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| Sarita Relis Photography |
I cannot believe that 2 months have already passed, since we celebrated our son's 2nd birthday.
I would like to share with you some photos of that memorable day
as well as a wonderful recipe for a
as well as a wonderful recipe for a
Chocolate Dream Cake
We had James's 2nd birthday party at nana and grandpa's house in Santa Barbara, like we did last year.
It was a convivial gathering of family and friends in the garden and we all had a lovely time.
We wanted a casual barbecue.
On the menu,
Tasty hamburgers and hotdogs with all the trimmings,
Nana's famous potato salad,
A delicious Caesar salad,
A huge fresh fruit salad.
I had also ordered a few dozens cupcakes from our very good local cupcakery.
Vanilla, Red Velvet, chocolate and coconut were the flavors we chose.
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| Sarita Relis Photography |
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| Sarita Relis Photography |
I also wanted to bake a very special yummy chocolate cake for our very special birthday baby boy.
I wanted it to be super moist!
I searched online and I found a recipe on Pinterest (HERE) for a Chocolate Dream Cake.
I only used the recipe for the dark chocolate cake and opted for my personal favorite frosting, no glaze.
(Recipe HERE)
What is a dream cake?
A Dream Cake is a layered cake that is so moist
and so delicious that it is dreamy.
I only used the recipe for the dark chocolate cake and opted for my personal favorite frosting, no glaze.
(Recipe HERE)
What is a dream cake?
A Dream Cake is a layered cake that is so moist
and so delicious that it is dreamy.
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| Voilà! |
I forgot to take a picture of the inside of the cake, so I found this photo online which very much looks like
James's cake, only a bit shorter.
James's cake, only a bit shorter.
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| Source |
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| Sarita Relis Photography |
Baby James feeding his toy bear.
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| Sarita Relis Photography |
James definitely enjoyed his Chocolate Dream Cake
and I also got a lot of compliments from our guests!
INGREDIENTS:
Note:
and I also got a lot of compliments from our guests!
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 cups of all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 2 teaspoons of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 2 cups of water (I know, it is a lot of water! But do not worry, it works!)
- 2 cups of sugar
- 5 oz of dark chocolate, chopped
- 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (I used canola oil)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 6-inch round cake pans. The original recipe called for two 8-inch pans, but I wanted a smaller and taller cake. It worked out great. Then set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir until the sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add the chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally, until melted.
- Whisk in the vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Wait 5 minutes (to cool a little bit), then quickly beat in the eggs (do this fast so that they do not cook) into the chocolate mixture, until combined. Whisk in dry ingredients, until smooth.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, OR until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cakes cool in pans until cool to the touch.
- Remove from pans and cool cakes completely on a cooling rack, before frosting.
Note:
I actually wrapped my 2 cakes in waxing paper and froze them. Then on the actual day, I let the cakes thaw at room temperature for a few hours before frosting.
It turned out great and I did not have to stress about baking on the day of the event.
I decorated the cake with pretty red sugar sprinkles.
•••
The birthday theme that we went for this year was
Fire Engine!
The decorations were custom-made by a lady that I know.
I found her on Etsy last year, for our son's 1st birthday.
She made the birthday banners, cupcake toppers,
napkin rings, drink labels, food/drink signs,
party favor tags
and I always ask for a special welcome sign.
I displayed my husband's old vintage fire engine
from his childhood,
on a very handy little red stool (HERE)
that I found on Amazon.
I also got some fireman party hats from there.
This time, I used the drinks labels on plastic reusable Mason jars.
I thought everyone could take theirs home, as a party favor.
I love Mason jars!
Also found on Etsy,
the seller had various colors for the lids and of course I picked red to go with the theme.
I bought red and white paper straws from my local paper shop, stuck the labels on and
here they are!
Don't they look so pretty?
The main party favor was a freshly baked, custom-made
fire engine sugar cookie.
The baker was also found on Etsy.
Can't you tell I love Etsy?
