Laura, I learned this tip from my aunt…..use sugar instead of flour in your greased pan. It won’t leave a white film & you get a tiny bit of crunch! It works just as well. Love all the information that you share!
Laura, I love how you taught us to romance the ordinary taking time to clean the table, light candles and enjoy the cake. A wonderful way to think and enjoy the garden.
I would have cleared a small spot... but not Laura! Clear the whole table, clean it, place a centerpiece there, AND light the candles before eating that cake! Wow!
6:40 a.m. central time. Love this video and will be making this recipe. Couple of hints. Pour glaze over cake while it's in the pan while its warm. Yes, on the bottom. You don't waste a drop and it all soaks in. When you remove it, pour another round of glaze. I ALWAYS use dark rum and add extra to the glaze recipe.
Another option to make the cake more moist…while it’s still in the pan, poke holes and pour half of the glaze over the holes and let it sit for an hour before turning out of pan onto a plate/cake stand…then pour remaining glaze over. This way no glaze is wasted and the cake gets a chance to soak it all up. Kudos to Aaron for shelling all the pistachios! What a man!! 😅
My uncle has a lemon tree. He sends us a box of lemons every year and they are the best lemons I've ever had. My mom visited him one year and brought back a lemon almost as big as her head. NEVER in my life have i ever seen a lemon so big
What a good example of self-care. You went out to the Heartly and remembered the houseplants and said, "oh we'll have to take a minute to clear a space." And then took the time to clear and clean the whole table so you could sit and actually relax and enjoy the cake and coffee. So many times we try to grab a minute for ourselves but then can't relax and enjoy it because all we see is what's not done. Good job!
The cake looks so yummy. I always evaluate my new recipes like you did as well. Your kids are so precious. I couldn’t have any but I enjoy my nieces and love watching yours. I saved Samantha’s video of her giggling in the grass from last year with Benjamin and when I miss hearing a child or need a pick me up I listen to her giggling. I don’t have any video of my nieces from when they were little but Samanthas laugh makes me smile & lifts my spirits. So thank you a 1000% for that.
Oh, Laura, thanks for bringing us along baking with Benjamin. It's always a precious time. And the reward is amazing! My kids are 18 and 23, and this year, our 23 year old has jumped right in and taken on the baking for me and coordinating our Christmas Eve lunch with my family. The 18 year old is coordinating Christmas day dinner for me! My year has been crazy busy, and I so appreciate it all!!
I love how normal you are you make us feel welcome watching you I just can’t thank you enough for all your knowledge and sharing your family with all of us I’ve learned so much and there’s nothing better than a cuppa coffee and garden answer. Have a beautiful week.
Laura, your vlogs are so enjoyable and informative. They have been an anticipated and enjoyable part of my day ever since I discovered you years ago. Any chance you would do a an episode about the various insect pests that attack our plants , as well as how to identify and treat them. I’ve found ignoring and hope they go away isn’t working for me.
Hello Laura, I always look forward to this type of video in your winter months when there is a little bit of decorating, harvesting and cooking. There is something soothing about it and it captures the season perfectly: peace, reflection and connection to loved ones. Thank you for sharing this 🙏🎄
It’s so lovely to see your garden views from the Hartley. It’s what it’s for… to sit “outdoors” during a time of year when you actually can’t be outdoors with cake and coffee. It’s precious.
I love how polite she was with her comments on the Rum Cake. I think the "hidden message" was that she was not really a fan but did not want to be negative about the recipe. Love the interaction with Benjamin.
