A very Special birthday!

So in the middle of Baking 244 sugar

cookies, I paused for a bit to Bake a cake!

Every time he opens the Pantry he pulls out this

cake mix and asks me if today might be his Lucky day

This has been going on since January when I picked up five boxes

of this cake mix at the Ft. Benning commissary. I admit it. I've been

stalling... You see, he just sees a Cake Mix! I see a reminder of our last

trip to see the Ranger before his deployment. So I've been ignoring the

cake mix. Perhaps it was the Occasion of today being his 50th birthday or

the strain of holding my tongue, because I've really wanted to make a

half-Century crack! Or maybe it's just the insanity of baking 244 sugar

cookies and being deprived of my Outside-time all day, but I have

cracked, and decided Today is his lucky day! So he will have

a German Black Forest cake for his birthday tonight! 

A Heart-shaped Black Forest cake! You may remember that in February

I was chosen one of ten winners of the Wilton heart-shaped cake pan Give-

away featured on Tidy-Mom's blog! I enjoy Cheryl, aka the, Tidy Mom, so

if you haven't discovered her Blog, put it on your to-do list today! By the

way... I have a confession to make. I have never cut a cake in half. There! I

said it... Judge if you must. I also admit that when I read the directions

about cutting the cake in half to fill it, I was, this-close to skipping that

part. But the German-girl in me knows the best part of a German, Black

Forest cake is the tart kirsch filling paired against sweet whipped cream

that's Pressed between layers of rich, luscious chocolate cake. But

how? Well.. Fortunately for me, I happened to be Chatting with

with my friend, Monica as I read the box, so she clued me in!

Monica said to just ensure the cake was Completely cooled, and

to use a serrated knife. So while another batch of Sugar cookies did

their thing in the oven, I popped my cake into the Freezer! After fifteen

minutes, I was ready and so was my cake. It sliced better than a dream! 

Monica was right! Again. Always. No reason to buy a special

tool... No need for the dental Floss trick. All things are

possible with just a cold cake and a Serrated knife!

I must also tell you... This cake would not have been possible without my

friend Michele. I was completely out of eggs and had no Whipping cream in

the refrigerator, and I absolutely had nothing left in me to make a trip to the

market. So I did the Unthinkable for me... I asked for a favor of a friend

on her way to my house! It was epic. I've never even Borrowed a cup

of sugar in my life! But here I was, asking a friend to detour to the

market to shop for me! What kind of Monster have I become!?

The kind of monster willing to do anything

it takes for the man she Loves... Apparently.

I have to tell you about this new cake pedestal. Yes. Another cake stand, it's

true and I admit it. But I did not buy it. It was FREE! I received it as part of

my bonus for hosting a Pampered Chef show. The moment I saw it in the

new Spring/Summer catalog I had to have it. And, since I cannot justify

adding one more cake stand to my Collection, I figured I would earn

it free, because Free is my favorite four-letter word! What's fun about

this cake pedestal is that it comes Apart so that the top can be used as a

round platter! I never imagined I would want to separate the pieces... 

However... It made popping my cake into the Freezer much easier!

And I'm all about the easy!

Dr. Oetker may want to re-think the whole round-cake thing!

Because this Heart-shape is clearly the way to go!

A big thanks to Monica for her slicing-a-cake-in-half advice!

And, to Michele for the ingredients she delivered!

And, a Very happy birthday to the man that owns my heart!