"birthdaycake" news and stories

As the resident cake baker in my circle of friends, I'm always trying to find something new and funky to make. I've been in a groove of no-cook fondant and marzipan figures, but this summer I got a challenge -- chocolate. Not being the biggest fan of chocolate cakes, I mostly stick to the many other flavors. However, my friend, she loves the dark and sinful treat. If she wanted chocolate, she was really going to get chocolate. Since she's also a skier, it would be served in a smooth, snowy package.

Death by Chocolate Cake, straight out of The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Chocolate, with white fondant, a marzipan skier, and some candles for wishing. Check out the gallery, peruse the recipe after the jump, and stay tuned for more information on the fondant and marzipan.

If you've been a part of the online community during the last year or so then you know what it means to be Rick Rolled. Someone sends you a link, but when you click on it, instead of being directed to the site you thought you'd see, you are treated to Rick Astley singing his hit, Never Gonna Give You Up. It's a trend that has touched every corner of the internet, including our foodie world. Case in point, the "Rick Rolls" we brought you a few months ago.

Now the infamous Rick Roll has arrived in the form of a birthday cake. Papersatan over at Instructables made one for her boyfriend's birthday recently, and she has given us all step-by-step instructions on how to make one at home.

The cake is pretty simple, but you will need some icing colors and piping tubes to make it happen. For the most part, all the necessary ingredients are simple and inexpensive. Happy Birthday!

[via Not Martha]

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I'm pretty confused about this one. An elementary school principal in Connecticut has been suspended because of a birthday cake? Well, I guess it was the argument he got into with a parent trying to deliver it to his child's class.

The parent was trying to take a homemade birthday cake to his kids class. Apparently that was against school policy, and when the principal tried to explain that the parent "protested". I am not sure exactly what happened, but it was enough that the suspension may lead to firing for the principal.

Birthday cake is supposed to bring happiness, not aggression. Both of the people involved should be ashamed that they brought negativity to such a happy thing. What so you think about this?

[Via wcbstv.com]

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• Reviewers are surprisingly pleased with the service and selection at chain favorites like Outback Steakhouse, Chili's, and T.G.I. Friday's
• Young, energetic Danish chefs return home after culinary school, and bring with them a unique, fresh perspective
  
• One author marks her trials and triumphs in birthday cake making over the years, including the dreaded Barbie cake (at right)
  
• On the hunt for a Chicken Canzanese recipe, circa 1969
• The taco truck controversy marches on
• A quintessential mint julep recipe, perfect for Derby-goers

Being that I'm known in my circle of friends as something of a food lover and able cook, I often get called upon to bring contributions to communal meals or other food events. Nearly once a month, I get tapped to make a birthday dessert and so I'm always on the hunt for a quick, tasty birthday cake that doesn't come from a box. I have a go-to cake for the chocolate lovers but I've always been stymied by from scratch white cakes. They never come out quite right for me and so the search continued.

Until Saturday morning, that is. I needed to make a cake for my boyfriend's birthday party that night, and he had specifically asked for a white cake with chocolate frosting. Simple enough, right? My theory is that when you're working with such a classic combination, you have to do a really great job of it, or it's a let down. I flipped through at least six cookbooks, looking for a recipe that didn't use a pint of cream or require you to separate half a dozen eggs and beat the whites. What I ended up using was the All-Occasion Yellow Cake recipe from the Gourmet Cookbook. It is billed as being "incredibly simple" and it lived up to that promise. It came together quickly, baked up evenly, came out of the pan easily and tasted wonderful. This one is a keeper (and the recipe is after the jump).

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