Treats for appetites of every size
Happy birthday, Mom! Though last weekend we had your surprise party, this Friday was the real deal, so of course, despite our emergency trip for coconut cake, I had to make one more coconut recipe. This week, a Kathy Muncey special: chocolate coconut macaroons.
Happy birthday week, Mom! Yesterday, we kicked off the festivities with a surprise party for her. I think, miraculously, we actually pulled it off, and it was great to see so many people come out to celebrate such an amazing woman. Today, we kept the party going with some coconut baking: Morning Glory Muffins.
When Marj comes to town, it’s pretty much a given that we’re going to bake. So when she offered to pick up cherries at her market in New York, I asked (OK, maybe told) her to bring a recipe to use them in as well. And did she deliver.
I’ve been at my summer job for two weeks and haven’t brought in any baked goods yet. Last week I was baking for a cookout. The week before I baked for school friends who were still around. This week, I’m finally bringing something into the office: Coconut Cake.
Cakes seem like they have it pretty good. Always out on display in bakery windows, drawing people in. Frequently the centerpiece at special occasions. Oohed and ahhed over when they’re particularly well designed. But I’d argue that they actually get the short end of the stick when it comes to baked goods.
Anyone following my Instagram (@smilesbymeg) knows that Easter dessert involved more than just a Carrot Cake Roll, but also some coconut cupcakes. Since it’s my parents’ anniversary – Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! – and my mom always insists on celebrating with coconut cake, it seemed fitting to post this recipe now.
This post starts with a new Saturday morning tradition. Last week was the first time we tried this, but since its been two weeks in a row, I’m calling it a tradition. I start a run from my parents’ new house and my mom starts to walk. I go out around to the beach and back, and it times out perfectly (like, arriving-at-the-door-at-the-exact-same-time perfectly) that we meet at the bakery we always used to go to from their old house.
Tuesday is my mom’s birthday, and despite the fact that her daughter would like nothing more than to make her a coconut cake, she will only accept Sara Lee Coconut Cake from the grocery store. And by Sara Lee, she actually means Pepperidge Farm, but you only would know that if you’ve spent 15 minutes frantically combing through the freezer section stressing out that you couldn’t find it. Sometimes, there really is no replacement for your childhood favorite. Love you, Mom! Enjoy!
It’s sunny! And warm! And not snowy! All of these things are beyond exciting after the winter we had, and even hold true up in Massachusetts, where I just spent a wonderful week at home. I made the most of my time with my bake center, and squeezed in another little project last night while watching the Bruins thoroughly confirm that they had no place in the playoffs this year.
I think I figured out how trifle was invented. We’ve all been there. You promise to make a cake for some event. You decide to wait until the day of said event because you obviously don’t want to bring stale cake somewhere. You follow the directions for making the batter to a T. And then you get cocky.