Happy 9th Birthday!

Musings on Life and Beauty

Someone at our house turned nine years old today!  It was a great day and she wore a smile most of the time (except for one little mishap, when she cut her thumb on the lid to a can of her all-time favorite snack:  applesauce.)

The day in pictures:


Breakfast in bed, followed immediately by her main birthday gift so she could enjoy it all day long (even in the rain).


A new bike.  Her big brother literally broke her old one in half a few weeks ago, making this birthday gift one of the easiest decisions Mom and Dad have made for a birthday.  Did you know that big brothers could snap a bike in half?  Yea, me neither, but it happened, and we still have the pieces to prove it.  Let’s just say it was no surprise when he snapped his metal lacrosse stick in half at practice last week.


She spent much of the day riding around with a big grin on her face…


until we were off to soccer/lacrosse games for the afternoon.

Home for her dinner of choice and a trip around the table sharing things we love most about her.  After that a few more gifts to unwrap, including a new bike helmet (which she can also wear snowboarding since she likes to bomb the hills at high speeds) and a bike lock so we can prevent big brother from breaking another one.


I love hugs like this.  She’s an amazing big sister.


Finally it was time for birthday cake and candles.


She tossed in some good-natured patience and plugged ears when her brothers and sisters sang incredibly loudly.


At last it was bedtime, and she stayed up late hanging out with Mom, Dad and her big sister.  She has been a delight all her life.  We’re so blessed to have this amazing girl in our family.  Happy Birthday, cutie!

Mom

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Best Chocolate Frosting

Desserts



This is our family’s favorite go-to chocolate frosting.  Quick, simple, yummy every time.  It’s great on cookies, cakes, or whatever you need chocolate frosting for.


Best Chocolate Frosting 1 pound powdered sugar 1/2 cup softened butter 1/4-1/2 cup cocoa  (I usually use closer to 1/2 cup) 1 tsp. vanilla 1/3 cup milk In a bowl, whip butter for 4-5 minutes.  Add vanilla and milk and beat until light.  Add cocoa, then add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating well.  Frost and enjoy!

{frosting shown here on my chocolate zucchini cake }

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Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Desserts

When you’ve got zucchini all over your kitchen counters, a chocolate zucchini cake is definitely in order, wouldn’t you think?


Chocolate Zucchini Cake Ingredients:
2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 4 eggs 3/4 cup applesauce 3/4 cup vegetable oil 3 cups grated zucchini, with peel Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour a bundt pan (or a 9×13 inch pan will work as well).

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.  In a smaller bowl, beat together eggs, vegetable oil and applesauce until well combined.  Add to dry ingredients.  Stir to combine.  Add grated zucchini and stir until zucchini is well distributed.  Fill bundt pan and bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool for 15 minutes and invert onto cake platter to remove from bundt pan.  Cool completely and frost with your favorite frosting.  (I used this one, our Favorite Chocolate Frosting ).


Add a little homemade vanilla ice cream and you’re good to go!


HH

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