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Saturday, June 13, 2015

Groom's Cake for Alex

Kit Kat St. Louis Cardinal's Grooms Cake

My niece, Becky, got married on June 13th.
A very beautiful bride and equally beautiful wedding.
It was a perfect day for a perfect union.

Since I enjoy baking cakes, I told Becky that I would make the groom's cake for Alex.
It was not difficult come up with the "perfect" cake for Alex.
He is an avid St. Louis Cardinal's fan.


The groom!
(photo by Makayla Beth Photography) 

 A little trivia...


The tradition of the groom's cake can be traced back to the Victorian era in England, when, in addition to the main wedding cake, there was also a groom's cake and a smaller bride's cake. At the end of the wedding, the two cakes were sliced and served to the groomsmen and bridesmaids.

 This is the cake I came up with...


The groom's cake eventually made its way to the United States, and its popularity has endured, especially in the South. Many brides find the groom's cake appealing because it's a way to give the groom special recognition on a day when most of the attention seems to center on the bride.

Today, groom's cakes are usually made of dark chocolate.

Ingredients:

  • 1 Classic Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
  • 1 Cup Water
  •  ⅓ Cup Vegetable Oil
  •  4 Large Eggs (box mix calls for 3 eggs, add 1 more)
PREHEAT oven to 350°F for metal or glass pans, 325°F for dark or coated pans. GREASE sides and bottom of each pan with shortening or oil spray.
BLEND cake mix, water, oil and eggs in a large bowl at low speed until moistened (about 30 seconds). BEAT at medium speed for 2 minutes. POUR batter in pans and bake immediately. 
BAKE  24-29 minutes for 2-9 in. round cake pans.

Gather the ingredients.

Mix according to box directions.

Bake at 350 degrees for 24-29 minutes until done.

As part of Alex's groom cake, I put together baseball trinkets
in this St. Louis Cardinal's pail...
Big League Chew, Cracker Jacks, bubblegum baseballs, and a baseball bat.

When the cake is cool, remove from the pans.
Put a dab of frosting on the cardboard cake round to secure the bottom cake layer.

Frost the top of the first layer.

Add the second layer and frost the top.

I found a free printable template of a baseball 
and enlarged it to fit on top of a 9 in. round cake.

I cut off the sides, so I could score the edges of the "laces."

I found string red licorice for the baseball laces.

I cut the licorice the same size as one side of the stitching.

After the frosting had hardened in the refrigerator,
I dipped a knife into hot water to smooth the top of the cake.
Then I returned it to the refrigerator to harden again.

When the frosting is set and no longer sticky,
score the top of the cake along the sides of the template.


Add the licorice stitches evenly to both sides of the 2 scored lines.


Put some wax paper or aluminum foil under the cake.
It will make a clean edge on top of the cake board.
Frost the sides with chocolate frosting.

Unwrap about 8 packages of Kit Kat candy bars.
Use the frosting as glue to hold the Kit Kat candy bars in place.

Tie the candy bars with a tin red ribbon to secure them.

I put a rim of white Sixlets candies around the inner edge of the cake for a more finished look.
They can be found at Walmart.

I added a St. Louis Cardinal lanyard for a finishing touch.
I also added to the top of the cake a St. Louis Cardinal decal
 and left the plastic around it.

Becky and Alex ready to cut the cake.

And why do you cut the cake together at the ceremony? 
Because this is the first task you will do together as Husband and Wife.

Feeding each other the cake symbolizes 
how the couple will feed and nourish the relationship for the rest of their lives. 
 This was meant as a loving and caring symbol for each other. 

 More on groom's cakes:
Traditionally, the groom's cake is not served at the wedding.
 If you are not serving any desserts other than wedding cake, however, you might break with tradition and serve the groom's cake to all your guests after the wedding cake is served.
Alex graciously shared his groom's cake with their wedding guests.

(http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/226856/grooms-cake)


 Perhaps more typically, individual slices are boxed up before the wedding and given to the unmarried women at the reception.
 Legend has it that if an unmarried woman sleeps with a slice of the groom's cake under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.

Becky & Lyndie
Sorry, Lyndie, I didn't know of that tradition until now, 
or I would have sent a piece of groom's cake home with you!


Here is more great trivia to share with newly married or engaged couples:
Wedding Traditions & Wedding Rituals

Congratulations, Alex & Becky!
and, many, many years of wedded bliss!
(photo by Makayla Beth)

makaylabethphotography@gmail.com 

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Happy Birthday, Mom

Mom turns 86 this year.
We gathered at Gail & Yatzi's for a small celebration the next evening.


I made a fresh strawberry cupcakes for the occasion.

Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake

Ingredients
  • 1 (18.25-ounce) box white cake mix 
  • 1 (3-ounce) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin 
  • 1 (15-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed 
  • 4 large eggs 
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil 
  • 1/4 cup water 
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line muffin tins with liners.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin. Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil, and water; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into prepared cupcake pans and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
Let cool in pans.
This recipe is from Paula Deen.  I made cupcakes instead of 2- 9 in. layer cakes.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/simply-delicious-strawberry-cake-recipe.html


Gather the ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
1- 3oz. box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin
1- 15 oz. package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed
4 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water

Combine cake mix and gelatin in mixing bowl.
Add strawberries, eggs, oil, and water.
Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until smooth.

Scoop into cupcake liners.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until done.

I used prepared canned frosting and added some fresh strawberries 
and powdered sugar until slightly thickened.

When the cupcakes are cool, spoon the frosting over the tops.

I used dark Ghirardelli chocolate for the garnish.
Any good chocolate will work.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave according to the package directions.

Drizzle the melted chocolate over the frosted cupcakes.

Drizzle the remaining melted  chocolate over some washed, dried, and halved
fresh strawberries.
Place the chocolate strawberries onto the cupcakes.

 The Birthday girl!
Happy Birthday, Mom!

 Sarah, Becky, Lisa, Keith, Yatzi,  (Gail behind her), Alex, Doug
Rick, Sheila, Ethyl, Mom

Same, except Gail is visible behind Yatzi & I am beside him.

Traditional Happy Birthday Song Lyrics

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday Dear Mom
Happy Birthday to You.
From good friends and true,
From old friends and new,
May good luck go with you,
And happiness too.

And many, many, more Mom!

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Around Branson, and Riding the Ducks, and Jonah!

We shopped around Branson Landing today and enjoyed a leisurely day.

 We rode the Trolley around Branson.

Dick's 5 & 10
Traditional items, children's gifts, and adult collectibles are just some of the 50,000 items
 available in this historic landmark. 

Dick's 5 & 10 is one of the only dime stores still open in America. 
Dick Hartley opened the store over 50 years ago and it is still family run today.
It is a great place to browse and stroll down memory lane.
It has many old fashioned candies and nostalgic items.


 This statue is advertising the play, Jonah.
We did attend it on Friday.

Love the candy shops at Branson Landing.

Our Last Day... Friday the 5th.

Ride The Ducks!

Ducks v DUKW

The Ducks are based on the classic WWII DUKW amphibious design in appearance only. Today, they build our vehicles from the ground up using the latest in marine design and safety. The vehicles are regularly inspected, tested & certified by the United States Coast Guard to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for the riders. The newest model, the "Truck Duck," has been approved by the USCG Marine Safety Center for "Partially Protected Water" routes, a designation unattainable by standard WWII DUKWs in any configuration.




DUKWs were first built by General Motors in 1942 and were basically a truck enclosed in a water-tight shell. You may think they are called DUKWs because they can splash into the water and out again, but actually the name is a military acronym. The letters are codes indicating that it was designed in 1942 (D), for utility/amphibious purposes (U), with front wheel drive (K), and two rear driving axles (W).

The first operational use of the DUKW was in March 1943, when the U.S. landed Army troops on Noumea, New Caledonia. Later organized into companies, the DUKW displayed its versatility by carrying ammunition directly from anchored ships to shore. This use of the DUKWs kept American casualties to a minimum, but a bigger purpose surfaced as American ingenuity took over...some of the DUKWs were modified to carry 4.5-inch rockets.

General Patton and General Eisenhower realized the DUKW was an invaluable war tool, and they were impressed by its capabilities. Over 1,000 DUKWs were used in the Sicilian landings of 1943 alone. Operation Overlord, the landing in Normandy, was the most crucial operation in history with circumstances that made the DUKWs virtually indispensable. Approximately, 2,000 DUKWs brought to shore 40% of all supplies landed between June 6 and September 1, 1944.


About   The Ducks

 Historic American Military Vehicles 
This was part of our Duck Ride through the Ozarks.









  Splashdown into Table Rock Lake 


Quack! Quack! 


Back to dry ground.

 Table Rock Dam 



This was a great adventure!

Our last night was spent at the Sight & Sound Theater watching the production of
Jonah!

The Sight & Sound Theater

 Doug & I

This production is coming in 2016.
This is one of my favorite Bible stories.
It will be one I am going to try to see.



The play is over, back to the resort.
It was one of the best Bible story musicals we have seen.

Watch this video about the production.

https://youtu.be/vMzON7RmHgI

My blog wouldn't be complete without a recipe about Jonah & the Whale:



Jonah and The Whale Jello Recipe
Blue Jello 
Gummy Fish Candy-(try Swedish fish soft and chewy candy)
Plastic Cups 
Jonah and The Whale Template (6-Pictures) (12 pictures)

Make your Jello, and put them in plastic cups.
Add Gummy Fish Candy.
Refrigerate it.
Print Template out.  Jonah and The Whale Template (6-Pictures)  (12 pictures)
Cut it out.
Tape it on cups.
Color your picture if you want.