A Cake and a Call

I'm not organized enough this year to have gotten a birthday party together for Gibson. Since his birthday falls during the week, we decided to have a few family members who live in the area over on Sunday night for some cake and ice cream.

Gibson was in heaven with the attention all about him. Presents were brought {even though I asked for them not to be} the cake was eaten and it was over in about 32 minutes! My kind of party!



In asking Gibson what kind of cake he wanted at first it was a superhero cake, then it went to a superhero with Buzz cake and then it went to a "I want those little figurines like Brayden had on his cake." Lucky for me, my mom owns those figurines since the Disney Store was all sold out!


I found a darling idea for a cake online with the idea to recreate Andy's bedroom. So, I gave my feeble attempt at it. Honestly, the cake was pretty jumbled but it didn't matter, as soon as Gibson saw the cake, he reorganized the figurines in the way he thought they should look in the "room." {sigh}


However, the cake ended up being delicious! It was a recipe I found online and it was divine! It was a brownie/cake combo and the cake was all but gone after the party! I'll post the recipe because it's definitely a keeper.


The birthday party was the second family affair of the day. About an hour earlier we met at my parents house for a small BBQ for my brother's birthdays and for my little sister to open her MISSION CALL!!


Yep, my little sister Erin decided she's going to serve a mission for our church for the next 18 months! She had all but figured out she was going state side {apparently the size of the envelope tells you this} and she was right!


She's been called to serve in the Kentucky, Louisville Mission, Spanish speaking! She leaves December 3rd.


All day long as I anticipated her opening her call, I couldn't help but get some tears in my eyes. She's going to be a great missionary. She's loud, she's not afraid to talk to people, she loves people and well, she loves the gospel. With all of that and how excited I am for her, I couldn't help but think how much I'm going to miss her!


I'll try not to think about that now. I have until December 3rd with her and since she's semi unemployed, I've already hired her as an unpaid assistant!


So Happy Birthday Gibson and congrats Erin!

Devil's Food Chocolate Cake

1 1/4 c. boiling water
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped
1/4 cup cocoa powder

add chopped chocolate and cocoa to boiling water, stir and let cool to room temp.

3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup cake flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

Sift together in bowl.

2 sticks unsalted butter- softened
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 large eggs {room temperature}
1/2 c. sour cream or plain yogurt {room temperature}

Mix together in mixing bowl until creamy.

Add half of chocolate mixture, then flour mixture, remaining chocolate mixture and remaining flour mixture.

Beat until creamy.

Pour into desired pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating pan half way through.

Quick Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

3 cups confectioners sugar
1 cup butter softened
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 T whipping cream

Mix butter and sugar adding a little cream until you get desired consistency. Add vanilla.

{I made chocolate buttercream for Gibson's cake so I omitted the vanilla and added cocoa powder until I got desired chocolate taste}

This cake would also be delicious with a chocolate ganache or even whipped cream on top. Fudgy and delicious cake!