I was very pleased with them.
So cute and delicious!
We decorated the garden with a lot of helium balloons.
An assortment of red, white and a few black ones.
Also some red paper lanterns.
I love paper lanterns!
Music was playing
and bubbles were floating all around.
Good times!
We also had an art and creative play area for the children.
This year, we had 2 art projects for the kids:
Decorate your own apron
Decorate the wooden people sticks
And lots of drawing!
I went to the arts & crafts section of our closest
Lakeshore Learning Store
and got a few fun things:
James's birthday hat and tee-shirt were custom-made by a lady I know in Pasadena.
I first met her last year, when she made our son's
1st Birthday Cake Smash outfit.
I also found her on Etsy.
I made the cake banner.
I think a cake banner, or bunting cake topper, really embellishes a birthday cake
and makes it even more festive...
I cannot believe our baby boy
is now 2 years old...
Thanks for stopping by,
Alexandra
P.S. If you are interested in any of the custom-made
birthday items, I will be happy to share the links.
Photography by Sarita Relis
http://www.saritarelis.com/
•••
The birthday theme that we went for this year was
Fire Engine!
 |
| Sarita Relis Photography |
The decorations were custom-made by a lady that I know.
I found her on Etsy last year, for our son's 1st birthday.
She made the birthday banners, cupcake toppers,
napkin rings, drink labels, food/drink signs,
party favor tags
and I always ask for a special welcome sign.
I displayed my husband's old vintage fire engine
from his childhood,
on a very handy little red stool (HERE)
that I found on Amazon.
I also got some fireman party hats from there.
 |
| Sarita Relis Photography |
This time, I used the drinks labels on plastic reusable Mason jars.
I thought everyone could take theirs home, as a party favor.
I love Mason jars!
Also found on Etsy,
the seller had various colors for the lids and of course I picked red to go with the theme.
I bought red and white paper straws from my local paper shop, stuck the labels on and
here they are!
 |
| Sarita Relis Photography |
Don't they look so pretty?
 |
| Sarita Relis Photography |
The main party favor was a freshly baked, custom-made
fire engine sugar cookie.
The baker was also found on Etsy.
Can't you tell I love Etsy?
 |
| Sarita Relis Photography |
I was very pleased with them.
We decorated the garden with a lot of helium balloons.
An assortment of red, white and a few black ones.
Also some red paper lanterns.
I love paper lanterns!
Music was playing
and bubbles were floating all around.
Good times!
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| Sarita Relis Photography Bubbles! |
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| Baby James could not wait to open his presents. |
We also had an art and creative play area for the children.
 |
| Sarita Relis Photography |
 |
| Sarita Relis Photography Kids at play |
This year, we had 2 art projects for the kids:
Decorate your own apron
 |
| Source |
 |
| Source |
And lots of drawing!
I went to the arts & crafts section of our closest
Lakeshore Learning Store
and got a few fun things:
- Dot Art Painters
- Large Crayons
- Washable Markers
- Stamper Markers
- Washable Watercolor Brush Pens
- Sticky Wiggly Eyes
- A Roll of White Drawing Paper
James had a BIG birthday surprise in the back garden!
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| A swingset! |
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| Thank you nana and grandpa! |
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| Sarita Relis Photography James blowing the candle. |
James's birthday hat and tee-shirt were custom-made by a lady I know in Pasadena.
I first met her last year, when she made our son's
1st Birthday Cake Smash outfit.
I also found her on Etsy.
I made the cake banner.
I think a cake banner, or bunting cake topper, really embellishes a birthday cake
and makes it even more festive...
 |
| Sarita Relis Photography ...and James liked it! |
I cannot believe our baby boy
is now 2 years old...
 |
| Sarita Relis Photography Our little prince |
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| Sarita Relis Photography ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ |
Thanks for stopping by,
Alexandra
P.S. If you are interested in any of the custom-made
birthday items, I will be happy to share the links.
Photography by Sarita Relis
http://www.saritarelis.com/
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