Definitely makes this type of cake more moist, pouring the glaze over it while warm. Love watching you and Benjamin spending quality time together. Folks, Laura potted the little Avocado tree high😂💜
Laura, if you flip the grater over when zesting the lemon, you can see exactly where you're zesting and avoid the bitter white pith. Also, you'll see that the tool is constructed to hold the zest so it doesn't fall out until you're ready to use it. Hope this helps. That cake looks delicious! ~ Lisa
Use your window ledges more when you re-organize. Your plants are so pretty sitting on the window ledge as are they all! Love your Mom time with your children - so endearing and heart warming ❤❤❤❤❤
I am in S'ern Spain and the citrus trees have the exact same conditions you describe for your greenhouse. It gets down to 41⁰ at night for 4 months and then up into the high 60s during most days. Granted, some trees i am referring to are trees trees, but many of us have citrus trees that stay outdoors growing in containers, during those conditions and they do just fine. Just in case you'd rather not risk moving them into the Hartley in case the scale makes a comeback ❤
Good morning Laura and Benjamin! Laura, in my opinion, spiced rum is more potent and also if you want the taste, cooking it is evaporating the alcohol and the taste is not as powerful! I almost always make a simple syrup and add the rum after I take it off the fire and then pour over the cake of course poking some holes works better to infuse it. Now because of the kids you can make some syrup and add to your slice and that will be amazing! When you add syrup of any kind it's best if the cake is slightly warm it absorbs better ! Try it! It's yummy 😋! Hugs and Blessings ❤🤗❤️
Love seeing Benjamin helping with the cooking. You too have been partners since he was just a little one, great Team! Thanks for sharing this Laura. I just love how you just keep it real, second guessing yoyr cake lol no matter what it's always a great experience for both you and Benjamin ❤
aaa Special Laura just love Benjamin and you together. My lemon tree still has flower and hopefully I will get lemons as well. Ha ha Russel came for cake and coffee 😀
That was so funny with Benjamin. I was at a friend's house, we were making cookies. My daughter Samantha was about 3 years old, and she leaned over onto the table and took a bite out of the stick of butter. Memories, my Sammy is now 40 years old. Love your videos. Just can't get enough of them ❤
Anytime you have a bundt or a heavier cake like that you should absolutely poke some holes with a narrow metal or wooden skewer and drizzle the glaze over it so that it can permeate throughout the cake. Also if you put a baking sheet under that wire rack you can easily capture the excess glaze and spatula it into a bowl or such, reheat it and glaze again after some time has passed.
That cake looks awesome, and I make rum cake every Christmas ! I think poking some holes would be delicious without even trying it because lemon and pistachio are chefs kiss together! Love how Benjamin was so interested! ❤
Baking with Benjamin was fun to watch the interaction while you were preparing the lemon pistachio cake! Both the cake and the centerpiece came out looking beautiful! Enjoy celebrating the holidays with your family!
Morning from the UK 🙂 I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the look you gave Benjamin when he was about the eat the sugar 🤣Cake looks delicious. I love rum cake too. Have you tried a recipe for dark rum cake?
Though I’m not a baker, and sometimes not particularly interested in your winter time garden projects, I still watch faithfully because of your upbeat attitude and the wholesome family vibes. Keep it up. Warm wishes to you and yours.
That recipe sounds amazing! One tip I've learned from using almond flour for baking is this: since it is so dense, separate the eggs and beat the whites, whip the yolkes, and then fold them together before folding into the nut flour. This works well for almond flour and should be equally helpful in lifting the pistachio flour you created for a fluffier final result.
I think we all love your sweet Benjamin! 💙 I remember your pregnancy announcement for him, also how many of us already knew, and how excited you and Aaron were. It makes me smile. When I was a young mom I was always romancing the ordinary but had gotten away from it. Thanks to the years of watching you and your mom I’m doing that again and it makes life really sweet again. Thank you Laura for being so open in sharing your heart with us!
ps: Country Living has a Pistachio Lemon Bundt Cake that has four eggs rather than just three. I haven’t tried it but I’m sure the extra egg would make a big difference to the density.
Be you are so cute and what fun to help your mommy bake. I use to babysit my two grandsons and they lived to help measure and taste test what we were creating. My one grandson loved helping measure and the other loved tasting the butter. So much fun and thank God for a vacuum to clean up their mess. 💙
Laura you are a true inspiration It touches my heart to watch your interactions with family Family is everything Bless you and family Will try the cake thank you
I like the simpler approach you have taken this year in your arrangements for Christmas. Having said that, I also made 2 Williamsburg style urns for Christmas last year, based on the ones you had made for your front door. I used all artificial goods, as I wanted them to last for years. I loved them so much, they stay in our entrance year round! I always come away with some sort of inspiration from your videos!
Merry Christmas, Garden Answer Family! This year is the first time I grew Butternut Squash (not my hubby's fav) and first year making Dulce de Calabasa (candied pumpkin/squash). Although major sweet, I plan to make it part of my Christmas tradition. Love & Peace to all!
Those lemons looked gorgeous. Every time I go to California, I love picking lemons from my sisters tree and adding to my water each day. Loved how you "Romanced the Ordinary" and ate your cake in the Hartley!
