Baking Days and Birthdays

What have I been doing for the last week? Baking. I think I have a problem. Last Thursday, I baked chocolate lava cakes. Friday, I baked chocolate chip cookies. Saturday morning it was cinnamon bun muffins (which proved valuable for our impromptu fika that afternoon). Sunday was my day of baking rest. ;) Monday, I baked apple crumble bars and 5 mini-apples pies. (We had received a basket of apples from some friends, and I had to do something with some of them.) Tuesday, I baked AJ's birthday cake for school, and today I baked his birthday cake for home.

The apples

K making the crust for the apple bars

AJ spreading the crust out on the bottom of the pan

K scraping out the apple filling

Apple filling spread, now time for the top

Ready for the oven

Fortunately, since the cake I made Tuesday was for school on Wednesday, I didn't having it hanging out in my fridge, staring at me. I really enjoy celebrating with the kids at school. It is fun singing the Swedish songs and participating in the different traditions. This year, AJ received a Swedish CD as his present. This is perfect since I am inept when it comes to finding Christian Swedish kids music.

The celebration at school usually starts with everyone sitting in a circle on the floor. One of the teachers will put a fake cake with candles and a wooden Swedish flag in front of the birthday-kid.

Then, they sing to the child, followed by candles being blown out and a presentation of a card and present.

AJ's birthday card from his teachers

The last part includes singing a song at the request of the birthday kid, followed by cake.

AJ's birthday cake for school. The orange and black construction sign is made from modeling chocolate and reads, "Happy Birthday, AJ." The orange cones are also modeling chocolate. This was a yellow cake with ganache frosting. Crushed Oreos filled the bucket and the back.

All ready to wheel out to the kids

The kids (especially the boys) loved the cake. AJ was pleased, so I was happy as well. Bonus: the kids seemed to enjoy the taste of the cake, too. I took home an empty pan.

Timo's dad is in town this week, and I found out today that he was planning on leaving tomorrow. That left tonight for celebrating. No cake? No problem. I whipped up a chocolate cake and some more ganache for frosting. Then I covered it with graham cracker crumbs to look like sand. Add some chocolate train tracks and some Legos, and voila!

AJ's home cake

While eating this cake tonight, AJ asked his Farfar if he liked the cake. He responded that it was delicious, to which AJ replied, "Yeah, my mommy is the best cake-maker." It melted my heart. I had experienced kind of a rough day, and I almost cried at those words. Moments like those are the rewards of motherhood. I know there is a plethora of people out there who are much more talented at cake-making and decorating than I am, but today, I am the best because my son thinks so.

From Tree to Table to Tummy

I love apple season. On Wednesday, we visited our neighbor's yard (with permission) to pick some fresh apples for apple pie. Actually, it was more like apple cobbler or apple crisp.

Me lifting up AJ to pick an apple.

K picking apples

After picking several apples, we walked home to peel and cut them. I peeled them and cut them off the core. Then, K cut them into smaller pieces for the filling. We added lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and flour. Then, I combined brown sugar, flour, butter, and something similar to molasses for the crust.

Inspired by a friend, I chose to make individual-sized pies in ramekins.

Apple filling

Ready to go in the oven

They were delicious, and it is nice knowing that I wasn't enjoying pesticides with my pie. I can't wait until we pick some more.

Applesauce

Yesterday, I took the kids up the road to pick some apples from a tree that no one seems to own. The apples aren't beautiful, but they are free. They aren't so great to munch on raw, but they work for baking.

Today, I kept my promise to K to teach her how to make applesauce.

I peeled the apples, then K cut them in small pieces and put them in the pot.

We found a friend on one of the apples. :)

H decided to carry the apples around

After she was finished cutting the apples, she poured a little water in the pot.

All ready to go.

Once the apples cooked a little, it was time to add the cinnamon and vanilla sugar.

Adding cinnamon

When the apples were soft enough, she mashed them.

All done!

Now, the final step is to eat it.

H at first refused to try it. Once I forced some in his mouth, he couldn't get enough.