bad planning

On Monday, it will be my birthday and I like to make a fuss about such things. Last year I had a lovely picnic in the park outside our apartment with all my friends and I made chocolate vegan cupcakes (pictured to the left) and a beautiful baked alaska. This year, all birthday planning fell apart because I simply forgot that it was my birthday (I know, the horror!) and I ran out of time to get some fabulous party or get-together organized. Also, on Monday, Cornelius will be busy launching a huge web project that he's spent the past couple of months working on and I have a bowling tournament in the evening. Another wrench in my plans is that many of my friends are out of town vacationing or having babies - obviously, they didn't take my birthday into consideration when planning out their lives! I do have plans for a bar and bike party (with the wonderful idea stolen from The Messy Cucina!) in June as a co-birthday party celebration with my friend, Dan....but that's in June. What's going to happen this month?

While I have no plans yet for some kind of birthday revelry or beer bash blow out (ha!), I do have a few ideas on what kind of cake I'd like. I've been doing a bit of blog-hopping and I've settled on a few contenders, tho the cake on the cover of the Martha Stewart Baking book, sure looks tempting too! So many ideas, so little time.

• The Strawberry Shortbread Tart found at From the Pantry looks so lovely!

• The alluring combination of brown butter & rhubarb at Orangette.

• How can one go wrong with my favorite chocolate/coconut combo at Chocolate & Zucchini.

• My love of beer and chocolate is combined into a delicious cake at Kitchen on Clarendon.

I usually end up making my own birthday cakes since Cornelius is pretty hapless in the kitchen. One year he did try making me a birthday cake but it ended up horribly and he doesn't like to talk about it. Maybe this year we can make a cake together. Or, I can sit and watch him (a fruity drink in my hand) and guide him through to birthday cake bliss!