What She Cooked: Happy Birthday Ace!

Last year I got one of the best belated birthday gifts, another nephew, Ace! Yesterday Ace turned one so today we are celebrating with a small gathering of the people who love him most. I am helping my sister out by bringing two dishes I made recently, White Bean Bruschetta and a Creamy Barley Salad with Apples. I also volunteered to make the cake, which I have been excited (and slightly nervous) about all week. My sister and I decided on a rocket ship cake that we saw on parenting.com. Everyone in my family loves coconut, so I decided to make the cake coconut flavored. This recipe from myrecipes.com was my inspiration. I don't watch much tv, but I do find myself drawn to shows about making cake. I love cake and you can do such creative things with them. This was my first undertaking in making a creative cake.

Coconut Cake

I hope Ace likes his rocket cake!

I made 2 cakes, just in case. Arnauld is visiting family on Long Island tonight so I am sending this cake to them. For this one, I added flaked coconut to the frosting.

Ingredients
2 large eggs
1/3 cup of water
8 oz light sour cream
8 oz cream of coconut (found in the international aisle-it comes in a can)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 box of white cake mix
2 cups shredded coconut

Method
1. Beat eggs with mixer on high speed for about 2 minutes.
2. Add water, sour cream, cream of coconut, and vanilla. Mix together. Add cake mix and mix on low speed until combined. Then mix for 2 more minutes on high.
3. Stir in coconut and pour batter into 9x13 pan that has been greased and coated with flour.
4. Bake on 325 for 40-45 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
8oz package of cream cheese
1/2 cup margarine
3 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
16 oz powdered sugar

Method
1. Beat cream cheese and margarine with a mixer on medium speed until creamy
2. Add milk and vanilla and then gradually add sugar beating until smooth.