There’s a birthday party next month for one of my favorite children and collaborator on cake. She will be nine (9!) and we’re doing some things the same way and some things in a different way. Her sister’s recent birthday* taught us a bit about cake architecture and this cake will teach a bit about … More In the kitchen with juliyya: (Rocket) practice makes perfect.
I had a day of activities with two of my favorite children last Saturday and I took the opportunity to teach them how to make peanut butter frosting and then use it in two ways instead of one. I’d made a batch of Crazy Cake cupcakes, both regular-sized and minis, and asked the girls’ mother … More In the kitchen with juliyya: Peanut Butter Frosting for Graham Cracker Sandwiches and Cupcakes
My daughter was born on August 6th some number of years ago in London during the hottest day it had been there in a long time (such that the hospital was operating on a generator due to air conditioners causing power failure.) Today (WordPress won’t admit it’s still the 6th of August) she celebrated it … More Birthday at The Block Watch Party
Pot lucks because that’s how the family does gatherings for every occasion. Everybody brings something, usually made by hand. Lots of salads and barbecue and desserts. My mother’s birthday in on July 6th, a Saturday this year and also on a day which is part of a lengthy holiday weekend so some folks may miss … More Mother’s 90th Birthday Party Potluck
There was a 6 ounce container of vanilla yogurt in the fridge staring at me and I decided that its best use would be an experiment. It turned out beautifully and looks just like the sour cream version* made last week and was gone in a flash. The recipe included in that post is changed … More Using Yogurt to Replace Sour Cream in the Coffee Cake
Sylvia, the 90 year-old lady who kindly gives me a ride to the grocery store every week and who has a flower garden and cat both of which I very much admire, told me that she’s very fond of my coffee cakes, by which she means my coffee cakes, quick breads, muffins and hyped-up versions … More Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Mini Chocolate Chips, My Recipe
Readers know that I don’t waste leftover frosting! There was about a cupful of the purple-gray (strong) mint cream frosting not needed for the octopus birthday cake* after the octopus’s tentacles were piped onto the cake, and I decided that the leftover would be used atop a batch of brownies. My thought was that brownies … More Brownies with Slightly Minty Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting (a little bit gray)
Perhaps we let the photos show how a few layers of chocolate cake and a dozen mini-cupcakes with peppermint frosting became the birthday cake for a sleepover party with 12 girls, all around the age of 11 years. I did the baking and shaping, frosted between the layers and applied a bit of crumb coat … More In the kitchen with juliyya: Octopus Birthday Cake
Experiment number I-don’t-know, but with a jar still more than half full of my Cranberry Lolly needing use and a container of frozen cinnamon crumble topping and a chilly morning, it’s off to the kitchen to warm up and scent the apartment and maybe have a lovely small cake to share. I began with the … More Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake
I received an envelope with a card and a two-page story from the 8 year-old girl in whose honor the character of Pinky arose along with Pinky’s Grasshopper Cupcake. (If I didn’t mention it already, Pinky is attracted to frostings.) The young lady and her sister have created critters to join Lady Lolita VandenBug and … More When one gets a Mesij from Caryor Pishon, one makes Leftover Cake
Ms Chef in Seattle 