Happy Birthday Once Again

16 years ago, on December 26th, my baby brother was born.

So, this year, on bring it back day, the little rockstar is having himself a birthday party. And, as has been the tradition (even for my birthdays) since I was old enough to hold a full cake pan, I'm making the cake.

I've made a lot of birthday cakes in my day. Generally it's a traditonal homemade cake with traditional home-made frosting. The cakes are layered, occasionally, but always round or square, and decorated with true "Shabby Chic" techniques. Crumb coats have no place here and we're never above decorating with jelly beans instead of trying to pipe on numbers. Don't get me started on long sayings - since the 8th Grade "Congratutalons" cake that we picked up from the local bakery for my graduation, we stopped asking people, even ourselves, to spell in icing. But this year - oh this year.

It's all my mother's fault. She mentioned, off-handedly even, "Maybe a guitar cake..." Perhaps I watch too much TV and read too much Tartlette, but I assumed she meant one of those Food Network Challenge cakes that make average bakers shiver. But then I thought, wait a minute! I've watched enough of those shows... Really, how difficult could a guitar cake be? (Mind, at no point in my plan was the bridge included - I'm speaking strictly to the body itself.)

Turns out, she meant "Why don't you draw a guitar on the cake" but she didn't tell me that until it was too late.

So, today I made a batch of Marshmallow Fondant...bright blue (it took two tubes!), a batch of chocolate frosting and the chocolate cake - it's in the oven.

I'll let you know.

BSAPSM's - Acronym Muffins

Brown - Sugar - Apple - Pumpkin - Spice - Muffins

*phew*

This month, I'm participating in Sugar High Friday's. Mostly, because I wanted an excuse to make a baked good. And also because I have like 7 pounds of Cortland apples on my kitchen counter, two butternut squishes and two pie pumpkins (plus the four cups of pumpkin puree that is used to be in my freezer.) ... Well, it seemed like time to do some baking.

This month, Dessert First hosted and, well, who doesn't go directly for Sugar and Spice?

Unfortunately, naming these monstrosities? Kind of a problem. So, I bring you Brown Sugar, Apple, Pumpkin, Spice Muffins. (You could probably cut this recipe in half - but trust me, don't. I actually made a second batch because I was sure that if I only brought one to work there would be a mutiny.)

Acronym Muffins
makes approximately 24 muffins

3 1/3 C Flour
2 C Brown Sugar
2 t Baking Powder
1/2 t Baking Soda
1 t Ground Ginger
2 t Cinnamon
1/4 t Nutmeg

4 Eggs
2 Sticks Melted Butter
2 C Pumpkin Puree*

2 Cortland Apples Cut Into Tiny Tiny Pieces

Mix the dry together, making sure to break up any clumps. Mix the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl. Combine until just mixed. This is a thick batter. Fold in the apple pieces gently. Use an ice cream scoop to fill greased muffin pan. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on a cooling rack.

Eat too many.

Take Pepto.

Eat more.

Yum!