Beautiful, interesting, productive video. I loved it that Laura devoted time to teaching Benjamin how to bake one-on-one. My favorite part was Russell sneaking into the Hartley. Gorgeous cyclamen centerpiece!
You and Benjamin made a beautiful pistachio cake! Yum! He is an awesome helper in the kitchen and the garden! Love both of your amazingly sweet children!💕🎄💕
Great video Laura! Love when you share with us a video of you baking or cooking! I have made some of your recipes after watching you make them. Loved the kitchen island center piece too! I’m really into greens, whites & gold for Christmas this year! I love watching Benjamin helping you, it reminds me of my son who is 30 and married when he used to help me out too! Best wishes for a peaceful and joyous holiday! 🎄🎁
So pretty. Every video is like Where's Waldo? One or more of the cats is always in there somewhere. You might have to look hard / rewind but they're there! Merry Christmas to all of you. Thank you for brightening our lives
The potting mix does not disappear. Potting mix and compost are organic matter which continually decompose completely down to their chemical elements, like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and such. Some of which the plants use for growth and development, and some are gases that get released into the atmosphere. This is why plants sink in their pots and the trees sink in their planting hole. If you are interested, look into nutrient cycling, nitrification and denitrification. It's all very fascinating!
Benjamin is going to be a great cook. Love the how you make special time with the kids. The centerpiece is sooo beautiful. Love the way you make time for you and enjoy your work. You are amazing and enjoy your life. Thank you for sharing your family with us.❤❤❤❤
What a relaxing video to watch! Loved that you and Benjamin had a special time together. But the best part was watching Benjamin lick a spoon with sugar which brought back a great memory. Why? Because my daughter, now 32, did exactly the same at an even younger age than he. She would push a chair to the counter, climb up, knock down the sugar bowl and eat it, licking the counter clean and power away running like a crazed animal around the house. This all because our son, babysitting her ostensibly, would be too involved in his computer game to bother checking on his sister even as she zoomed by him repeatedly. And that, in a nutshell is why sugar bowls were banned from our kitchen counter for years, not to mention hiring babysitters instead from then on, lol!
Love how you interact with your children. Seems you always make time to be with them, wonder if that is why on a few of your shows you mention: I’m out of time. Do you schedule your time each day between, family, tapping, gardening, house chores, Aaron time. If so are you flexible if things don’t go as planned. Which is most of my days.
Laura, I agree with a couple of other comments,regarding the "complete video." I bake a vanilla rum cake which calls for chopped pecans in the bottom of the pan then a rum glaze on top. Much of the glaze does settle in the cake dish as it cools and I do prick the cake with a fork many times right before spooning on the glaze. Next time I will try pouring the glaze on while the cake is still in the pan as well as after it is removed. I like to serve it with homemade whipped cream. It cuts the sweetness of the glaze. I'm so glad I stumbled on Garden Answers several years ago. I do so enjoy it,
What a perfect Christmas video! Thanks for sharing the cake with us in the Hartley! I really enjoyed that you shared the cake-making process, including Benjamin! He’s a dear child!❤❤❤
My local citrus grower says his rule of thumb for fertilizing is, " start 1st application on presidents day(feb 19th) end on Labor day(sept 1)" . So thats 1x a month equals 8 applications of citrus food a growing season.
Think the desert would be delicious love the centerpiece that you just put together of course always awesome at what you do talk to you soon I hope💙💗❣️👍
Good Morning! 🎅 Love Benjamin sneaking a taste of sugar! That Cyclamen centerpiece is beautiful - love it!! The Lemon cake looks delicious! Now to go top dress, my lemon tree! 🙂🥰🍋🎄🤍💚🌿
Look at your pink geraniums... gurlfriend! How cheery for the new year. Next time poke a bunch of holes for your glaze to soak into the cake... with your skewer. That is how you make that kind of heavy cake be lighter and super moist then!! And cake bakers sneak more real rum in the glaze.... to taste of course! Sounds so good!!! Happy Christmas to all of you!
So that cake looks wonderful. I can almost smell it! But Wow! Benjamin is the sweetest lil guy helping you. I wish my son had been more interested in cooking with me at that age. And lastly the arrangement turned out beautiful. I love those in white. I’m going to plant some in my yard this spring.
