Let Them Eat Cake: Birthday Edition

 

 

And by "them" I mean me.  Yes, this little fool is having a birthday today. I just love birthdays, and I love cake even more. Add some champagne and I am one happy camper.  Most years I make my own cake. With hosting an Easter party at the end of the week, "Mr. Shop This" is in charge of bringing home the cake. Make your own with these beautiful recipes.

 

Coconut Cake With Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Oh this reminds me of my Mom. It was my dad's favorite cake. 

My Three Seasons 

 

Chocolate Coconut Raspberry Cake

Vegan and Gluten Free

 One of the prettiest cakes that I have ever seen.

 Heather Christo 

 

 

 

Pina Colada Cake 

 Isn't this fun? And yes, it does call for rum!

Liv For Cake

 

 Bursting Blueberry Lemon Cake

 Because lemons with blueberries are a delicious duo.

 Half Baked Harvest

S'mores Cake

Just Yum. Doesn't this look toasty and terrific? 

Broma Bakery 

 

Dark  Chocolate Mousse Cake 

The ultimate for chocolate lovers. 

Sally's Baking Cookbook 

 

 

 Limoncello Meringue Cheesecake

 What a delightful spring dessert!

Delicious 

 

German Chocolate Cake 

One of the best cakes ever!  What I like the most about this recipe is the frosting to cake ratio. It's perfect.

Southern Living 

 

 

Flour Shop Bakery Cake Mix

Now we can make our own explosion cake. It's a fun gift foe a birthday. 

Williams Sonoma 

 

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Bold, Bright & Beautiful  For Spring 

 

When In Doubt, Gift Food!

{ Via: Williams Sonoma  }

It's go time for gifting, my friends. The shipping cutoff times are upon us. If you are still shopping, and are stumped, food is always a good idea. This post features both sweet and savory treats ~ from Caviar to Truffles. Best of all, it will get there on time.  Go ahead and check your list, and send the fritters to me! :)

72 Handmade Tamales, For 18-24 People

Gift a big family, or select these for yourself, if having a party. I know first hand that these tamales are just fabulous, and oh so fun! There is still time for Christmas delivery.

Neiman Marcus

Ina's Coconut Cake

Oh my! I can't have The Barefoot Contessa deliver this to you, but Goldbelly will deliver it for free!

GoldBelly

Beehive Cheese Crate

We all have cheese lovers on our list. This beautifully presented gift is for them!

Williams Sonoma

Vosages Exotic Chocolate Truffles

Oh boy! Aren't these beautiful? From one of the ten best chocolatiers in the world. The chocolate lover will be thrilled with flavors from all around the world. The creativity of this box is amazing. Ships for free from....

Goldbelly

Linda's Gourmet Latkes

24 yummy and crispy potato pancakes.
Horchow

Culinary Ice Cream

Named the best Culinary flavored ice cream by Food and Wine magazine. And with flavors like Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons, Pear & Blue Cheese, Strawberry Honey Balsamic, Gingerbread Cookie Dough, Cinnamon Snickerdoodle,  Honey Lavender, and more, you cannot go wrong. Minimum order is 5 pints. Sign up for texts and you get 10% off. They cannot guarantee arrival by Christmas, but I took a chance. Fingers crossed.

Salt & Stone

Truffle Hunter Truffle Slices
Gift the cook or truffle lover this. They will know just what to do with them!

Neiman Marcus

Boarderie Artisan Cheese & Charcuterie Boards

This company has taken the gifting and food world by storm. And why not? They are super attractive, and ready to gift or eat. Right now, they are offering free overnight shipping. Go for it!

Boarderie

Lou Malnatti's Deep Dish Pizza

IMHO there are only 2 Chicago deep dish pizzas worth the calories. This is one of them. It's the crust that puts this pie at the top of the list. Each pizza serves 2 people, and you get six pizzas. Free fast shipping, too. Mangia!

Goldbelly

Stan's Donuts
I miss many things about Chicago, and Stan's is right at the top. Their donuts are beyond good. In fact the Apple Fritters are one of my favorite foods. I have linked you to their page on Goldbelly. You can order 12 or 24. Whatever you do, treat yourself to an Apple Fritter. These are worth every penny and calorie.

Goldbelly

Peppermint Bark
You can only find this at Williams Sonoma.  It's often copied but never matched. The bark is made with white chocolate, dark chocolate, and  peppermint candy. It's addictive! You have your choice of three sizes packed in a nostalgic tin.

Williams Sonoma

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Holiday Gift Guides For Everyone On Your List

 

Everything Easter

{ Pottery Barn Kids }

Easter is early this year. It's not too soon to think about personalized gifts, baskets, and special treats. This little Easter edit is filled with tiny finery, home decor, and more. Any bunny will love it all.

Easter Bunny Carrot Cake

This darling dessert is said to be as delicious as it is cute. It's from Chef Duff Goldman of The Food Network. His cakes have become legendary. Inside you will find four layers filled with cream cheese frosting. No shipping charges.

Gold Belly

Charbonnel et Walker Peter Rabbit  Chocolate Bar Set
So sweet and really good chocolate! 

Shop Terrain  or  Anthropologie

Raffia Bunny Backpack

Cute as can be personalized or not.

