Overnight Prep

Soaking cannellini beans and salt-and-sugar curing lamb shoulder overnight for tomorrow's supper.

I'm trying to simultaneously respect the cold weather this weekend and pray this is the last snap of the season. Slow-roasted lamb does this girl's soul good. And I've been dreaming of these beans for months!

Birthday Season

 My husband, daughter, mother and I all have birthdays within 16 days of each other.

This year, my daughter wanted a SPACE themed party for her 7th birthday.  Here's the cake I made.  It's the solar system.  And yes, Pluto is represented.  I'm old school like that.

I used this pan for the sun, and this for the planets (both purchased at Michael's).  The planets are dipped in different colored candy melts, with the rings on the gas giants made of candy as well. --  I spread an oval of melted candy on waxed paper, let it dry, peeled it up, then cut out a circle the size of the cake pop and fit them on the planets.  

The Sun cake has buttercream frosting on it because it's the best frosting in the entire world. I used chocolate box cake for both cakes, following the directions on the pan for modifications involving more or less oil and eggs.  The Sun cake stayed moist forever.  

Happy birthday, big girl!  May you always follow your own star!