Mmm…Cake!

Buttermilk Chocolate Cake

My husband loves cake, pies, doughnuts pretty much anything sweet! Then again, I guess you could say that I also have a bit of a sweet tooth myself!  There is no hope for Ava! So, before my mom left to return to Michigan we had to do a repeat Ava’s delicious birthday cakes. One was an amazing buttermilk chocolate cake, found by my friend at Paperseed, the other a hummingbird cake, supplied by one of my closest friends.  Both were extremely tasty and beautiful.  For a copy of the Buttermilk Chocolate Cake recipe click here.

 

Paula Deen’s Hummingbird Cake

3 C. self-rising flour
2 C. sugar
3/4 C. Veg. oil
1/2 C. finely chopped pecans
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1 8oz. can crushed pineapple, with juice
1 t. vanilla extract
1 t. cinnamon
4 lg. eggs beaten

Frosting

1 one pd. box confectioners’ sugar
1 8oz. cream cheese, room temp.
6 T. unsalted butter, softened
1 t. vanilla extract
1 T. milk, or more if needed
1/2 C. finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 325. Spray and flour 3 8-by-2 round cake pans, tapping out
excess flour; set aside. Prepare the cake; in a large bowl, stir to combine
flour, sugar, oil, pecans, bananas, pineapple, vanilla, cinnamon, and eggs.
Divide batter evenly between prepared pans, smoothing with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until the tops spring back when gently pressed, 26 to 28 min.
Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 10 min. Invert cakes onto wire rack.
Re-invert cakes and let them cool completely, top side up.
Prepare frosting ingredients to proper spreading consistency.
Trim top of cakes to make level. Place the first layer on the cake plate.
Spread the top of the layer with 1/4 of the frosting. Place the second layer on top and repeat. Place the remaining layer on the the second layer bottom side up. Spread entire cake with remaining frosting. Sprinkle with pecans.
Refrigerate until you serve. Serves 12.
Enjoy!!!

Read Full Post »

Presents, Cake and Tears, Oh my!

March 28, 2009 Ava turned one!!!!

I woke that morning exhausted from the cooking, wrapping and decorating preparations of the previous night. Thanks Mom! We were ready however, the photo garland of Ava’s first year was hung, presents colorfully wrapped, and the Amazing Buttermilk Chocolate Cake proudly displayed. Click here to find the delicious recipe.

 

 

 

Ava woke at 7:00am the earlier side of her morning schedule and clearly sensed the day would be different. I know she sensed this because instead of waking up smiling and laughing as she does EVERY morning she woke with inconsolable tears. Didn’t she know that she was the birthday girl? Ava’s smiles returned when the balloons started to fill the room, her eyes wide with wonder and excitement. Perhaps too much excitement, now she was sure that the day had impending importance. So much so, that a morning nap did not happen…

Our family and friends started to arrive and thanks to one of my closest friends so did an Ava size banana cake on the most perfect pink polka-dot plate! Mariah also walked in with the most beautiful, and as we found out later, tasty Hummingbird cake. (I will have to post the recipe later). Despite all the balloons and friends the tears continued off and on throughout the day. During each happy moment we tried to fit in a birthday event. Happy…QUICK present time! Happy…QUICK cake time! No matter how happy Ava was when those events began, the tears returned faster and in greater quanity once started. It was all just too much for my little munchkin!

So, a story to be sure…. I may not have the cake covered baby pictures I wanted but I have memories of our closest friends and family celebrating the wonder of Ava’s first year… and what a year it was! Happy Birthday my darling little girl.  I am sure you will LOVE cake someday!

Read Full Post »