Wednesday, October 3, 2012

A Birthday and Baking

Today is Yusef's 17th birthday.  There is no birthday photo to share.  Neither of the boys will cooperate for pictures.  This one is from our trip in August to Germany, taken from a distance.
Last year for his birthday, he requested red velvet cupcakes but, for some reason, I thought they would be difficult to make.  So instead, we opted for a boxed cake mix and store bought frosting, which no one liked.  This year, I took the time to make homemade red velvet mini-cupcakes.  I even made enough to take to school and they were a big hit.
Won't be making them again, though.  I'm not too keen on using food coloring in recipes.

Earlier in the week, I made chocolate slice with chocolate icing.
A small loaf to have at home.
And a miniature batch for school.
 The recipe is from Catherine's blog A Time to Create.  
Every time I make it, someone asks for the recipe.
In fact, before I forget, I need to go write out two recipes for friends at school.

Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday.

47 comments:

Linda said...

Happy 17th Birthday to your son! :)
It's great that you made the variety he requested and that everyone enjoyed them.

It's funny because you know it's the complete opposite in photos - Sarah constantly photographs herself and doesn't mind the photos at all so we have numerous.

She will be turning 17 in December.

Well, back to work for me here for just a little while longer...
Linda

Elna said...

Nice with a birthday and the cakes look so tasty.

Hugs

Heather - The Good Life said...

Happy birthday to your son! I hope he has a special day. All your baked goodies look great. I'm hoping to make pumpkin bread later today myself. Enjoy your day, Heather

Dreaming of Vintage said...

Happy birthday to your son! Your baking looks sooooo good!

Daydream Living said...

Hi Tammy!
Gosh, 17, that's a big age, congratulations with your big boy! Have to send you an email soon with more details, all is well, we are now in the apartment since 5 days actually sleeping here, will post soon again, hugs!
Maureen xx

Unknown said...

Dear Tammy so good to get a chance to stop by. I am not into the blogging as I once was as I have taken a little PRN caregiving work. Happy Birthday to your son. Like that bolero pattern at the top of your page. Gonna check it out. Blessings
QMM

Angela Richardson said...

Boys, don't you just love them!!
I make red velvet cake using beetroot to get the colour. It works like carrot and makes the cake very moist. No artificial colours.
Have birthday fun,
Angela.x

Anonymous said...

Red velvet is my favorite cake and I usually have one on my birthday but my husband opts for going to a bakery and buying one (it is tasty). My mother use to make it from scratch and it is disgusting the amount of red dye it takes to get the batch just the right shade of red!
I have to tell you, your coconut cookies are a giant hit around my house. I have made them twice already since you shared your quick recipe!
Thanks again!
~Dawn

Createology said...

Happy 17th Birthday to Yusef. Your baking is totally delicious sounding. Thank you for sharing the recipe. Falling into Autumn Bliss...

Anonymous said...

I had peanut butter crackers for lunch. Now, after seeing all your chocolate delights, I'm hungry AGAIN! You bad, Tammy!!!!

Happy 17th birthday. I think I remember that age (it's when I met my husband in high school). Maybe Yusef will remember (fondly) this birthday when he's older and realize what a wonderful Mom you were to make him those cupcakes!

Hugs my friend....
J

Serena Lewis said...

Happy 17th Birthday to Yusef!! Well done on the red velvet cupcakes. Personally, I've never tried red velvet cake...silly, but the colouring turns me off. However, I won't ever say no to chocolate slice. YUM! I used to make chocolate slice a lot when the kids were younger. SO delicious! Thanks for the link ~ xo

Mrs. Micawber said...

Red velvet is all the rage but the thought of all that food colouring puts me off too. The chocolate slice looks luscious - like a brownie loaf.

Happy Birthday to Yusef!

Marilyn said...

Happy Birthday to Yusef...and well done you on the cupcakes...at least they cooperated!!!

the old white house said...

Happy Birthday Yusef! I've never had red velvet cake and maybe because of the dye I'm o.k. with that, but so many love it. The chocolate loaf looks absolutely delicious! Have a fabulous night! t.xoxoxo

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Happy birthday to your son. The goodies look so delicious! I remember how my teens did not want to cooperate with photo taking. LOL

Susan said...

Hi Tammy....Many blessings of the day to Yusef. I know how it is to have uncooperative photo non-subjects. Neither of my kids will let me use their photos in blogs (or anywhere else.) ha!

Oh well. Different strokes for different folks. Susan

koralee said...

I sooo love red velvet cake as well my friend but I make it the old fashion way with beets! The colour is stunning. Hugs to you and happy Birthday to Yusef!

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Tammy,

All the baking looks delicious and I am sure the school enjoyed the cakes and they were a big hit.
Happy 17th birthday to Yusef.

Hope you are enjoying the week
Hugs
Carolyn

glor said...

Happy Birthday to your son ... you don't look old enough to havea a 17 year old son! Blessings to all.

Kit said...

Happy Birthday to your baby! :) Kit

My Grama's Soul said...

Hi dear Tammy.....Happy birthday to your beautiful son......today is my birthday also. I just wanted to add your cakes look so very yummy.

xo

Jo

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

Birthday wishes!!! And, yummmmmmmm

vintage grey said...

Happy Birthday to your sweet son!! Such yummy treats!! xo Heather

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Tammy,

As I am late reading this, the birthday is over for all of you. But I want to make a remark about Yusef's silly behavior; acting like a three year old. Both of them act like that, you wrote. And knowing that you spoil them rotten, more than rotten.
No Yusef, that is not very mature!
Tight hugs to you girl and one more day you're off.
Mariette

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Happy Birthday to Yusef! He's a handsome young man, so there is no reason for him to be so camera-shy.

