Caleb's Airplane Birthday Party

What can be better than a moist cupcake, sweet but not overpowering frosting, or a crunch of chocolate? Putting all three together for a tasty mouthful, of course!

 This cupcake cake was for Caleb's 2nd birthday party at the pool! I opted for making cupcakes versus a sheet cake for the ease of just passing them out the kids instead of cutting a cake, providing plates, forks, etc. It made everything so much easier! After singing "Happy Birthday", the kids grabbed a cupcake, devoured it and jumped in the pool. 

Each child also enjoyed some of the chocolate decorations. I do not like fondant, ugh the taste and working with it...so I choose to work with the colored melting chocolates! I traced an airplane cookie cutter onto wax paper and outlined it with melted red chocolate. When it was cooled, I placed them on the cupcakes. I also made several small "clouds" with white chocolate. They were a delicious tidbit of sweetness and crunch to add, not to mention adorably cute! :P

I also made a small cake that the family could take home and enjoy together after the event, with a layer of strawberry filling!  (I will share how to make your own jelly filling in a future post!) ENJOY!

 

Now for the recipes! I've shared them on different blog posts before, but I will share them again on this page because I like them so much and it will be simpler to just come to one place for my favorite recipes! (I cannot claim credit for this recipe since I found it on Pinterest.)

 WHITE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

1 Box Betty Crocker White Cake Mix

1 - 3.4oz. package White Chocolate Instant Pudding

4 Egg Whites

1 Cup Sour Cream

1 Cup Vegetable Oil

1/2 Cup Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp Sea Salt

 Preheat oven to 375' F. 

Beat all ingredients together until smooth. 

Line cupcake pan with liners and place a medium scoop in each cup, about 2/3 full of batter. 

After placing them in the oven, turn down to 325' F. (This helps them rise fluffy!)

Bake cupcakes for 18-20 minutes and test with a toothpick when done. 

DELICIOUS FROSTING

1 Qt Heavy Whipping Cream

1 - 3.4 oz. package of White Chocolate Instant Pudding 

Whisk ingredients together until smooth.

Chill in the refrigerator for several hours.   

**This is important! The frosting will not keep its shape if it is not cold. FYI: This is a creamy frosting and not the easiest to decorate with. 

Top cupcakes and cake with and design/shapes made with melted chocolate! 

Birthday Parties!

It's my mom's and mother-in-law's birthdays this week so we flew down to California to celebrate with them and give them what they really want...snuggle time with Ben! 

Everyone, not just the grandmas, enjoy playing with Benny boy! He is going to be so spoiled by the time we leave! I blame them entirely! Lol! 

For my mom's birthday, we went out to eat at her favorite restaurant, a Thai food place called Siam Garden! It was delicious!!

Then we went back home for dessert!

I made a chocolate cake with strawberry and banana filling. The frosting was mixed cool whip and Nutella! I decorated the top with white melting chocolate. 

The 2nd dessert was my version of Strawberry Shortcake, except I used strawberry cake mix instead of Angel Food cake (which I regret, but I didn't want to go to the store for a box of cake mix so I used what we had at the house. I know, I'm lazy.) I also used some of the extra chocolate hearts leftover from the cake. 

To make the best Strawberry Shortcake:

1. Make Angel Food Cake cupcakes!

2. Chop fresh strawberries and mix with cool whip/whip cream in a bowl. 

3. Layer strawberry/whip cream mixture, cupcake, a swirl of whip cream, and a heart-shaped strawberry in a clear cup. 4. Yummy! 

After dessert, my mom opened her presents and Ben tried to help! 

It was a great evening! Happy Birthday Mom! 

On Saturday we celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday! For lunch we had pizza at my in-laws favorite place, then we went to the beach and had a relaxing time! 

Ben did better than I expected with the sand and loved walking on the beach (as long as the water wasn't higher than his itty-bitty ankles)!

 We collected shells and fed the sea gulls then had a delicious but, oh so unhealthy, fish 'n chips dinner! Before we left, grandpa bought 2 Shark Attack slices. It's a delicious 7-layer chocolate cake. It's one of Jon's and Jera's favorite desserts. (Someday I'll get the recipe right and share it!)

Have a great day!!! And enjoy the sun and outdoors (if you live somewhere that you can)!