Your avocado "trees" remind me of the ones that I grew in college. I could never get them to be anything but spindly. I will be cheering yours on as they - hopefully - put on some width. I always enjoy watching you and Benjamin cook. That dessert looks so good!
Laura & Aaron, Merry Christmas to you and all that is yours and those that work with you, - extended friends for who you are and all the good that you do. I am grateful for all you do and for who you all are. Thank You all for making this Earth a better place. May your baskets and Store houses always be full, laughter and joy in your homes, and surprising blessings in your lives❣️❣️❣️😊💗💕🎶
That time of year,was up early but had some things to get done. But I'm finally getting the chance to relax and watch. Truly enjoyed the video. I always enjoy your cooking , i learn something new in many areas.Benjamin is sweet little helper.❤
Hi Laura! The citrus trees look good. I'm glad you were able to use some of your own lemons for the cake. It looks good. The cyclamen look good in the centerpiece. Fun watching Benjamin helping. Thank you so much for sharing!
I can definitely tell gardening is your passion. Every word you utter is upbeat and positive. I’ve only been following you for about five years and love your channel. I know why you have so many followers. Merry Christmas 😇🎄
I love Laura, “l have to clear a spot on the table” which became moving every pant, cleaning the table and lighting the candles. 😊. I would have moved one or two plants and called it good
Such an inspiring way to start my day!!! I love watching your video's and it is so wonderful to get to see Benjamin and Samantha learning so many new things!!! 🥰😘
I think your idea of poking many holes into the cake before adding the glaze would definitely be a good idea... maybe even before you take it out of the pan... then let it sit covered up overnight before cutting to eat... that is how my grandmother did it with her orange cake, anyway. 😉😃
Brenda from tropical Qld here, with that cake a dog of cream would be delicious. Or even a cream cheese icing. We use a lot of lemon recipe’s here. They keep very moist which is lovely.
Aww Laura I love the basket it looks great on your counter. So fun to see kids helping in the kitchen baking with you. Awesome to eat the cake in the Hartley what a wonderful day. ❤
I love this - you are so good at including Benjamin (clearly a worker bee like his mom) and Samantha ( the artiste) - they are precious and I love that you include the tomcats - they want to help you garden, too! I look forward to your videos and enjoy each one - thank you for keeping us in the loop. Merry Christmas Y'All! ps have you considered recording piano music to use in your videos? I bet you can knock that out of the park too!
Laura, I learned this tip from my aunt…..use sugar instead of flour in your greased pan. It won’t leave a white film & you get a tiny bit of crunch! It works just as well. Love all the information that you share!
Awesome tip! Thanks I will use your tip!😊
Great idea! Thank you 😊
I do this !
Great tip..Thank You for sharing
Thank you! I'm going to try that out. Great tip!
Laura, I love how you taught us to romance the ordinary taking time to clean the table, light candles and enjoy the cake. A wonderful way to think and enjoy the garden.
I would have cleared a small spot... but not Laura! Clear the whole table, clean it, place a centerpiece there, AND light the candles before eating that cake! Wow!
6:40 a.m. central time. Love this video and will be making this recipe. Couple of hints. Pour glaze over cake while it's in the pan while its warm. Yes, on the bottom. You don't waste a drop and it all soaks in. When you remove it, pour another round of glaze. I ALWAYS use dark rum and add extra to the glaze recipe.
I would do this also
Another option to make the cake more moist…while it’s still in the pan, poke holes and pour half of the glaze over the holes and let it sit for an hour before turning out of pan onto a plate/cake stand…then pour remaining glaze over. This way no glaze is wasted and the cake gets a chance to soak it all up.
Kudos to Aaron for shelling all the pistachios! What a man!! 😅
My uncle has a lemon tree. He sends us a box of lemons every year and they are the best lemons I've ever had. My mom visited him one year and brought back a lemon almost as big as her head. NEVER in my life have i ever seen a lemon so big
They might be ponderosa lemons. They’re huge
Benjamin's 'sugar and slurp' is so precious! He's a gem!
I laughed out loud at his cute gestures this morning he’s is great kid and alway ready for action!
Great job Benjamin and mommy❣️🥮☕️🍋🍋🍋
Treasure these times with Benjamin 1 on 1! It is good to make memories with each child. They will remember! What a joy filled time you had. ❤❤
What a good example of self-care. You went out to the Heartly and remembered the houseplants and said, "oh we'll have to take a minute to clear a space." And then took the time to clear and clean the whole table so you could sit and actually relax and enjoy the cake and coffee. So many times we try to grab a minute for ourselves but then can't relax and enjoy it because all we see is what's not done. Good job!
