Monday, February 23, 2009

Birthday Bash!

Yesterday we celebrated Chelsea's 21st birtday with the family over some homemade chicken pot pie, {mine being vegetable} which is her favorite dish of mine, and plenty of cake and ice cream! She requested a coconut cream cake so early in the day Gabby and I got busy!




Dinner was set for 4:oo but the family started arriving around 2:30 to fill the house with laughter and commotion. Becky, who would be technically classified as a "friend", was the only non family member here. She is however, more family to all of us than friend! DARN ~ I didn't get a picture of her shaking her groove thing in the kitchen with Gabby!

We had a great day with lots of food, laughs, and all around nonsense. We ended the evening with a couple of rounds of our favorite game "Apples to Apples". For those of you who like to play games, if you've never tried this one, it's a LOT OF FUN!

Today, being a typical MONDAY, I have loads of laundry, etc., etc., etc., BUT....... well....... I didn't get much knitting or crocheting done over the weekend, my feet sure do hurt from being on them all day yesterday, & I'm just a bit tuckered out! How's that for a list of excuses?!

The real issue is: THIS YARNAHOLIC NEEDS A FIX!

One last little picture. I'm sure you're all getting sick of seeing Phoebe & my other assorted "babies", BUT~ I just have to give you a peek at Phoebe wrestling down her best friend ~ Gabby's {but she thinks it's hers!} glow worm. She pounces on it to get it to light up and play lullaby music. Then stands back and cocks her head every direction like it's talking to her. It's hilarious!


Happy Monday to All!
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Coconut Cream Cake
1c. butter, softened
1c. milk
2c. sugar
1t. pure vanilla
3 eggs
1t. lemon extract
3c. flour
1t. butter flavoring
2 t. baking powder
Beat butter in large bowl at medium speed. Gradually add 2 cups of sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
Combine flour & baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Stir in flavorings.
Pour batter {which is thick} into 3 greased & floured 9" cake pans {I usually use 2 - 8x8x2" square pans}. Bake at 350 degrees for 25~30 minutes. Cool 10~12 minutes on wires racks.
Remove from pans & cool completely.
While cake is cooling, combine 1/2 cup of water & 1 tablespoon of sugar in small saucepan on stove & heat to boiling. Turn down & simmer for 3 minutes. Drizzle over cooled cake layers
{I usually poke the layers gently all over with a toothpick first}.
Spread 1 cup of coconut frosting {recipe following} on each layer, top with approximately 1/2 cup of shredded coconut, then stack them. Spread rest of frosting on cake & sprinkle remaining coconut over top & sides { I usually end up using the whole bag of coconut!}.
Coconut Frosting
3 c. shredded coconut {set aside}
2 c. heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. sugar
1t. pure vanilla
1t. lemon extract
2 drops butter flavoring
Combine all ingredients, except shredded coconut, in a meduim bowl & beat at medium speed until soft peaks form.
Yield 4 cups.
This makes a lovely cake for Easter. Also the coconut can be colored pink, green, or any pastel color you like!
I just realized this is my 75th post! WooHoo!! Time sure flys when you're having FUN!:-)
I'll put everyone's name who comments on this post into a drawing at the end of this week and have one of my daughters {or maybe Gabby!} draw a name. I'll announce the winner on Saturday and send off a little surprise gift!
Hmmm......... I feel a fun project coming on!

9 comments:

Becky said...

If you had a camera anywhere near my groove thing, I would not have been shaking it! ;-D Thanks so much for including me - I really do feel like part of your family now!
Hugs to all my blog friends!

Shari from Big Yellow Farmhouse said...

Now Danette, rest assured that we're never going to get tired of seeing Phoebe. She is the cutest little thing! My kids had a glow worm years ago. I'd forgotten about those - wonder if it's still up in the attic somewhere.

Sounds like you had a fun birthday party, but I bet you are tired. That cake sounds delicious . . . and the pot pie too!!

Becky said...

Can you also post the recipe for the pot pie? That is delicious!

Kathy said...

Oh how I wish to be there! My all time favorite,Coconut cake!! Yummy!! and my husbands fav. is chicken pot pie(he is also Pisces). Thanks for the recipe for the cake! Guess what I am going to bake this week-end or next,I have to bake a dark chocolate cake for hubby's B-day ,so maybe I will try it next week-end. hey Becky "shake your groove thing, show us how to do it now." Sounds like yall had a blast! Thanks for the photo of the littlest baker(so adorable!). Hey Danette none of those were excuses they were legitimate reasons. enjoy your day Everyone be blessed!

BECKY said...

Happee Tuesday Danette!!

What a lovely young woman your daughter is!!

Sounds like you gave her a wonderful bash, and that fun was had by all!! I think you're a good Mom and you need to indulge yourself and satisy that yarn fix thingy!! ;o)

And we won't get tired of Phoebe, just like Shari said!!

I made a coconut cake for darling hubby last year, and it was maahhvelous!!! Sure yours was, too!!

Have a wonderful week, and thanks for the sunshine you add to my days!!
Blessings,
TOB (the other Becky)

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

Mmmm.... I love coconut anything!
That cake sounds delish!
Danette you are such a great mom & Gramma.
I am blessed to call you friend!

Hugz n Blessings,
Dolly

Tracy said...

Hi, Danette! Your family party sounded and looked wonderful--a great day for your Chelsea! What a beautiful family you have...Thanks for passing along that delicious cake recipe. Funny, I used not to like coconut as a child, but now as an adult I love it! Always a joy to stop by here...Happy week to you all :o) ((HUGS))

Claudia Bugh said...

What a perfect birthday celebration ~ and what a beautiful cake!

Gabby is so precious in the kitchen - I can tell she will be a baker when she grows up :)

Thank you for the recipe - it really looks fantastic!

Anonymous said...

ah-ha! I *technically* didn't miss your post about the giveaway, I just didn't read past the recipe.
Silly me.

I do think I will try making this cake later next week, it sounds really good!