The Birthday Party

We decided to celebrate Maddy's sixth birthday a little early as her birthday always falls around Memorial Day and no one's around to help celebrate. We had originally selected 2 p.m. for her party, figuring we could have a cook-out, like always, and keep it simple. Unfortunately, everyone had something going on at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Who knew? So we changed it to 10:30 a.m. and had a birthday brunch.

Let me tell you, it was the BEST decision I could have made. I made a French Toast Casserole thingy and a hashbrown casserole thing (recipes courtesty of my friend Cyn and listed below), along with banana muffins, made by your's truly, bagels and cream cheese (gotta love Panera Bread!), bacon, orange juice and coffee. Perfect! I got the casseroles ready the night before and popped them in the oven that morning along with the muffins I made. Robin ran out for the bagels in the morning while I cooked up the bacon. Easy, peasy and très yummy! I got compliments all around for the casseroles and believe me, my father-in-law isn't one to dole out the compliments easily. My mother-in-law even asked for the recipes! Ha! Score!

Ok, without further ado, here are Cyn's world famous recipes she kindly sent me in my direst hour of need! :D Love ya, Cyn!

French Toast Casserole

1/2 - 1 pound French Bread
8 eggs
3 cups milk
4 t sugar
3/4 t salt
1 T vanilla
2 T butter, cut up in small pieces


Butter or spray 13x9 pan. Cut bread into 1" thick pieces.
Arrange in a single layer in bottom of pan.
Beat eggs, milk, sugar, salt and vanilla until smooth, pour over bread.
Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Dot top of bread with butter.
Bake uncovered 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees until fluffy and cooked through.


Hashbrown Casserole

1 - 2 lb. bag frozen hashbrowns
1 stick softened margarine
1 can cream of celery soup (or cream of chicken)
1 cup diced fresh onions
1/2 lb grated cheddar cheese (hold out some to sprinkle on top of casserole)
8 oz. sour cream

Thaw potatoes - mix margarine, soup, onions, cheese (save some for top) sour cream & salt & pepper together.
Lay potatoes in bottom of 9 x 13 pan or dish.
Mix everything into the potatoes - sprinkle balance of cheese on top.
Put crushed potato chips or corn flakes over the cheese.
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Maddy had a blast. She couldn't wait to open her gifts. In fact, she "finished" her cake quickly so she could tear into her gifts. By finished, I mean she had exactly one bite before she claimed she was "done!" and needed to open her gifts pronto! Seeing as I barely had served everyone cake by then, I told her she had to wait a minute.

Oh, and speaking of the cake, it was delish if not a bit testing at times. I tried a great recipe I found at allrecipes.com

Grandpop's Special Chocolate Cake

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hot, brewed coffee
2 eggs


DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, soda, and salt.
Add oil, milk, vanilla, coffee, and eggs; beat well. Batter will be thin. Pour into two 9 inch greased and floured round pans.
Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 25 minutes, or when top springs back when done. Cool layers on wire racks.

It was supermoist and light. Yum!

I frosted it with a basic buttercream icing and then with a marshmellow fondant. It was stinkin' easy to make and super easy to work with even for an someone who's never used fondant before. Check out the link. It's even tastey! What more could you ask for. Oh, yeah, some spelling skills. Apparently, BIRTHDAY is now written without an H...at least at 11:30 p.m. the night before the party it is! ;)


Maddy was over the moon with all her gifts. Well, most of them. She didn't quite understand why she got a Brainquest "game" from PopPop or some decorative boxes from Nicole and
family, but LOVED the hand-me-down Barbie dolls and the Puppy play thing-a-ma-jiggy from Aunt Crystal and family. She was also pretty thrilled with her new bike! She's such a big girl now.

Her actual birthday is Friday. My baby girl is going to be six years old. I have to get some cupcakes made for her class to celebrate on Friday as well as shop with her tomorrow for an outfit to wear for her birthday to school. There's much excitement about having an out of uniform day for her birthday. She will be one of few on Friday to not be donning her blue and white. Extra special will be that she will be at Mass on Friday and everyone will know it's her special day.