The cake looks so yummy. I always evaluate my new recipes like you did as well. Your kids are so precious. I couldn’t have any but I enjoy my nieces and love watching yours. I saved Samantha’s video of her giggling in the grass from last year with Benjamin and when I miss hearing a child or need a pick me up I listen to her giggling. I don’t have any video of my nieces from when they were little but Samanthas laugh makes me smile & lifts my spirits. So thank you a 1000% for that.
I love watching you bake with Benjamin. That is how it should be-kids helping, learning and having fun.
Oh, Laura, thanks for bringing us along baking with Benjamin. It's always a precious time. And the reward is amazing!
My kids are 18 and 23, and this year, our 23 year old has jumped right in and taken on the baking for me and coordinating our Christmas Eve lunch with my family. The 18 year old is coordinating Christmas day dinner for me! My year has been crazy busy, and I so appreciate it all!!
OMG!!!!!
She added burlap, greenery, branches!!!!!!
I thought she was going to add only the pretty plants!!!!!!
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
I love how normal you are you make us feel welcome watching you I just can’t thank you enough for all your knowledge and sharing your family with all of us I’ve learned so much and there’s nothing better than a cuppa coffee and garden answer. Have a beautiful week.
Laura, your vlogs are so enjoyable and informative. They have been an anticipated and enjoyable part of my day ever since I discovered you years ago. Any chance you would do a an episode about the various insect pests that attack our plants , as well as how to identify and treat them. I’ve found ignoring and hope they go away isn’t working for me.
Hello Laura, I always look forward to this type of video in your winter months when there is a little bit of decorating, harvesting and cooking. There is something soothing about it and it captures the season perfectly: peace, reflection and connection to loved ones. Thank you for sharing this 🙏🎄
Benjamin is such a treasure. ❤
It’s so lovely to see your garden views from the Hartley. It’s what it’s for… to sit “outdoors” during a time of year when you actually can’t be outdoors with cake and coffee. It’s precious.
The time with Benjamin is so precious. He is growing so fast and before you know he will be grown.
I love how polite she was with her comments on the Rum Cake. I think the "hidden message" was that she was not really a fan but did not want to be negative about the recipe. Love the interaction with Benjamin.
Why could I watch Laura groom plants all day?!❤
Benjamin melts my heart , such a careful little man . Loved the center piece!
Definitely makes this type of cake more moist, pouring the glaze over it while warm. Love watching you and Benjamin spending quality time together. Folks, Laura potted the little Avocado tree high😂💜
Laura, if you flip the grater over when zesting the lemon, you can see exactly where you're zesting and avoid the bitter white pith. Also, you'll see that the tool is constructed to hold the zest so it doesn't fall out until you're ready to use it. Hope this helps. That cake looks delicious! ~ Lisa
Great tipp! Thanks Lisa😊
Use your window ledges more when you re-organize. Your plants are so pretty sitting on the window ledge as are they all! Love your Mom time with your children - so endearing and heart warming ❤❤❤❤❤
Absolutely love to see Benjamin in the kitchen helping mom. So fun . ❤
I am in S'ern Spain and the citrus trees have the exact same conditions you describe for your greenhouse. It gets down to 41⁰ at night for 4 months and then up into the high 60s during most days. Granted, some trees i am referring to are trees trees, but many of us have citrus trees that stay outdoors growing in containers, during those conditions and they do just fine. Just in case you'd rather not risk moving them into the Hartley in case the scale makes a comeback ❤
My favourite kind of video, plants and cooking! You are bringing up a fine, sensitive young boy there, so beautiful to see. 😊
Seeing Benjamin sneek a spoonful of sugar and cover his ears reminds me of baking with my grandson! And they are about the same age❤
The time you spend with both Benjamin and Samantha is precious! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Good morning Laura and Benjamin! Laura, in my opinion, spiced rum is more potent and also if you want the taste, cooking it is evaporating the alcohol and the taste is not as powerful! I almost always make a simple syrup and add the rum after I take it off the fire and then pour over the cake of course poking some holes works better to infuse it. Now because of the kids you can make some syrup and add to your slice and that will be amazing! When you add syrup of any kind it's best if the cake is slightly warm it absorbs better ! Try it! It's yummy 😋!
