birthday cakes

I have to be honest; I haven't been doing a lot of baking lately. I don't know if it's the summer heat or if I've just needed a break. Life has been so busy that I seem to have set it aside, with the exception of a few orders here and there. But the good news is that I had a birthday, and it involved two cakes, two key lime pies, and one blackberry cobbler. I think I'm still recovering.

Growing up, my mom was one of those mothers that set the standard so high for our birthdays that now, our expectations can't possibly be met, year after year. For my siblings and I, our birthdays were all-out, queen-for-a-day, no-holds-barred celebrations. The day normally started with my dad putting on the Beatles birthday song (you know the one) and playing it so loud that it woke us up, after which we proceeded to dance around the house in honor of whoever's birthday it was that day.

But the best part, for me anyway, was getting to choose my birthday dessert. I normally went for one of my two favorites: key lime pie or peanut butter pie. The latter might sound really gross, but I assure you it is not. Try one before you judge.

This year, my mom didn't disappoint, as usual. She made a pineapple coconut cake with cream cheese frosting, and then topped with shaved coconut-white chocolate. Amazing. I think I was caught at around midnight on my birthday, fork in hand, eating my cake off the cake stand with the refrigerator door open. But I'm not ashamed.

That same day, some of my dearest friends got together at Grad School to celebrate with me. To my wonderful surprise, my friend Nat had made two key lime pies for everyone to share! I was so touched - not only because I love key lime pie, but Nat doesn't bake very often (she claims to hate cooking but she's actually pretty good at it) so I felt very special. It was delicious. I wish I had taken a picture of it.

But it's not over yet! THEN, my mom and I flew to Chicago to be with my sister for our birthdays - my mom's birthday was a week before mine - and my sister had arranged for a beautiful, meticulously decorated cake to be made for us by the bakery where she works, Alliance. Hazelnut cake with raspberry and chocolate mousse layers. I still can't get over that cake.

And to top it all off, there was a blackberry cobbler waiting for me at work upon my return, made by the daughter of one of my co-workers. it was so good, I can't even try to describe it. Let's just way it was still warm from the oven and leave it at that.

What's going to happen some day when no one gives a crap about my birthday? I'm sure I'll be devastated or something. Who wouldn't, after all this love and attention?

Oh, and I also got this for my birthday:

The man and the bike - the best a girl could ask for.