Like you I'm not a fan of food coloring. Unfortunately it's difficult to escape food colors since they are added to so many products. It's very sweet that you made the red velvet cupcakes for your son's birthday. They look very pretty but I hope you don't mind if I'd rather try your very yummy looking chocolate slice.

Congratulations on winning that lovely giveaway! The book looks wonderful too. Have fun crocheting!

Hugs,
Julia

Hindustanka said...

Happy birthday toy our son! Wishing him all the happiness and love and health!and oh my! you have so grown up kids! well, i don't have even one yet :)
I love the cakes you made, do you bake them in the oven? because here i have neither oven nor microwave.

Cat said...

Happy 17th birthday Yusef I do hope that he enjoyed celebrating his birthday. Miss 13 will still let me take photos of her, at the moment, but they are often silly ones:) I'm so glad the chocolate slice is enjoyed so much, thank you for mentioning my little blog:) it is such a nice and simple but very yummy recipe, it's one of my favourites too. Wishing you a wonderful day Tammy. xx

Hearts Turned said...

Happy Birthday to your boy, Tammy! They sure grow up fast, don't they?! I'm not a fan of all the red food coloring, either...but once in a while, it's okay--I'm sure they were delicious!

Wishing you a wonderful day, my friend...

Julie

Diane said...

A belated Happy Birthday to Yusef!
I'm going to get that chocolate slice recipe. Diane

Wanda said...

Happy Birthday Mr. 17. I have some grandchildren who don't like to be put on my blog, so I respect that. I've shown a couple from their backs...haha.

We certainly share the love of baking. Yesterday, I made 5 little loaves of Zucchini-date bread, and today I start my baking for our Church Bake Sale Sunday.

The Chocolate Slice looks yummy.

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Happy Belated Birthday to your son. I hope it was a wonderful one. 17 is an awesome age.

All your baked items looked so yummy, as always.

Wishing you a day filled with many blessings. :)

Mereknits said...

Happy Birthday to the 17 year old. My sons are exactly the same. If you dare to take a picture of them together, one of them is usually elbowing the other so they are never smiling at the sometime. I swear when I look back at our pictures it is going to look like they were always unhappy or fighting, ah what great memories.
Hugs to you,
Meredith

La Tea Dah said...

It becomes difficult to get kids to cooperate with photo ops as they grow up. A mom has to become very sneaky! Happy birthday to the 17 year old!

Red Velvet Cake --- so yummy! What about trying beet juice as a sub for artificial food coloring? Then you could have it again sometime!

Vicki Boster said...

Tammy- your boys are turning into handsome you g men-- you must be so proud!! Well-- I'm a red velvet cake lover too-- but no one can match what my Grandmother used to make-- I surely miss her cakes!

The chocolate dessert looks totally sinful!!
Vicki

Gina said...

Happy Birthday to your son!

Your baked goods look delicious!

Claudia said...

Happy Birthday to your son! Boys at that age never cooperate with picture taking. My brother always had a purposely goony look on his face! I'll have to check out that recipe!

xo
Claudia

Claudia said...

Happy Birthday to your son! Boys at that age never cooperate with picture taking. My brother always had a purposely goony look on his face! I'll have to check out that recipe!

xo
Claudia

Pam said...

How do you find time to bake. All your photos make me "hungry" for great chocolate. Glad the red velvet cake was a success.

Rostrose said...

Soooo sorry, dearest Tammy, I am late!!!
Happy belated birthday-wishes to Yusef!!!
Oh those kids, I don't know why they don't like us to take photos... it's the same with Jana...
Mmmmm, your Cakes / Cupcakes look so delicious to me (a bit too delicious I'm afraid - I think I have to have a look into our kitchen now!!!)....
So long my dear, have a happy, happy weekend!
xoxoxoxoxox Traude

homemade@myplace said...

Thank you for following me!!
Happy belated birthday to your son!!!
xxx Alessandra

Sheila Rumney said...

Happy birthday to you son! Time sure does fly... I too have children that don't cooperate when the camera comes out.. sometimes...

Have a great weekend.

val said...

yum! I know what you mean about teens and photos!

Anonymous said...

Aww happy Birthday to Yusef.
Cakes do look totally divine.

Melanie said...

Your baking always looks so good. I had to laugh inside at the picture of your boys...that is SO like teenage boys! What is it with them and hating to have their picture taken?! Happy birthday to Yusef!

Anonymous said...

Surprise! It is I, your long lost cuz'. I was thinking of Yusef the other day as my calender said it was his birthday. It seems much has been happening here. I know I owe you a nice long letter and I will do my best to get that out to you this week. In the mean time please tell Yusef we wish him a very happy birthday! hugs~
Gwen

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOUSEF! My boys don't like their pics taken either. Its a teenager thing I guess. My girls love the camera! There is a red velvet cake that uses beets instead of food coloring I think....or maybe it does.
Your chocolate slice minis look like a mouthful of heaven. My computer has been lagging so will sign in anonymously;)

Love, Melissa

Sam I Am...... said...

Happy Belated birthday to Yusef! I hope it was a great one...17 years old....prime time! So much better than those 13-14 year old seasons! LOL! You did good with the cupcakes. My daughter loves red velvet cake too....in fact that's what she had at her wedding for the cake. Your boys are growing up...you look so young to have boys that old but then nowadays...everyone looks young to me! LOL! Could it be because I'm old? No....couldn't be...LOL!!!!

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