I’M BACK BETCHES!!!
That was the comeback line my nieces told me to use.
The past 6 months have been a whirlwind of emotions... joy and pain, courage and fear, faith and apprehension. Time and introspection is just what I needed to gain a little perspective on life. During this time I’ve managed to overcome many fears, I’ve emerged as a stronger person, I’ve learned to forgive, I’ve learned that friendship is the only lasting relationship, and I’ve learned that life goes on and things have a way of working themselves out. 
Many of you reached out to me with concern, and I can't thank you enough. It felt really nice knowing people I haven't even met cared enough to send me a quick email. I sometimes forget there is an audience on the other side that actually reads my blog and gives a damn. Part of me feels like I've let you all down, but know that your thoughtful emails made my day! 
Despite the hardship, I realize the transition would not have been made possible without the support of my amazing family and a few incredible friends. I am so blessed to count on people in my life that provide me with free therapy at a moment’s notice. Hearing me whine… now that is love, that is friendship!
Days, weeks, months have gone by and I have barely cooked, fruits, salads, and milk & cereal quickly became my go-to meals. I didn't miss cooking much, well, that is until I turned on The Food Network and watched the beautiful Giada DeLaurentis and lovely Ina Garten dish out some incredible meals, and that’s when a flood of sadness came over me and I missed cooking.
My family and friends' incessant nagging didn't help either... oh I've just about heard all the questions & comments...
Why have you stopped blogging?
Why don’t you cook anymore?
Dude, how long is the break?
You've become too skinny.
Have you lost more weight?
Why don't you focus on doing what you love?
I miss reading your posts.
But isn't this your passion?
You better bake something good when you come over, and then post it.
I better see a post this Monday.
Each time someone would ask me when am I gonna get back to blogging, my response was always, "you have to be in the right frame of mind to write." And on that note, I wanna get back to blogging once again. I wanna cook and bake again for the ones dearest to me. Having said that, I also don’t want to over commit myself, and thus posting once every week or two seems to be a more realistic goal.
Now to share with you is this Sweet Peach Cake I made for my niece, Jasmin’s, graduation party. As always I made a few tweaks to the original recipe, in this case Giada DeLaurentis’ recipe which was heavily criticized for being overly sweet & extremely dry. Yes, I’m baffled too, I mean this woman can do no wrong in the culinary world.
After a few minor tweaks, this cake turned out perfect. Moist, light, airy, sweet, & slightly peachy. Saying this cake was loved by every single person, 26 to be exact, is an understatement. Enjoy!
NUTRITION: Jarred Peaches are a good source of Vitamins A and C. Aside from that, there is no other nutrition in this cake.
APPROXIMATE NUTRITION PER SERVING w/Frosting (18 squares):
- Calories: 274 cals
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.2 g
- Carbs: 36 g
- Protein: 3.3 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
SWEET PEACH CAKE w/FROSTING (full fat)
~ slightly modified original cake recipe by Giada DeLaurentis
~ yields 18 squares baked @ 325 degrees in a 9” x 13” baking tray
INGREDIENTS:
for the cake:
- All Purpose Flour – 3 cups
- Baking Soda – 1 tsp
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Baking Powder – ½ tsp
- Ground Cinnamon – ½ tsp
- Sugar – 1 ½ cups => *suggestion* reduce to 1 ¼ cups
- Organic Canola Oil – ¾ cup
- Organic Eggs – 3
- Buttermilk – ½ cup
- Pure Vanilla Extract – 1 tbsp
- Trader Joe’s Peach Halves 25 ounce Jar – drained & chopped into ½ inch pieces
for the frosting:
- Unsalted Butter – 4 tablespoon (room temperature)
- Heavy Whipping Cream – ¼ cup (room temperature)
- Pure Vanilla Extract – 2 tsp
- Water – 2 tbsp
- Powdered Sugar – 2 cups
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease baking tray.
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl… flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and ground cinnamon. Mix and set aside.
3. Combine the wet ingredients in a mixing bowl… sugar, oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. 
4. Using an electric mixer, combine the wet ingredients until well incorporated.
5. Chop the peach halves into ½ inch pieces.
6. Add the chopped peaches to the wet ingredients. Mix.
7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet in 3 batches. Using an electric mixer, add and mix the dry ingredients into the wet. DO NOT OVERMIX!
8. Result.
9. Pour the batter into a greased baking tray.
10. Into the oven for 45 to 55 minutes. Oven temperatures vary and also depends on the size of the baking tray.
11. Perfectly golden brown!
frosting: –> Make sure the butter and cream are at room temperature otherwise you risk curdled frosting.
