Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Another Birthday and a Kitchen Floor

Yesterday was my daughter's 22nd birthday. She's the one in law school. She's also my number one cake decorating assistant, so I had no alternative but to decorate it myself.

Did I ever mention that I really don't like decorating cakes? It's something I started years ago, and now just have no way out. This one was a lazy mom effort, using the "flower tip" and some green lines to act as vines.

In case anyone ever needs a lazy person's way into a fancy cake, here's how to make a marble cake: use a yellow cake box mix (I use 4 eggs instead of 3 to kick up the flavor a bit), and hold about 3/4 cup of batter out of the pan. Stir in 3 tbsp cocoa powder, and a few drops more water if needed to make the consistency right. Drop the chocolate concoction in random spots across the cake, swirl into the yellow batter with a table knife, and bake as usual. Instant marble cake! People will think you worked a lot harder, and you needn't wise them up!

And since a couple of you reminded me, here's my finished and beautiful kitchen floor.

The tile is very similar to what was there originally, but since my son reinforced the sub-floor, it should no longer flex, and I shouldn't end up with cracked tiles. This was one of the better ones; I could actually lift pieces out of some of them. Count me as a happy camper!
Of course, my son plans to rip out the breakfast room floor next week and start putting down this maple flooring. It'll be another long week in paradise, but at least I won't have Christmas breathing down my neck, and my cooking room will be completely usable!

13 comments:

Paula said...

Marjie, You are a mom-machine! Happy Birthday to your girl. She's accomplished so much and she's only 22! That means 22 years ago, you were at the hospital! Did you wonder if you were going to have either a Christmas or New Year's baby?! I love her birthday cake. The decorations are darling, and if that's what you do when you're lazy, I can't imagine what you'd do otherwise! My wedding cake was marble, so you know how I feel about that! LOVE it! The floor is wonderful, and good luck to your contractor when he starts on the hardwood floor! Gee whiz, you guys just oooze talent! Happy New Year! Give Thor a pat from us!

Christo Gonzales said...

speechless.......

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday...ah, to be 22 again...how awesome.

And the floor...way cool...your boys are welcome here anytime!

pam said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter! She is beautiful, like her momma! I think the cake decorating is cute. I want hardwood floors so bad, so I look forward to watching your progress.

SissySees said...

Happy birthday to your daughter! The cake is beautiful, as is the floor. There's always a lot going on at your house, huh?

cidell said...

I have a crack like that in my floor and will not fix it :) I am amazed that you have such grown children! Nice looking cake, even if it's easy, it looks way complicated.

Pam said...

Your daughter looks exactly like you. I think the cake looks beautiful. I've never made a marble cake because I thought it would be too hard. Thanks for the tips.

I hope you and your family have a Happy New Year Marjie.

Ann Made Studio said...

Happy birthday to your daughter!
Great looking cake. I may just do the marble tip, I have a cake to make for my husbands B-Day on Jan 2 :)
Your floor looks great!

The Blonde Duck said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter! Your floor looks awesome! Congrats to her for going to Law School

Claire S. said...

Just catching up and checking in, Marjie. Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas with all of your kids home. I left on Boxing Day morning to go to my Dad's and just got back this morning - those 14 hour bus trips are a killer, LOL. Happy Birthday to your daughter. The new kitchen floor looks great - are your boys available for hire, I could use a new floor too ! BTW - my blog's updated - i.e. the counter's down now LOL !

Happy New Year - our countdown's beginning - 2 hours to go.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Shannon! And the floor looks great.

Chronicles of Dolliedaydream said...

Happy New Year Marjie to you and your loved ones! Looks like you've all had a fab Christmas and squeezed some birthdays in as well. I am most impressed with your Yorkshire pudding as well. Good girl as that is local to me! Lots of 2009 Kisses Kitty xxx

Anonymous said...

Nice birthday, And the floor looks awesome. Thank you for sharing.