Bakers don't make their own birthday cakes

My boyfriend makes a killer pot of french press coffee and throws together a cheese platter I can demolish in seconds. With much love for my boyfriend, I can affectionately say that's the extent of his skills in the kitchen.

However...

For my birthday, I arose to the sounds of my kitchen aid mixer ablaze in the early morning hour. The boyfriend was baking me a cake. A lemon chiffon cake.

Holy Crap.

I especially love the unique and well calculated placement of the 2 candles on one side of the cake, and the cluster of 8 candles on the other side.

Best birthday ever.

Whoopie Pies for your Valentine

I am aware there's a hefty percentage of the population that dreads the coming of Valentine's Day. I suppose if I wasn't easily bought with flowers, I'd scoff at St. Valentine too. But I'm a baker, and baking EVERYTHING into hearts is kinda my thing. And I love romance. Not the novels, the real thing. And crappy RomComs. So yes, I really love Valentine's Day.

Oh, and it's also my birthday.

Recently I was asked to bake a flavorful array of whoopie pies for food photographer, Lew Robertson's whoopie pie photo shoot. I delivered some of my favorite flavors - Green Tea, Lavender, Chocolate Truffle, Sweet Vanilla Bean, and Raspberry. And because of the upcoming Valentine's holiday, I threw in a few heart shaped red velvet whoopies. Steph, over at Lew's studio, just sent the photos and I couldn't wait to post them for you!

Happy Valentine's Day, whether you celebrate it or not. *snork