Hugs and Blessings ❤🤗❤️
There’s something about this white and green- so neat and simple and still gorgeous 😍
Love seeing Benjamin helping with the cooking. You too have been partners since he was just a little one, great Team! Thanks for sharing this Laura. I just love how you just keep it real, second guessing yoyr cake lol no matter what it's always a great experience for both you and Benjamin ❤
aaa Special Laura just love Benjamin and you together. My lemon tree still has flower and hopefully I will get lemons as well. Ha ha Russel came for cake and coffee 😀
That was so funny with Benjamin. I was at a friend's house, we were making cookies. My daughter Samantha was about 3 years old, and she leaned over onto the table and took a bite out of the stick of butter. Memories, my Sammy is now 40 years old. Love your videos. Just can't get enough of them ❤
Benjamin is a sweet little boy. The cake looks yummy. The center piece looks so pretty for the Holidays.
The Hartley is Laura’s woman cave. So nice to have a place to just chill.
Anytime you have a bundt or a heavier cake like that you should absolutely poke some holes with a narrow metal or wooden skewer and drizzle the glaze over it so that it can permeate throughout the cake. Also if you put a baking sheet under that wire rack you can easily capture the excess glaze and spatula it into a bowl or such, reheat it and glaze again after some time has passed.
That cake looks awesome, and I make rum cake every Christmas ! I think poking some holes would be delicious without even trying it because lemon and pistachio are chefs kiss together! Love how Benjamin was so interested! ❤
Baking with Benjamin was fun to watch the interaction while you were preparing the lemon pistachio cake! Both the cake and the centerpiece came out looking beautiful! Enjoy celebrating the holidays with your family!
Morning from the UK 🙂 I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the look you gave Benjamin when he was about the eat the sugar 🤣Cake looks delicious. I love rum cake too. Have you tried a recipe for dark rum cake?
Add rum to the glaze for more rum flavor. Thank you for the tips on growing citrus. I plan to get a lemon tree when our new sunroom is completed.
How is benjamin the most wholesome helper ever?! I hope he keeps it up!!
Though I’m not a baker, and sometimes not particularly interested in your winter time garden projects, I still watch faithfully because of your upbeat attitude and the wholesome family vibes. Keep it up. Warm wishes to you and yours.
That recipe sounds amazing! One tip I've learned from using almond flour for baking is this: since it is so dense, separate the eggs and beat the whites, whip the yolkes, and then fold them together before folding into the nut flour. This works well for almond flour and should be equally helpful in lifting the pistachio flour you created for a fluffier final result.
Great tip!
Such sweet memoriable moment ❤️❤️❤️❤️
What a blessing to work with all the beautiful people, plants,and objects to feed your creativity and love
I think we all love your sweet Benjamin! 💙 I remember your pregnancy announcement for him, also how many of us already knew, and how excited you and Aaron were. It makes me smile.
When I was a young mom I was always romancing the ordinary but had gotten away from it. Thanks to the years of watching you and your mom I’m doing that again and it makes life really sweet again. Thank you Laura for being so open in sharing your heart with us!
ps: Country Living has a Pistachio Lemon Bundt Cake that has four eggs rather than just three. I haven’t tried it but I’m sure the extra egg would make a big difference to the density.
Be you are so cute and what fun to help your mommy bake. I use to babysit my two grandsons and they lived to help measure and taste test what we were creating. My one grandson loved helping measure and the other loved tasting the butter. So much fun and thank God for a vacuum to clean up their mess. 💙
That cake looks amazing. I think I would add a little bit of sour cream would help make it less dry. Can’t wait to try it.
Laura you are a true inspiration
It touches my heart to watch your interactions with family
Family is everything
Bless you and family
Will try the cake thank you
Enjoying nicely baked cake in the Hartley! How can you beat that? 😊 😋
You need to try a browned butter Kentucky bourbon cake. It is absolutely delish
I like the simpler approach you have taken this year in your arrangements for Christmas. Having said that, I also made 2 Williamsburg style urns for Christmas last year, based on the ones you had made for your front door. I used all artificial goods, as I wanted them to last for years. I loved them so much, they stay in our entrance year round! I always come away with some sort of inspiration from your videos!
Merry Christmas, Garden Answer Family! This year is the first time I grew Butternut Squash (not my hubby's fav) and first year making Dulce de Calabasa (candied pumpkin/squash). Although major sweet, I plan to make it part of my Christmas tradition. Love & Peace to all!
