Birthday Baking

I am scheming and planning Bear's birthday cake.  I am hoping to get back to making the kid's birthday cakes and moving to type of cake over only decor/theme.  Bear decided right away she wanted a chocolate cake. Easy enough.  She had been asking for a princess cake, briefly a unicorn cake and has settled on mermaid.  I have found I actually enjoy a little baking and am hoping to discover I enjoy decorating.  I need a creative outlet.

I am planning one layer to look like a sandy beach.  Sand made of toasted coconut, sugar, and crushed graham crackers mixed together.  I bought small silicone molds to make some seashells and a mermaid tail.  I am also planning on making and clam shell cookies (Nilla wafers, frosting, sixlet pearl). Thank you Pinterest.

The other layer will be water.  I decided to attempt frosting ruffles in several shades of blue. Mainly because I was googling the frosting tips I own and #104 makes ruffles and reminds me of waves.  If I cant pull it off, then that layer will be a frosting smear layer and I can throw on some small candy pearls to look like bubbles and top it off with a chocolate mermaid tail.  Attempting Swiss Meringue Butter cream once my eggs whites and butter get to room temperature. Though that may be tomorrow's project. I have been doing one step at a time during nap time.

In the freezer I have a homemade chocolate cake with more steps than I have ever taken in making a cake.  In the oven is a from the box strawberry cake, just baking away and a boxed Devils Food Cake on the counter waiting to go in.  I don't trust how my attempt at layering will go, so I figured it is a good idea to have backup/extras.

Sand layer on top or wave layer?

Small Blessing #258

I am fortunate.  My children aren't nearly as picky eaters as I was. (Though the Big D is going through a not eating the color green unless its a salad stage.) I would have ate cheerios 3 meals a day. I hated pancakes and french toast...and also tacos.

My kids like pancakes.  I wouldn't say they are my favorite,  but I dont hate them. I actually like them with blueberries or chocolate chips. The kids love them plain or with any combination of things I have thrown in. Made from scratch or a mix, with whole wheat flour and honey or white flour and sugar. To them it's all good.

My kids also like french toast. Again plain or with toppings and additions. For the record I also like french toast these days.. .though probably  everyday.

This morning was rough. I stayed up too late reading a book. Then I was up too early with the baby. So I layed like a lump on a log curled up on the couch while my children swore to be dying of starvation and thirst. Finally I stirred and I heard "couldnt we at least have toast? ANYTHING we are soooooo hungry". I looked at the time and was embarrassed at how late it was. So I made french toast.

So quick and easy, yet still has the look of a thoughtful meal. And it struck me. I was such a pain as a child because I didn't like any breakfast meal that was quick and easy. (Aside from cold cereal). I'm sure Mom had the same kind of days I do. Same list of chores and varying amounts of sleep...and she DIDN'T drink coffee! Seriously Mom, how did you childrear without caffeine?

Substitutions

I have a terrible habit of thinking I have everything I need to make a recipe. Reality tends to not match my line of thinking.  Most things I make are "inspires by the intended recipe"

The Hubby figured this out when he was still the Boyfriend and had automatically started asking "Are you sure you have everything you need? Did you look at the recipe? " by the time he was the Fiance. These days he has just come to accept if he is home before I have started cooking he might get an errand request.

More typically I am googling substitutes. Here is my question:

How many substitutes can you make before it's not the same recipe anymore?

Bonus Question: How many can you plan on making before drawing the line and saying "New Plan"?

Last night we had "inspired by Chicken Cordon Blue casserole" with no ham.

Foodie Fun

I am really loving getting Bountiful Baskets every other week.  Lots of fresh fruit and veggies....and many times I don't know what the heck the produce is. (Dear Hubby, is it a small silver lining knowing that I am force feeding your children fruits and veggies instead of you?)

Regular Basket June 9th, 2012 

-pineapple
-some type of mexican mangos
-apples
-apricots
-plums
-honeydew melon
-lettuce
-celery
-acron squash
-kale (I already baked them into Kale chips...yum!)
-tomatoes
-cucumber
-bananas


Asian Veggie Add On Pack 

-bok choy
-celery
-green onions
-large white onion
-garlic clove
-chinese cabbage
-snow peas
-???? ginger root
-???? basil
-???? water chestnuts

***Update: Thanks to Brenda, the question marked food has been identified!****

My Aunt tells me she gives the produce a vinegar bath and her goods lasts forever...well, maybe not forever, but it extends the life of the fruit and veggies dramatically.

Produce Vinegar Bath
-1 part white vinegar
-3 parts water
-rinse produce

How easy peasy is that?  I'm totally trying it, and I will let you know how it works for me.

Alright, help me out with recipes to try!  My goal with every basket is to try new things and let nothing go to waste.  Also look closely at the Asian veggies bundle, tell me what the heck some of that stuff is! (bonus points for how to cook it)