When I was 11 years old, I won two blue ribbons at the State Fair in Puyallup, Washington, which I’d entered for 4-H projects. One blue ribbon was for perfect corn meal muffins and the other for an orange and coconut bread. Those two entries gave me the title of Prize-Winning Baker and today, after … More Orange and Toasted Coconut Bread
Happy Independence Day, today, July 4th, the night when the folks where I live wish that the fireworks were at Gasworks Park with the helicopter flying the flag over a searchlight instead of in the street in the late, late night and early morning. The wish is not granted but that doesn’t stop the abundance … More Happy 4th & Happy 92nd Birthday to My Mum
It’s the birthday of my Dutch friend on the 24th and he and his family had just returned from a trip abroad last night, so I wasn’t sure if they’d be up for cake when my day started. Turns out they were, so I chopped a lot of apples and used my Dutch grandmother’s recipe … More Dutch Apple Cake with Broiled Coconut Frosting & Chocolate Berry Mini Cake
Today, November 20th, is Sylvia’s 91st birthday and that is her birthday cake. It’s 2019. In 2018: https://mschefinseattle.com/2018/11/17/2-cakes-for-sylvias-pre-birthday-party/ In 2017: https://mschefinseattle.com/2017/11/21/german-chocolate-cake-for-sylvias-birthday-she-turns-oopsie-into-comic-gold/ “Sylvia, what kind of cake would you like for your birthday?” I used the classic and widely available Baker’s German Sweet Chocolate recipe for the cake and frosting, her favorite, year after year. I … More Sylvia is 91 today, a creature of habit.
The 22nd of December is the birthday of a friend who didn’t get a cake on her birthday last year (or even a dedicated post-birthday cake) not due to oversight but because my daughter took me to Las Vegas to satisfy my curiosity about the city at the same time as removing me from the … More Chocolate Sourdough Cherry Cake with Betty Christensen’s Fudge Frosting, and a joyous family surprise
First thing this morning, while the coffee was brewing, I was cutting the parchment for these cookies. They’re also known as Hawaiian Dream Bars* in my family, another of my mother’s favorites. I didn’t put butterscotch chips in these, so the coconut is the star. If you’re wondering why I’ve provided them a gender-defining name, … More “Boy Version” Coconut Dream Bars, Recipe
My friend Sylvia’s 90th birthday is just a few days away, but since it is during the same week as Thanksgiving and some in the neighborhood will be away, the hostess made a the decision to have the block party for her tonight. I baked her favorite cake, the German chocolate model using better than … More 2 Cakes for Sylvia’s Pre-birthday Party
Just before I moved, Mark handed me a bag with organic grated coconut from the Ballard Market and yesterday I found out that he was still organizing and removing his collections from the yard of the house now owned by a developer. So, it was up early this morning to bake his favorite cookie before … More Toasted Coconut & Butterscotch Bars, aka Hawaiian Dream Bars without Pineapple
July 6th is my mother’s 88th birthday. Goodies that she loves were sent Priority Mail on the 5th for arrival on her day. They included brownies with dates, huge pieces of walnuts and fudge frosting plus a butter cookie, a dozen mini peanut-butter cookies and an old family favorite called Hawaiian Dream Bars. The latter … More Goodie Box for Mother’s Birthday
Leftover Peeps? Shaved coconut in the fridge ready for toasting and this cake? I think it could be a new tradition since 3-layer coconut cake with cream cheese icing is one of those cakes which doesn’t get as much play as others. We’ll see how it works out next year. It’s worth making just for … More Peeps-a-boo Toasted Coconut Cake
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