Birthday Cakes

It's that time of year when my three sons move up in age.  My middle guy - Justin - is turning 16 this month.  Here he is with his first birthday cake back in 1996.

He reminded me a bit of Linus from Peanuts, so I made him a Linus cake.

I've always been into cakes.

One of my favorite cakes is the One-Two-Three-Four Cake - a recipe given to me by my sister Dottie.  It's a delicious, dense, three layer, vanilla cake.

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One-Two-Three-Four Cake

1 c. butter or shortening (or 1/2 c. each)

2 c. sugar

4 eggs, separated

3 c. flour

1/4 ts. salt

3 ts. baking powder 

1 c. milk

1 ts. vanilla

Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy.  Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.  Combine dry ingredients and add alternately with milk & vanilla to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.  Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.  Pour into 3 9-inch round greased and floured cake pans.  Bake at 350 F for 25 minutes.  Let cool a bit on racks, remove cake, and cool completely.

This cake is nice with a basic buttercream frosting or...

Seven Minute White Icing

2 unbeaten egg whites

1 ½ c. sugar

5 TB cold water

1 ¼ ts. cream of tartar

1 ½ TB light corn syrup

1 ts. vanilla

Place first 5 ingredients in the top of a double boiler.  Over boiling water, beat ingredients with an electric mixer or a wire whisk for 7 minutes until peaks form.  Remove from heat.  Whisk in vanilla.

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Here's another favorite cake of mine from my sister Marcia. She sent me this recipe, along with a note that I've kept from her since June of '92.  In it, Marcia wrote:

"I plan to tune into Gus some afternoon - but I'm hesitant about doing so.  I know how contagious this sort of thing can become.  I'd have recipes galore which I'd probably never get around to making."

And your point is...?

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Spumoni Cake with Chocolate Glaze