How To Get Nice Even Layers in a Cake

I can't believe I forgot to tell you about my new favorite tool, when it comes to cake baking!  I received an email a few days ago, from a friend who wanted to know if the layers in my rainbow cake were cut or just baked as really thin layers.  Well, the answer to that is BOTH!


I baked six layers, in six separate cake pans, but I also used a fun tool.  The wire on the cutting tool is adjustable and it makes perfectly even layers.  For years, I've always used a knife and trimmed the cake layers, but this is a brilliant invention!  I'm sure I'm the last person on Earth who has discovered this, but I think it's pretty cool.  After the cake is cool, you just saw off the top of the cake layer.



I don't think the kids at the party could really appreciate the perfectly even layers, but I'm sure it made the cake taste better.

Happy baking!

Christmas Tree Day, 2012

It's just like clockwork.  Every year, on the first weekend of December, we head out to find the perfect tree.  This year it started out with a full Christmas breakfast.  We had french toast, bacon, OJ, and cocoa, all served on our special Christmas dishes.

After about 20 minutes of examining every single tree on the farm, we settled on the perfect 9 footer.

We have two trees in our house.  The fake tree sits in the family room.  It has all of the kids' ornaments. Every year they get to buy a new ornament for the tree.  Years from now, when they are ready to move out of the house, we'll pack up the ornaments they've chosen year after year, and they'll have a beautiful tree of their own.

For now, it's the favorite tree in the house. Here's one tree (the fake one).  I'll have to show you the real tree, in the living room, tomorrow.  We ran out of lights and it's only half decorated. 

For now, here's a peak.

Happy decorating!

Hot Cocoa Station

My BFF, Laura at Finding Home, (I may just be stalking her) posted her hot chocolate station last week.  While we have a hot cocoa station set up in the kitchen, mine did not look as cute as Laura's.  So, I cutesy-fied it!



Hot chocolate, marshmallows, sprinkles, and candy canes make a perfect set up.  I didn't have a cute antique tray, like my BFF, but I did have a pretty silver platter that my Mother-In-Law gave me.  The Christmas tree mugs were from my Sister-In-Law.

I don't know about your family, but my kids make hot cocoa just about every day in the winter.  I think a pretty set up, rather than the the plastic containers that these items are sold in, is much more inviting and makes hot cocoa seem like a special tradition.  (Pssst.... the mugs only hold about 6 ounces, rather than the 12 ounce cups they normally use.  Don't tell the kids!)

Do you have a hot cocoa station in your kitchen?  Send me a picture.  I'd love to see it.

homeiswheremystorybegins@gmail.com

Happy cocoa making!