Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Happy Birthday to Me


This summer, I hit a milestone. Or rather, a milestone hit me. I don’t know how it happened so fast, but here I am at that age that I always considered to be “old.” (Otherwise known as the age-that-must-not-be-named.) It’s all relative, of course, and in many ways I am healthier and happier than I have ever been, however, it’s still a little shocking to reach what I consider to be my parents’ age. (And seriously, you couldn’t pay me to be twenty again – ugh!)  

Instead of engaging in some quiet introspection to reflect on my past and to set goals for my future, I headed into the kitchen to make myself a birthday cake. Since this is the second year in a row that I have made myself a cake for my birthday, I think I can call it a tradition. (Established 2012!) This is also the second time that I have made the Pistachio Petit Four Cake that I had long admired at Smitten Kitchen, and I think I was able to improve on my marzipan flower design this year. 

Glamour shot on great-grandma's cake stand


Yes, these marzipan mums were a labor of love
Maybe next year, I will attempt something more original as the topper, but I do feel like the glistening dark chocolate ganache calls for the fussiness of the girlie pink flowers on top. What do you think?

Last year's cake for reference
 - Jenn