Bowling cake and presents!

The morning of Ethan's birthday, Daddy stopped and got a doughnut for the big boy.

 I cringed; but being the good sport I am (ahem) I put some birthday candles on it and we sang 

yet another rendition of "Happy Birthday" to our now official four-year-old!

I would like to publicly state that this is not my idea of a well-balanced, healthy breakfast.

But my carb/sweet lover really enjoyed it.

I mean tremendously.

See?

Later that morning, Shane got to work on Ethan's cake.  Can anyone guess, based on the pre-birthday activity, what kind of cake E wanted for his big day?

If you guessed a bowling cake....you are correct!

Now, I am the cook/baker in our family, but Shane has a real knack for the technical stuff.  I had the idea of what I wanted for the cake--which was a near perfect match of Shane's idea--but I had no idea how in the world I would be able to pull something like that off.

So, big Daddy pulled out his tools and got to work, drawing a template of a bowling pin.

He compass-ed, ruler-ed, measured and technical-ized that thing to death.

{I would like to publicly state for the record that this is not my area.

I would have never been able to do this!}

Just call him 'Cake Boss', folks.

He found various circular pieces in my kitchen to find the right sizes, 

according to his dimensions, to cut out for the layers.

Then, he leveled....

...and dry fit the bottom of the pin.

I would also like to publicly state that this was all under my close direction and supervision, of course. 

*snicker*

Then, it was time to fit the pieces together for real!

  We frosted in between each layer, and Shane shaved the layers to form the pin.

Then, he began to form the top.

He threaded a straw down the middle of the cake (for stability) and then we started to frost!

After the bottom of the pin was done, it was onto the ball.

A chocolate ball, of course.

Time to add the top of the pin!

While Shane and I were adding the finishing touches to the cake,

Ethan was opening some presents from Grandma MJ, Mommy, and Daddy.

He had lots of help!

Everyone always says how much Ethan and Lola look alike...I really see it in this picture!

Grandma Jane got the older two boys a little something too--a couple of new superheroes!

There were so excited.

Ethan got a new set of Mario Kart sheets. Per his request, they were washed and on his bed the next day!

And, since it was my birthday, too--I got to open a few things!

Lola was a good helper :) and I opened a new pink and black Addidas running pant set--something I've been asking for for a while, now! Yay! (Come on, warmer weather, so I can wear it!)

It was a great night.

Ethan's bowling cake turned out to be a real success, thanks to Shane.

E told us he wanted to gobble up the whole thing!

 {I'm certain he couldn't have done it....but he would have tried really hard!}

Zucchini Bread

I've gotten several requests for this recipe over the last couple of days, so I thought I would share!

This recipe is super special to me, because it is the recipe my Grandmother always used. I follow it exactly--it's never as good as hers was, but it is still the best I've ever tasted. Each time I chomp into a piece, I always think of Grandma Franzi.

Now, for our family, I double the recipe, then double it again to make eight loaves. I bake it all at once, and I've never had any problems. For me, it is a big time and energy saver to do it this way. Two loaves at a time and I would be baking all day long! I have gotten to where I no longer even glance at the recipe, and I can have eight loaves prepared, in the pans, and baking in under 20 minutes.



I've baked a lot of bread!

After baking, I cool the loaves in the pan for a few minutes, then remove and cool the rest of the way on baking racks. Once completely cool, I wrap the bread in one layer of heavy-duty foil, then one layer of Press-n-Seal, then package two loaves into a good gallon-sized freezer baggie. They keep all winter, and taste almost as good as they do when they are fresh out of the oven.

{don't mind the date on the baggie--I reuse them!}

3 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
dash nutmeg
1 Tbsp. good vanilla
3 eggs (large)
1 C. oil (I use canola)
2 C. sugar
2 C. grated, unpeeled zucchini
1 C. chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325. (Okay--here is one deviation of mine from Grandma: I bake mine at 350. I don't know if it is my oven, or the fact that I am baking so many loaves at once, but mine were never done in the middle at 325, but were getting hard on the edges. I do 350 for one hour, five minutes.)

Grease two loaf pans.

This is a very important step. If you don't follow it, you will get done baking, and then this will happen:




Then you will cry over your failed loaf.

Then you will rethink the situation, dry your tears, and rejoice instead--because now you get to eat this loaf instead of having to freeze it. {Or maybe that's just me choosing to find the brighter side?}

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a seperate bowl or Kitchen Aid if you have it, beat eggs; add oil; then sugar and vanilla. Add zucchini and nuts. Add dry ingredients slowly. Mix well. Divide evenly between your two loaf pans. Bake for about one hour and 10 minutes, being careful not to over bake. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.

Let me know if you try it and like it! I would also love to hear your bread recipe, if it differs from mine.

Lastly--I have zucchini coming out of my ears....besides breading and pan frying, what else do you do with it?

Have a great Friday everyone!

Wordless Wednesday

{and so it begins....}