutes.  Remove from pans to cooling rack.  Cool completely, about 1 hour.

FILLING AND FROSTING:
1 quart (4 cups) fresh strawberries
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 1/3 cups whipping cream

*Reserve 3 whole strawberries for garnish (or 5 if that's the birthday you're celebrating).  Cut remaining remaining strawberries into thin slices. Finely chop some of the sliced strawberries to equal 1/2 cup. (I used my pampered chef food chopper to get the 1/2 cup of finely berries and it was done in a flash.)
*In medium bowl, beat butter with electric mixer on low speed about 30 seconds to soften, then beat on high speed until fluffy.  Add chopped strawberries and powdered sugar; beat on low speed until sugar has been incorporated.  Increase speed to medium; beat until frosting is fluffy.  Divide frosting into fourths.

ASSEMBLY:
*With long, sharp knife, split each cooled cake layer horizontally in half.  Place 1 layer, cut side up, on serving plate.  Spread with 1/4 of the frosting: top with half of the sliced strawberries.  Add second layer, cut side down.  Spread with 1/4 of the frosting--do not add the sliced strawberries onto this layer.  Add third layer, cut side up.  Spread with 1/4 of the frosting; top with remaining sliced strawberries.  Add remaining cake layer, cut side down.  Frost top of cake with remaining frosting.
*In medium bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form.  (I also added a few tablespoons of white sugar as it was mixing.)  Frost sides of cake with whipped cream.  Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish top of cake with whole strawberries just before serving.  Store covered in refrigerator.

Now if you read through the assembly instructions and thought, What?  Don't worry.  I did the same thing.  Just look at the picture above.  Notice that there's not sliced strawberries between every layer, and re-read the assembly instructions.  Hopefully it will make sense after this.
And I hope you give this recipe a try.  It's very delicious and just screams "summertime".  I think it would be great to take to a summer event.  Enjoy!  And try not to eat too many slices. :)