12. Cream the butter first. 
13. Add the heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and water.
14. Mix with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. 
15. Gradually add in the powdered sugar. This recipe calls for 3 cups of powdered sugar, however it was way too sweet. I used 2 cups instead.
16. Once the cake cools, frost! Cut into 18 squares.
OVERALL: 4 / 5
Flavor: Tasty. The cake was a tad bit sweet, I recommend cutting out a ¼ cup of sugar in the cake recipe. Also, the peach flavor wasn't as intense despite doubling the peaches. Peach extract would greatly help intensify the peach flavor.
Moistness: Perfect. The addition of buttermilk adds a great deal of moisture to this cake.
Texture: Soft & Spongy.
Frosting: Light & Fluffy. I cut down the powdered sugar by 1 cup otherwise the frosting would have been too sweet.
Highly Recommended.
Dixya says
So glad to see you back!!
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Dixya!!!
Harsha Vadlamani says
So glad to have see you back Nisha. I have been checking regularly for a post every week. That peach cake looks delicious.
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Harsha... awww.. you're so sweet. These comments are breaking my heart. Thank you for checking.
Parita @ myinnershakti says
Welcome back, Nisha! I'm so glad to hear that you are doing ok. I've missed you!
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Parita.. I'm doing okay.. take things one day at a time. Missed reading your posts too.
Jasmin says
Awesome post. Thank you so much for the cake, it was delicious! Love you!
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Jazzy poo.. glad you liked the cake. I love you sooooooooooo much!
Mari says
She's back!!!! love it!!!! this was such a nice posting
honeywhatscooking says
Awww.. thanks Mari. Very sweet. Glad you enjoyed it.
Namrata says
Welcome back 🙂 it's good to have you back 🙂
honeywhatscooking says
Thank you!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
This peach cake looks lovely, but what' even lovelier is having you back blogging 🙂 Welcome back!
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Bianca... lol.. yes back to blogging, hope I don't disappear again.
Anu says
It's great to see you back here!! And what an amazing recipe! Looks decadent. Happy Blogging!
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Anu! This was an amazing recipe, will make it for you one day.
jhiane says
So glad to see you back in full effect . Missed your amazing recipes and meaningful stories. It's great to see you shine through your blog and hope you continue to shine. Looking forward to trying the yummy peach concoction jc
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Mama Chery! I hope I'll give you good reading material in the coming months. You are an amazing best friend. Love you!
Amelia says
Every once in a while I would come to check if you have posted and happened to do just this today. I missed your posts, you are one that I always want to read. I understand your long break because I am having one long one myself. I hope that you are okay and back on track Nisha. Thinking of you.
honeywhatscooking says
That is so touching Amelia. For some reason I can't get to your site though. I am doing better, and eventually be at 100%. Thanks!!!
Easyfoodsmith says
Today happened to be one of those many visits that I made at your space and I am so glad to see you back in action and also to be greeted by this delicious looking peach cake.
I am happy for you that overcome what ever was bothering you and emerged as a stronger person. Stay blessed 🙂
honeywhatscooking says
Awww.. thanks so much. Really sweet of you to say. I guess what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Missed you, yaar. Welcome back! Hope everything is well 🙂
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Kiran.. I missed reading your posts too. All is well, could be worse. 🙂
isquare says
Woooo! You're back. You've been missed. Warm welcome from Toronto!
honeywhatscooking says
Thank you! Really sweet of you. Didn't know I had a reader in Toronto. 🙂
eatgood4life.blogspot.com says
I am glad to have you back 🙂 I really missed your recipes my friend. Great looking peach cake...as always!
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Miryam. That's really sweet of you to say, I missed blogging.
Nina says
So good to see you back:). Yummy looking cake. Looking forward to more yummy recipes:)
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Nina. More yummy recipes coming your way. 🙂
Hash cakes says
Welcome back 😀
So glad your back. Looking forward to new recipes.
harshita
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Harshita. Very sweet of you.
Swee Kim says
Hi! Welcome back! I tried this recipe and it turned out great - thank you!
The tone of this post worried me though 🙁 - "friendship is the only lasting relationship". I hope everything is ok on the home front.
Good luck, looking forward to seeing more recipes!!
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Swee Kim. I'm so glad this recipe worked out for you. Things are better on the home front. Looking forward to posting more recipes. Thanks!!! 🙂
Kelleyn Rothaermel says
looks amazing!
honeywhatscooking says
Thank you!