Millissa's birthday cake

It is christmas cookie, cake and dinner season, I know.  I may be making a family recipe cake this weekend.  We'll see how time works out with a few other must-do activities.
 
But about a week ago, I made a cake recipe from Cake Love mastermind Warren Brown.  It was the banana cake featured in his cookbook.  First time attempting with the potato starch.  I don't know if that was the key, but everyone who had the cake said it was my best yet.  And it was Banana of all things!  Well, let me tell you, banana can go upscale from the common banana bread to an awesome light flavored and textured cake.

I made it with the chocolate glaze, also from the Cake Love cookbook, because even I could not fathom using four sticks of butter in the frosting for a 9" round cake.  It would have required too much extra gym time just to think about it much less eat a slice.

Here is Millissa's birthday cake.  Happy Birthday Girlfriend!

Thanksgiving dinner - Yum

Happy Thanksgiving!

The dinner was okay.  The right elements, but everything needed salt, which is a real bummer.  I don't cook with much of it and I don't eat a ton, but for special ocassion meals, I have to remember to be a bit more liberal with the NaCl.

But, we finished with a BANG!!!  I think all the desserts were the bomb.  And there were several.  I made two and guests brought another four.  Can anyone say calorie filled heaven???

The Menu:
Creamed Spinach (my husband made)
Homemade yeast rolls (my husband made, these were very good)
Corned Bread Stuffing
Cornish Hens
Honey baked ham
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Mushroom gravy
Baked Squash with apples (my s-i-l made)
Candied Yams (my s-i-l made)
Cranberry relish

Pecan Pie bars
Pumpkin spice cake with chocolate covered hazelnuts
Pumpkin cheesecake
Pumpkin pie
Apple pie
Sweet potato pie (friend Ashley made

There was also plenty of good white wine, sparkling cranberry juice, coffee and water

Thanksgiving is really a great harvest meal and a chance to give thanks for another year. Thanks all around!

pictured:  Cranberry relish (before and after) and Pumpkin spice cake with chocolate covered hazelnuts.

Thanksgiving dinner - plan

So, now that Veteran's Day is out of the way, we are full steam ahead to Thanksgiving.

I/we am/are hosting this year.  I think there will be approximately 12-15 of us.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Stuffed cornish hens (as opposed to the traditional big bird, I'm going for little birds.  I think 1/2 per person is a reasonable expectation for portion size, except for the college and twenty-something men coming over for whom I will plan for 1.5 birds each)
Twice baked sweet potatoes
Gravy
A corn/bean dish
Honey glazed ham
Creamed spinach
Macaroni and cheese

DESSERTS!

Wines and warm cider

I am still open to suggestions though, so if you don't see your favorite holiday dish on the list, please post a comment with a suggestion.  Also, your favorite recipes for any of the above dishes are welcomed.

TTFN!

*(pictured - twice baked sweet potatoes with spiced walnuts artfully arranged on top)