Emillie's 15th Birthday

We celebrated Emillie's 15th birthday on Saturday.

It was a nice day.

We had a big, yummy pancake breakfast.  (Emillie helped me cook.)

Did some school shopping at Target.  (Riley had a huge tantrum.  No surprise there.)

Had Rita's water ice for a snack afterwards. (Emillie's choice for her birthday "treat.")

A movie during Riley's nap. (Dear John is what Emillie picked, she had never seen it but read the book.  Emillie and I cried like little babies while Daddy and Hannah laughed at us, real nice.)

Emillie opened some cards from family and a couple gifts from us.  (Her big gift was a camera!)

And ribs for dinner.  (Emillie's dinner choice!)  Riley and I had veggie burgers - ribs, double blech!!

I also surprised Emillie with cupcakes for dessert.  Her pick for a treat was Rita's...but I love baking so I had to do something fun for dessert.  It kills me not to bake for the girls' birthdays!

Emillie also had the "special" plate for dinner.  I forgot to take pics.  It's a plate that our family used growing up and I do it now with our family.  It's a big red plate that says "You're special today" around the rim. 

At the end of the day, Emillie said she had a fun day - and said she felt really special.  :)

(We mostly stayed indoors and ate too much sugar - but all in all, I would say it was a good day too!)

We love you, Emillie...Happy Birthday!!

gifts!

Emillie - birthday girl!

Hannah (only pic I had of her, sorry it's a little blurry)

Riley



new camera!!



mmm, cupcake.



cuppy cake.

Oreo cupcakes.  Ahhh-mazing.  If you like Oreos, that is. 

There is a whole Oreo at the bottom of each cupcake, crumbled Oreos in the cake and crushed Oreos in the frosting.  Oh boy.

When I saw this recipe I instantly thought of Emillie (that's why I made them!)  She's an Oreo freak.  ;)  I made mini cupcakes for Riley, which were so cute.  (Sorry, no pic.)  I also sent the girls home with cupcakes - so it worked out perfectly.

Here's the link to the recipe, if interested.  (FYI - I used half the butter it calls for, and cut the powdered sugar way down too - the frosting was perfect.)

Here's to birthdays and cupcakes!

Mocha Cake

 

 

Here it is...the delicious Mocha Cake recipe!

 

This recipe is from my mom.  (Not sure where she got it!)

 

It's a great cake to whip up if you know you're having company and you want to make something homemade, but you also don't want to be in the kitchen all day!  It's so easy.

 

Also, it makes a modest 8 inch square cake - not too huge or overwhelming.

 

Give it a try!

 

 

Mocha Cake
(Printable Recipe)

 

Ingredients:

 

Cake
1 1/4 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
*1 teaspoon instant coffee
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup water

 

Icing
3 tablespoons butter
*1/2 teaspoon instant coffee
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon milk

 

* I bought a small box of Nescafe Taster's Choice instant coffee - there are individually wrapped portions inside the box.

 

Directions:

 

Cake

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease (with cooking spray) an 8 or 9 inch square (glass) pan.
• In a medium bowl add dry ingredients and combine well with a whisk.
• Add water, oil and vanilla; mix until well combined.
• Add vinegar last and stir thoroughly.
• Pour into greased pan.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Let cool in pan, on a wire rack until completely cooled.

 

Icing

• Combine powdered sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl.
• In a microwaveable bowl melt butter, instant coffee and vanilla.  Stir together.
• Add to the powdered sugar mixture.
• Add milk and beat with mixer on low speed until well mixed.

(You may have to add more milk to get the consistency to your liking.)

 

Spread the icing on cooled cake. 

 

Eat and enjoy!

 

 

German Chocolate Cupcakes

Riley & I visited my parents yesterday.

My mom's birthday was this past weekend and we wanted to celebrate with her!
(Happy Birthday, Mom!)

I made some German Chocolate Cupcakes to share.

When making most cakes and cupcakes, I like to use the box mix.  It's easy and tastes great to me!  I bought the German Chocolate Cake mix and made the cupcakes according to the package directions.

As usual, I made the icing homemade.  My mom gave me this recipe awhile back from one of my grandma's cookbooks.  It's SO good!

German Chocolate Cake Icing
(Printable Recipe)

 

Ingredients:

7 ounces Evaporated milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 beaten egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Approx. 3 ounces coconut (sweetened)

Directions:

• Stir all ingredients together over medium heat; stir constantly.
• Cook for 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and beat occasionally while cooling.
• When cold, add pecans and coconut.
• Spread over completely cooled cake or cupcakes.

I told my mom that I was actually very selfish when making these, because I really wanted to eat one!  My mom likes them, but so do I...German Chocolate Cake happens to be my all-time favorite.

What's your favorite kind of cake?!