Happy Birthday Jacob

FIVE

TEN

FIFTEEN

Happy Birthday, Jacob.

Michael's Birthday

We celebrated Michael's milestone birthday with a quiet dinner party at home. With all the big celebrations coming up we decided to keep it low key. You only turn 50 once so the mother of all ice cream cakes was needed to celebrate.

Trying to cut this monster frozen cake.

Naked cake.

Banana Split Ice Cream Cake from Bon Appetit. Recipe and video available from the website. Stay tuned for more milestone birthdays.

August Round Up

Welcome to another addition of the August Birthday Round Up.  We have celebrated a few milestones this year.

We started off the month, the first to be exact, with Hank's birthday.  He turned a very proud 85.

In case you were wondering I made another Dorie Greenspan cake, Perfect Party Cake,  It was a vanilla cake, raspberry filling, buttercream frosting and coconut on top.  Hank requested pineapple upside down cake for next year, I can do that.

Jacob made Zaide that award to see there.  I think everyone can expect a 3D modeling gift this year.

We celebrated Michael (49th) and Jacob's (12th) birthdays together this year, as far as cake baking is concerned.  When your wife is involved in a baking club there is always something sweet in the house.  We had just polished off a Cherry Crumb Tart and another cake was just not needed. Michael decided he could suffer the 5 days until the next cake.

Jacob asked for a hamburger cake this year.  I searched the web hoping I could find one I could make, cake decorating is not my forte. Thanks to the Food Network I found a doable cake with a tutorial.  It came out better than expected.

Scott said he wanted one of these beauties for his birthday next year.  I said this cake was not worthy of a 50th birthday party but then again I am speaking to The BBQ King.

I tried to get the September birthday girl to pick out a cake for her birthday. She decided on a box cake mix with canned frosting.  Sigh, you can't win the all...

Birthday Celebrations

Work celebrated my birthday this year.  I got a very delicious mocha cake and a lunch of homemade enchiladas with mole sauce.

They surprised me pretty good and it was a nice gesture.

For my actual birthday I made Berry Surprise Cake.  It is a genoise cake hollowed out in the middle and filled with a cream cheese filling and raspberries.  It is topped with a whipped cream frosting.  I definitely need to learn more about genoise cakes and baking them properly.  Luckily frosting covers up a multitude of sins so it looked pretty good.  I was not happy with the individual components but the cake did come together nicely.  I think I liked it better the second day and maybe it will get made again.

August Round-Up

August is by far the busiest month of the year for us and with the remodel and a new puppy it has been doubly busy this year.

This cute couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year.

We all went out to dinner to celebrate the anniversary and Hank's birthday.

I made a Red Wine Velvet Cake from my Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.  It was decadent and delicious.

Michael's birthday is the next celebration of the month.  We all thought we took a picture this year but no one can find the picture.  This is from last year.  Funny thing is that Michael asked for a cake again this year with coconut.  If I find the picture I will post it later.

Jacob is the last celebration of the month.  He enjoyed his 11th birthday party and a rousing game of Apples to Apples.

You can see what I want to do now and Hope too.  Happy August and here is to school starting soon!

Diane Turns 46

In our house we use one candle no matter how old you are.

After a lovely brunch at Joe's Restaurant, we did cake and presents at the house.  Thea spoiled me as usual, thank you for everything.  One of my 87 year old patients told me, "you look good for 46".  I love my job:)

Happy Birthday Berta

In celebration of Berta's birthday I tried this new S'more layer cake from my new cookbook The Smitten Kitchen.  A decadent cake with graham crackers, chocolate filling and marshmallow frosting. Michael did a good job of toasting without burning my cake.  The cookbook author Deb Perelman runs a fabulous food website  http://smittenkitchen.com/

Happy Birthday Thea

We celebrated Thea's birthday at 3 Squares Cafe in Venice.

We enjoyed the Oktoberfest menu with items ending in wurst.

Thea asked for and enjoyed her spice cake.  Looks like Jacob was having a good time too.

Happy Belated Birthday, Thea.

Despicable Me Birthday Party

The cakes turned out perfect.  It took a group effort to complete.

Look at all those cutie pies.

Birthday boy was happy with his drawing class.

These two cutie pies have been friends since kindergarten.

Dave Boatman kept every one's attention.

Minion

It was nice to share my lap again.

Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Only the truly faithful stayed to draw Gru.

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Michael's Birthday

Michael's birthday celebration included Korean BBQ, a movie and coconut cake.  The cake was a new recipe and a great success.  http://thaifood.about.com/od/thaidesserts/r/coconutcakefluffycoconuticing.htm

My Purple Birthday

Jacob made me purple origami for my birthday.

Thea also gave me a purple birthday but hers included more bling.