Try a few twists to celebrating birthdays

“Come to my party next Saturday at seven.
The fun will start early so don’t dare to be late.
Although it’s my Birthday the surprise is for you.
To learn what I’ve planned come see what we do.”

Kristen’s Birthday invitation was a bit unusual but then so was her Birthday party idea. She wanted to do something different for her first double-digit Birthday (10). She had plans to invite her friends who had already been to dozens of parties and were on the verge of out growing the usual Birthday games.

A trip to McDonald’s or the bowling alley crossed her mind but that really wasn’t it—there had to be something new; something no one else had done before. There was – and she had it! A great idea. Kristen would have the first, “Decorate A Cake On My Birthday Party.” All the girls had seen and eaten decorated Birthday cakes but how many had decorated Birthday cakes of their own? The rest was easy!

With the help of her Mom, Kristen made a list of everything she’d need: A cake for each girl. Frosting. Several tubes of frosting gel. Candies (such as gummy bears, peppermints, pretzels, licorice, sweet and sour tarts, chocolate, animal cookies, coconut colored with food coloring, anything and everything! They would set up each treat in bowls set out on a table beforehand and it would be up to each girl to see what she would create.

And create they did!
Amidst munching, giggling and chattering. Kristen made her cake into the shape of a bunny head with licorice for whiskers. Jenny frosted her one-layer cake and placed animal cookies in pretzel cages for a Circus cake.
Everyone had a wonderful time.

RECIPES
The Birthday cakes that Kristen baked with her Mom early in the day were as much fun as decorating.

Here ‘tis the recipes for homemade Birthday cakes and frostings.

Coca-Cola Cake
In a large bowl, combine: 2 Cups flour, 2 cups sugar,
1 teaspoon baking soda.
In a large saucepan, combine: 2 sticks (1 cup) butter.
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa, 1 cup Coca-Cola.
Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and pour over flour mixture.
Add: ½ cup buttermilk, two beaten eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla, ½ cup mini marshmallows
Mix by hand until mixture is the consistency of thin batter. Pour into greased and floured rectangular cake pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-55 minutes.

TOO Easy-Z Lemon Cake
Mix according to package direction one box of lemon cake mix. Add to the batter, one package of Jell-O instant lemon pudding (4-serving size)
Bake cake as directed on package. Remove from oven and let cool for five minutes.
Now for the FUN! Using a chop stick or skewer, poke holes in the cake. Now we are going to make an icing that will be poured into the holes.
This adds a great flavor plus a fun look when sliced.
ICING: Whisk together 2 cups confectioner’s sugar and 1 cup lemon juice.

Rich Chocolate Frosting
In large bowl with mixer at low speed, beat 5 cups confectioners sugar, 1 1/2/ cups unsweetened cocoa, one cup softened butter (2 sticks) ¾ cup milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and ½ teaspoon salt until blended. Increase speed to high. Beat until frosting is light and fluffy and an easy spreading consistency.

Fluffy White Frosting
½ cup light corn syrup
1 egg white
¼ teaspoon cream of tarter
1 teaspoon vanilla
In a small saucepan, bring the syrup to a boil over medium heat. In a small mixing bowl, beat egg white and cream of tarter until soft peaks form. Beat in vanilla
Continue beating for about three minutes or until stiff and shiny.
Makes about 2 cups.