Birthday Cake

I remember the first time I ever tasted an ice cream cake. My Dad had gone down to our local 31 Flavors, only to return home with an ice cold, white sheet cake topped with little pink flowers. He put the box down on the kitchen table and explained to his wide eyed, five year old daughter that the vanilla ice cream was actually inside. the. cake.  Oh the curiosity and wonder of it all!

I've thought about that birthday cake every year since.

I realize ice cream cakes are somewhat controversial- well, at least they are around my house. And frosting, that too is a contentious topic (for the record, I am in the less is more camp). But an ice cream cake... in my opinion, there is nothing quite like it and the fact that just the anticipation of another bite can inspire that same childlike wonder I felt so many years ago, makes it the birthday cake for me.

Luckily, Martha featured the cake of my dreams in this month's issue.

I'll be sure to follow the step by step instructions just in time to celebrate with a great big bite this weekend.

Haute Chocolate

I have a small confession. For the past couple of weeks now,  I've been sneaking off to the kitchen every afternoon to whip up a cup of hot chocolate. 

Perhaps it's the darker, colder afternoons sending me in search of a little extra pick me up. Truth be told I have always enjoyed sipping on something hot to get me through those last couple of hours in the work day. In the New Year, green tea with all it's antioxidants will fill my cup. As resolutions wane, that will eventually evolve back to my trusty ol' cup of joe. But in need of something sweet one particularly tough day, I happened upon an unopened box of Swiss Miss hiding in the cupboard and I have to say, my afternoon ritual suddenly turned into well... a delight.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving. I was steeping vanilla beans in some milk that would eventually become custard and I got to thinking about how I might up the ante on my daily treat. Lo and behold, there are dozens of ways to turn that cocoa into a haute cup of chocolate. Here are eight I can't wait to try!

 Rick Poon | a la mode

Paula Deen

Nigella Lawson

Katie Goodman | Good Life Eats

Alex Rushmer | Just Cook It

A Cozy Kitchen via Tasty Kitchen

Martha Stewart

Kristin Rosenau | Pastry Affair