My baby's Birthday

Saturday was my oldest daughters birthday. Let me rephrase....Saturday was my oldest daughters 20Th birthday!!!!!

Holy Cow, where did the time go?

It seems like yesterday when I held her tiny 8 lb. body close to mine and sang her lullaby's.....While I still sing with her, it is difficult to hold her on my lap (even though she tries), and I find that she isn't around as much as I like. I know she is getting older and starting to live her own life, but I still miss her when she is gone.



I do not normally show my family, but who can resist this picture???

My baby.....

Emma has eaten the same meal for her birthday for as long as I can remember...It is tradition in our family that on your birthday you get whatever you want, and I do me what ever.....

You want 14 different kinds of donuts... DONE, you want 2 dozen White Castles....DONE.....

Kaiti used to eat salmon patties, with roasted brussel sprouts and potatoes ( umm...no, I did not like it at all. )

So in true Brase form, my daughter wanted her regular cake.

A neopolitan cake to be exact. That's right... Chocolate fudge, strawberry and vanilla cake iced with Strawberry cream cheese frosting and topped with chocolate dipped strawberries!!!!!

For her dinner she choose, Fried Chicken, Mashed potatoes, creamed corn and green beans.
Plus rolls and caesar salad....

Here is my plate.
I used Morning Star Chicken strips breaded in seasoned flour then dipped in soy milk and breaded again. I did not know if it would work, but I have to tell you, I thought it was awesome and anytime I want fried chicken I will do it this way.

Now onto the cake. This is not vegan, but it is vegetarian. To be honest, I did not have the want to try and replicate this into a vegan version, and since Emma is a meat eater it really did not matter....although, I did want a cupcake all day.......
I set the base with white cake mix, then I dot the cake with strawberry and chocolate, then swirl......

So it looks like this.

I baked it and then it looked.......

Like this.

After it cooled I put a crumb coat on. For those of you that do not know what a crumb coat is, it is when you frost the entire cake with a light coat of icing to keep the crumbs from coming into your finished frost.

All frosted. I decided to do a wave pattern...

With the leftover cake mix I usually make different cupcakes for Emma too, and she would usually take them to her friends at school..This year I just sent them home for her and her boyfriend..

Various cupcakes with frost and sprinkles

Chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting, topped with a vegan chocolate covered coffee bean.

All of Emma's cakes.......

I also served a veggie tray with cherry tomatoes, black olives, carrots, celery, and cucumbers.

Triskets and Ritz crackers.

Vegan Ranch dip

Vegan Chipotle dip

Everything was lovely. The meal was good, Emma got a new comforter set, an elephant and a pair of pajama's. We played Guitar Hero all day and she and I sang together.

Unfortunately Chris had to go to work, but Emma being the sweetie she is waited until 11:00pm to cut her cake so her dad wouldn't miss out...

I have been making our families birthday cakes for the past 10 years.

When we decided to live the simple life, we stopped buying Bakery cakes and elaborate presents. Dinner would be made at home and the presents would be minimal or homemade.

This suits us perfectly and we are much happier than we have ever been.

Every year for my birthday, Kaiti makes me the most beautiful cards and Emma will usually create a flower arrangement from the flower gardens.

I feel so blessed to have my family.

I hope you have enjoyed our special day as much as we did

Oh....ps.... I saved you a piece!!!!!!