In our house, summer is just like one continuous birthday party. First up is my birthday in May, followed my husband's in June, then L.'s in July and C.'s in August. I'm not even mentioning all the other family members (and our dog!) whose birthdays also fall during the summer. So it's kind of fun (and challenging) to come up with ideas for the different cakes we'll be enjoying. I usually pick something chocolate on chocolate for my cake, because I know this is probably my only opportunity to have that -- everyone else always chooses some sort of white frosting (vanilla buttercream, cream cheese, whipped cream, etc.) for their (chocolate) cakes.
A few weeks ago, I came across this post on Zoe Bakes. In it she describes the cakes she baked for her son's Henri's birthday. Her Devil's Food Cake with Chocolate Malted Buttercream called to me, so that's what I selected for my cake this year. I baked my own cake (because that's what I do), with assistance from my baking apprentice -- my 11-year-old son. The guys also made dinner for me -- Soda Can Chicken (our favorite summer chicken preparation), broccoli salad with dried cranberries, and twice-baked potatoes, a specialty of C.'s., who piped the potatoes into the skins himself. And L. made Ro*Tel queso for a starter. With my meal, I had Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier. The meal was wonderful -- thanks to my guys for treating me so well!
C.'s Twice-Baked Potatoes
One of the best chocolate cakes I've ever had :-)
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