A Long, Dry Summer

This summer has been hard for most folks. Even those not directly affected by the hot, dry, windy summer.

Everyone where we live seems to be on pins and needles, terrified of wild fires. I can certainly understand why. There's a feeling of complete hopelessness when you get a call or look out the window and see flames racing your way.

This is smoke from a fire that greeted us the weekend that we moved. Too close for comfort, but beautiful.

Luckily for us, we have not been in the direct line of one of these monsters. The guys have had to rush out and help neighbors as dry storms go through and light up the landscape with fires, but we have been able to stay put and pray for those in the path of this destructing force.

If there is an "upside" to this horrible time, it could be the beautiful sunrises that greet us each morning and sunsets that bid us goodnight.  Some of the most beautiful colors have blanketed the skies.

The Dreaded Birthday Cake Adventure

It's that time of the year again. A child's birthday! I LOVE baking cakes for my kids. It gives me an excuse to make sure there is extra frosting because that is MY favorite part of the whole experience!

With this child, if you know her, the world revolves around princesses. Over the years, I've made a variety of cakes with some type of princess theme - a crown, a castle, a "princess". This year, I made the executive chef's decision to go with something a little more simple and told her she was getting a cake in the shape of "Flip Flops"!

See, the problem isn't that I'm a bad cook. I love to cook. I love to make delicious meals and treats for my family. I do buy store-bought things, quite frequently by reviewing my checkbook each month, but I feel that the cake made at home is just a little more "healthy" than something I have no idea where it came from.

So, back to my birthday dilemma. I bake really tasty things. I do NOT make really "pretty" things...The "Alice in Wonderland" cake from a couple of years ago - FAIL! Tasted delicious. Looked like a pile of something. So, this year, I am determined to "master" this simple project. One year, I did not decorate anything! I let the kids do it at the party! Total win with that one!

First, I found something on Pinterest that boasts "Box Cake Will Taste Like Bakery Cake". Hhhmmm...So, I followed the link recipe-for-making-a-box-cake-taste-homemade and did what it instructed me to do. I used melted butter in place of oil and milk in place of the water.

It says to add 1-2 eggs on top of what is called for, but I decided to use what the box said to use. A few minutes of mixing and baking and "Voila'"!

I will have to say, this is the most beautiful cake that has ever come out of my oven! I cannot wait for it to cool some more in the freezer and be transformed into the most beautiful pair of flip flops ever!

After the cake was cooled, I used the template from Betty Crocker ( http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/flip-flops-cake/) and cut out the "Flip Flops".

Not bad, so far! Then I frosted them and used M&Ms instead of Sprees. Plus, I could not find any fruit roll-ups (maybe that was on purposed) and used frosting instead.

I know, I know. It's probably my choice of frosting that makes the decorating hard, but it is my favorite frosting and I opt for flavor over looks any day!

The birthday girl loved it! She was thrilled that I even added the flowers to the shoes.

And it was a great tasting cake. I will make these modifications to a box mix whenever I use one!