Eight Days A Week
Tomorrow is the family celebration of Mom's birthday. (Her actual birthday was Tuesday.) Tonight, she, Dad, and I are are going out for dinner, and tomorrow, my sister and her family are coming for dinner and cake. We like to stretch out birthdays here!)
Anyway, so naturally, she needed cake!
Mom's first and favorite cake is ice cream cake. Now, there's nothing wrong with the kind that places like Carvel make--mostly just ice cream with some chocolate crunchy stuff, decorated like a sheet cake--if you like that kind of thing. But I like best to make my own.
Usually, I'll make one "big" cake. A layer of chocolate cake baked in a springform pan, topped with raspberry syrup and a gallon of vanilla ice cream. But, while delicious, that's messy to serve and hard to cut, and my tendons have been working hard on the Olympics this week. And besides, I've been having asthma issues lately, and don't need any more dairy products than are absolutely necessary.
So, I made little individual ones. I baked the chocolate cake, and then crumbled it into the bottom of these little serving dishes. Poured on some Knotts Blackberry syrup (the best brand I've found in a supermarket that tastes more like fruit than like sugar). And then topped each with a couple scoops of ice cream. Well, except for one (mine), which only has a little ice cream.
These, I sprinkled with some rainbow sprinkles (also known as jimmies), and put a cherry on top. (I put two on Mom's, since she's the birthday girl and has a little extra ice cream.) And they're resting comfortably in the freezer.
And, the best part? They're going to be so easy to serve tomorrow! Although, getting a birthday candle in there for Mom to blow out could be a little challenging. There's one for everybody, plus one spare, since the birthday girl also deserves to have seconds. The rule in our house is that the final piece of any birthday cake belongs to the birthday-person . . . although Chappy generally gets to lick the dish.
I really had plans on doing things like cleaning today. It's in the upper 20s and sunny and windy outside, so just a little on the chilly side for a walk. And my room desperately needs to be vacuumed--especially under the furniture.
But really, I've been reading, and just finished my second book of the weekend. (Brick Lane by Monica Ali and The Cotton Queen by Pamela Morsi). I thought the Olympics were going to make this a particularly light reading month, but I seem to be right on track.
See?
(Does anybody else hear a brass fanfare?)
Yeah! You get the Gold! And now to decide your second entry for another winter sport!
Posted by: Nancy J | February 18, 2006 at 06:08 PM
You tried to sneak it by us....congratulations -- it's lovely!
Posted by: Norma | February 18, 2006 at 06:51 PM
And in only half the time! Whip out another sweater - c'mon - you can do it. :)
Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Beth | February 18, 2006 at 06:57 PM
Congratulations! It looks great!
But now the question is...what other project can you finish in the next seven days? ;)
Posted by: Katy | February 18, 2006 at 07:27 PM
So cute, very subtle! Sweater looks great! You are a speedy knitter and reader! What's your finale going to be?
Posted by: Robin | February 18, 2006 at 08:40 PM
Chappy is so darn cute adoring you. I love your sweater. It is even better on! Mmmmmm ice cream cake. Happy birthday to your mom
Posted by: kathy b | February 18, 2006 at 10:09 PM
Yay for you!! w00t!
Posted by: JessaLu | February 18, 2006 at 10:13 PM
Congratulations!! It looks great! Hope your asthma gets better soon.
Posted by: Kirsten | February 18, 2006 at 10:42 PM
Very subtle with the sweater there....
Posted by: Chris | February 19, 2006 at 12:50 AM
I hear the National Anthem playing! Congrats!
Posted by: Carole | February 19, 2006 at 07:41 AM
Are you getting all teary-eyed? Your sweater turned out great. I think you have time to knit another one.
Posted by: Cindy | February 19, 2006 at 09:15 AM
The sweater is beautiful! Congratulations. Now that you've won the gold medal, what are you going to do now? :)
The ice cream cakes look yummy! Hope you all have a great day.
Posted by: Risa | February 19, 2006 at 11:26 AM
YAY for you!! I think you def finished in world record time!
Happy Birthday to your Mom!
Posted by: Gracie | February 19, 2006 at 12:39 PM
nice sweater! i'm slacking on my stuff. i have a headache right now, and i had to go to the dentist yesterday, and they gave me medication with codeine for the pain, and said take one before the novacaine wears off, and i slept all afternoon. i'm still on square #6 (which i started thursday night, i'm doomed)
Posted by: minnie | February 19, 2006 at 01:23 PM
I reckon you deserve a double gold!
Posted by: Tracy | February 19, 2006 at 05:00 PM
congrats! brava!! encore!!!
Whatever you choose to do to enjoy the next week, I hope it's fun; you deserve it!
Posted by: Kristen | February 19, 2006 at 08:13 PM
Congrats!!! Beautiful sweater. Hey do you think that Chappy and you could come by and whip some of that wonderful dessert up? Looks so yummy. By the way - that's how I like my b-days too - stretched out for extra fun.
Posted by: Rose | February 19, 2006 at 08:32 PM