when life gives you lemons...

Lemons never looked so good. Photo courtesy of Tumblr.

...take them and turn them into a delicious summer cake.

Lemon Pound Cake with Mint Berries and Cream

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

•                1/4  cup  sugar

•                1/4  cup  loosely packed mint leaves

•                3/4  cup  butter, softened

•                3  cups  powdered sugar, divided

•                3  large eggs

•                1 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour

•                2 1/2  cups  whipping cream, divided

•                2  teaspoons  grated lemon rind

•                2  tablespoons  fresh lemon juice

•                1  (12-ounce) jar lemon curd

•                1  quart fresh strawberries, sliced

•                Garnish: fresh mint sprigs

Preparation

Process sugar and mint leaves in a food processor until blended.

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy; gradually add 1 1/2 tablespoons mint mixture and 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, beating 5 to 7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears. Add flour alternately with 1/2 cup whipping cream, beginning and ending with flour. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in lemon rind and lemon juice. Pour batter into an 8 1/2- x 4 1/2-inch greased and floured loafpan.

Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan, and cool on wire rack.

Beat remaining 2 cups whipping cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1 tablespoon mint mixture at medium speed with electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold in lemon curd.

Stir together remaining mint mixture, remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and strawberries.

Serve pound cake with lemon cream and strawberries. Garnish, if desired.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Southern Living.

And for more delicious, lemony recipes, check out the August issue of Southern Living.