Lulu's Love List

• 3 3/4 c all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 t baking powder
• 3/4 t salt
• 1 1/2 c (3 stick) unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 2 1/2 c sugar
• 7 large whole eggs, lighten beaten
• 1 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 1 c milk
• 1/2 t each: grated lemon, orange, lime peels
• 1/3 c poppy seeds + more for sprinkling

Heat oven to 350 degres.  Use 8 x 2" cake pans, buttered and floured.  Sift together flour, baking powder, & salt, set aside.  Cream butter, add sugar and blend.  Stir in eggs, slowly and beat in vanilla.  Add flour mixture alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour.  Stir in poppy seeds & citrus peels.  Divide batter evenly between pans (a little tricky).  Bake 30 minutes (if you bake the ENTIRE recipe).  If you cut the batter in half, bake approximately 15 minutes.  Rotate pans during cooking for even baking.  After cooking, transfer to wire racks to cool.  Remove from pans about 10-15 minutes later.

• 12 oz of cream cheese, room temperature
• 6 T of unsalted butter, rom temperature
• 3 c of confectioner sugar