Mark and Graham

McKenzie Childs Spring Fling Wreath

A warm welcome for the MC devotee.

Neiman Marcus or  McKenzie Childs

Personalized Easter Sack

Perfect for egg hunting! There's three designs, and can be personalized with your wording.

Etsy

Liberty London Bunny Sweatshirt

She will hop right out of her frilly dress, and be  comfy in this special style from London.

Maisonette

Personalized Musical Snow Globe

Oh the wonder of a special snow globe! This little Peter Rabbit that plays "The Easter Parade," will be cherished long after the last jelly bean is eaten.

Pottery Barn Kids

Eugenia Kim Veruschka Hat

For those who take their Easter Bonnets seriously. WOW!

Anthropologie

Some Bunny Bracelet Set

Any little girl will love this stylish stack. They are stretchy, and perfect for stuffing in plastic eggs.

Baublebar

Hunt Slonem Bunny Plate

The Hunt Slonem Hop Up Shop at BG is one of my favorite rooms on 6th. The artistic bunnies are so playful any day of the year. They are especially fun for Easter. This plate is a perfect host gift. Bunnie points for adding a few Macarons on the plate.

Bergdorf Goodman

Hand Painted Large Easter Eggs

These are a fabulous find! Imagine them in an equally artistic black bowl, or one at each place setting. They also make unique table gifts for an artsy crowd.

Etsy

Flower Kit

Everything they need to grow some beautiful flowers of their own, including the soil. A great gift for any budding plant parent. Small enough to fit in your hand, so it is Easter Basket perfect!

Etsy

Baby's Easter Gift Set

This is just the sweetest boxed gift ever. Comes in sizes newborn to 24 months. Made from quality yarn dyed cotton. When nothing but the best will do. You'll find special things for big brother and sister, too.

Petite Plume 

Easter Pajamas

Some say that these are the best jammies for kids ever. They are 100% organic cotton in a full range of sizes. Darling!

Hanna Andersson

Painterly Party Crackers

Fun for a modern tablescape. In fact all the cackers are chic in this little shop.

Etsy

Pottery Barn Easter Baskets

Save up to 40% on Easter baskets! Big or small, these are hard to beat.

Pottery Barn

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Let's Have A Pillow Party at Etsy

Sunday Sweets: Delicious Deserts Your Loves Will Love

{ Via: Sunny Gu }

As they say, the fastest way to someone's heart just might be through their tummy. Something sweet is a perfect way to say I love you, especially across the miles.  Think Slice & Bake Cookie Dough for the grandkids, Candy Caramel Apples for the college kids, and a Lobster Dinner for the newlyweds, complete with bread pudding for dessert. It's all yummy.  With 10 days until Valentine's now is the time to order.

Duff Goldman Red Velvet Heart Cake

Surely you have heard of The Cake Boss on The Food Network. He and his cakes are legendary, not to mention delicious and beautiful! Ships for free.

Gold Belly

Belgian Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

Handmade and heavenly by chocolate artisans. What's more romantic or yummy?

Neiman Marcus

Valentine's Day Slice & Bake Cookies 

Even those who can't bake can make these. I will never tell that all you did was put them in the oven. A cute idea for kids. They will love this fun activity and tasty treat. 

Williams Sonoma

Raaka Chocolate Library

For the true chocoholic. A special treat of chcolate bars in sets of 3 or 8. With flavors like Aged Bourbon Cask, Pink Sea Salt, Green Tea Crunch and more, a chocolate connoisseur will lose their mind. 

Food52

Amarena Fabri Cherries

What an unique gift! The cherries are very special and stored in a pretty piece of pottery.  They will use these on ice cream, pastries, cakes, and their favorite cocktails.
Sur La Table

Lobster Dinner For Two

Oh what a fun treat! McLoons Lobster Shack from Main, will send you two 1.5 cooked lobster tails, small batch clam chowder, and your choice of  blueberry bread pudding with white chocolate, or brownies. Shipping is free!

Gold Belly

Personalized Shortbread Cookies

From Delight Patisserie, these cookies are said to be decadent. They have a buttery flavor and a melt in your mouth texture. Get creative, and design something special for your loves.

Neiman Marcus

Be Mine Macarons

Here's a sweet idea for Valentine's Day. Take someone you love to a Cooking Class to make French Macarons. You will learn how to build a batter and create two different fillings. Of course you will take home the creations you made. It would be a fun date night.

Sur La Table

Chest Of Chocolates

Harry & David does a great job at making a treat feel and taste special. This one is a treasure for chocolate lovers with everything from decadent chocolate cake to truffles and chocolate covered pretzels. A great gift for college students. And now if you buy one, you get another for 50% off.

Harry & David

Mrs. Prindable's Apple Assortment

Just Yum! Who doesn't love these candy apples? And Mrs. Prindable's does in best. Perfect gifts for a family, or again to send to kids away at school.

QVC

The Cakers Flourless Dark Chocolate Gold Leaf Cake Kit

Perfect for the chocolate lover that also loves to bake.

Anthropologie

Ferrara Bakery Treats

A legendary NYC bakery never  disappoints. Everything is exceptional. I adore the cannoli! The best part of this idea is that shipping is free.

Gold Belly

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Isn't It Romantic?

~ And ~

Valentines For your Littlest Sweethearts