The cake looks delicious!! The floral arrangement looks simple but beautiful ❤
Those lemons looked gorgeous. Every time I go to California, I love picking lemons from my sisters tree and adding to my water each day. Loved how you "Romanced the Ordinary" and ate your cake in the Hartley!
Love the variety and of course seeing your helper. What a wonderful way to start the day.
Beautiful, interesting, productive video. I loved it that Laura devoted time to teaching Benjamin how to bake one-on-one. My favorite part was Russell sneaking into the Hartley. Gorgeous cyclamen centerpiece!
You and Benjamin made a beautiful pistachio cake! Yum! He is an awesome helper in the kitchen and the garden! Love both of your amazingly sweet children!💕🎄💕
Great video Laura! Love when you share with us a video of you baking or cooking! I have made some of your recipes after watching you make them. Loved the kitchen island center piece too! I’m really into greens, whites & gold for Christmas this year!
I love watching Benjamin helping you, it reminds me of my son who is 30 and married when he used to help me out too! Best wishes for a peaceful and joyous holiday! 🎄🎁
So pretty. Every video is like Where's Waldo? One or more of the cats is always in there somewhere. You might have to look hard / rewind but they're there! Merry Christmas to all of you. Thank you for brightening our lives
I love that you made Benjamin and Mom time! I’m going to try the recipe! Excellent video as always!❤️😎🌸
Benjamin is such a doll! 😂 I couldn't agree more, when it comes to sugar.
That cake looks delicious and is supposed to be heavy, dense and delicious, just how it looks ! Wonderful video, thank you.
The potting mix does not disappear. Potting mix and compost are organic matter which continually decompose completely down to their chemical elements, like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and such. Some of which the plants use for growth and development, and some are gases that get released into the atmosphere. This is why plants sink in their pots and the trees sink in their planting hole. If you are interested, look into nutrient cycling, nitrification and denitrification. It's all very fascinating!
We love Benjamin’s me time too; he is a really great baker! So attentive! Thanks for sharing!
Orange ranchers daughter here ! Use snippet to pick .. My sisters are growing lemons, oranges and avocados .😂
Benjamin is going to be a great cook. Love the how you make special time with the kids. The centerpiece is sooo beautiful.
Love the way you make time for you and enjoy your work. You are amazing and enjoy your life.
Thank you for sharing your family with us.❤❤❤❤
What a relaxing video to watch! Loved that you and Benjamin had a special time together. But the best part was watching Benjamin lick a spoon with sugar which brought back a great memory. Why? Because my daughter, now 32, did exactly the same at an even younger age than he. She would push a chair to the counter, climb up, knock down the sugar bowl and eat it, licking the counter clean and power away running like a crazed animal around the house. This all because our son, babysitting her ostensibly, would be too involved in his computer game to bother checking on his sister even as she zoomed by him repeatedly. And that, in a nutshell is why sugar bowls were banned from our kitchen counter for years, not to mention hiring babysitters instead from then on, lol!
Love how you interact with your children. Seems you always make time to be with them, wonder if that is why on a few of your shows you mention: I’m out of time. Do you schedule your time each day between, family, tapping, gardening, house chores, Aaron time.
If so are you flexible if things don’t go as planned. Which is most of my days.
Laura, I agree with a couple of other comments,regarding the "complete video." I bake a vanilla rum cake which calls for chopped pecans in the bottom of the pan then a rum glaze on top. Much of the glaze does settle in the cake dish as it cools and I do prick the cake with a fork many times right before spooning on the glaze. Next time I will try pouring the glaze on while the cake is still in the pan as well as after it is removed. I like to serve it with homemade whipped cream. It cuts the sweetness of the glaze.
I'm so glad I stumbled on Garden Answers several years ago. I do so enjoy it,
What a perfect Christmas video! Thanks for sharing the cake with us in the Hartley! I really enjoyed that you shared the cake-making process, including Benjamin! He’s a dear child!❤❤❤
My local citrus grower says his rule of thumb for fertilizing is, " start 1st application on presidents day(feb 19th) end on Labor day(sept 1)" . So thats 1x a month equals 8 applications of citrus food a growing season.
Thank you for sharing the information on the fertilizing regimen for citrus. Looking forward to a lemon and lime harvest.
Enjoying watching your gardens AND children grow! Benjamin the chef and Samantha the artist. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Good morning!🌻🐝
Think the desert would be delicious love the centerpiece that you just put together of course always awesome at what you do
talk to you soon I hope💙💗❣️👍
Good Morning! 🎅 Love Benjamin sneaking a taste of sugar! That Cyclamen centerpiece is beautiful - love it!! The Lemon cake looks delicious! Now to go top dress, my lemon tree! 🙂🥰🍋🎄🤍💚🌿
Yes! Teach that boy to cook 😊 My husband loves to cook, and it brings pleasure to our whole family!
Such a wonderful video that encompassed a little bit of everything. I especially liked Benjamin's involvement, he is such a cutie.
Look at your pink geraniums... gurlfriend! How cheery for the new year. Next time poke a bunch of holes for your glaze to soak into the cake... with your skewer. That is how you make that kind of heavy cake be lighter and super moist then!! And cake bakers sneak more real rum in the glaze.... to taste of course! Sounds so good!!! Happy Christmas to all of you!
Benjamin did a good job. Did I see him crack the eggs? Impressive.
She is a good little gardener ❤
So that cake looks wonderful. I can almost smell it! But Wow! Benjamin is the sweetest lil guy helping you. I wish my son had been more interested in cooking with me at that age. And lastly the arrangement turned out beautiful. I love those in white. I’m going to plant some in my yard this spring.
I like the idea of poking holes in the cake to add the glaze. It’s awesome Benjamin loves to cook with you. Love the centerpiece on the island too!
Good morning all have a safe and blessed day ❤🎄🥰
Your avocado "trees" remind me of the ones that I grew in college. I could never get them to be anything but spindly. I will be cheering yours on as they - hopefully - put on some width. I always enjoy watching you and Benjamin cook. That dessert looks so good!
Laura & Aaron, Merry Christmas to you and all that is yours and those that work with you, - extended friends for who you are and all the good that you do. I am grateful for all you do and for who you all are. Thank You all for making this Earth a better place. May your baskets and Store houses always be full, laughter and joy in your homes, and surprising blessings in your lives❣️❣️❣️😊💗💕🎶
Very pretty flower arrangement. Fairy lights would be pretty on the sticks.
Maybe a dark rum?
That time of year,was up early but had some things to get done. But I'm finally getting the chance to relax and watch. Truly enjoyed the video. I always enjoy your cooking , i learn something new in many areas.Benjamin is sweet little helper.❤
Hi Laura. You sure know how to set the mood for a cake testing 😀
What a great little helper you have in Benjamin
Hi Laura! The citrus trees look good. I'm glad you were able to use some of your own lemons for the cake. It looks good. The cyclamen look good in the centerpiece. Fun watching Benjamin helping. Thank you so much for sharing!
I can definitely tell gardening is your passion. Every word you utter is upbeat and positive. I’ve only been following you for about five years and love your channel. I know why you have so many followers. Merry Christmas 😇🎄
I love Laura, “l have to clear a spot on the table” which became moving every pant, cleaning the table and lighting the candles. 😊. I would have moved one or two plants and called it good
Such an inspiring way to start my day!!! I love watching your video's and it is so wonderful to get to see Benjamin and Samantha learning so many new things!!! 🥰😘
I think your idea of poking many holes into the cake before adding the glaze would definitely be a good idea... maybe even before you take it out of the pan... then let it sit covered up overnight before cutting to eat... that is how my grandmother did it with her orange cake, anyway. 😉😃
Thanks for sharing the citrus update and the cake recipe. Love seeing the time with your son in the kitchen. Looked like a fun project.
Brenda from tropical Qld here, with that cake a dog of cream would be delicious. Or even a cream cheese icing. We use a lot of lemon recipe’s here. They keep very moist which is lovely.
Aww Laura I love the basket it looks great on your counter. So fun to see kids helping in the kitchen baking with you. Awesome to eat the cake in the Hartley what a wonderful day. ❤
I love this - you are so good at including Benjamin (clearly a worker bee like his mom) and Samantha ( the artiste) - they are
precious and I love that you include the tomcats - they want to help you garden, too! I look forward to your videos and enjoy
each one - thank you for keeping us in the loop. Merry Christmas Y'All! ps have you considered recording piano music to use
in your videos? I bet you can knock that out of the park too!