in the stars

As children get older, their interest in birthday parties evolve.  When they're young, it's all about the fun theme,  creative little loot bags, the cool cake and all the party noise and colourful wrapping paper.  Classroom sized parties with squealing children, laughing as they learn to get to know their new classmates at school.

These were loot bags from a previous "Wii Tournament" birthday party.
The Wii remote was printed and hand assembled out of paper...it held smarties!

Then they start to transition into more "relationship" type parties.  It's more about spending time with friends.  It's not about how many, but who they're with.  More meaningful time celebrating and sharing memories with good friends.

Part of me loves this new phase...but a little part of me misses the little party details, like creative invitations. Icing and decorating the cake. Assembling the party themed loot bags. I guess I miss the fantasy part of the parties.  Creating those little details involves part craftiness, part resourcefulness and lots of make believe.  When they get older, I guess I don't want them to lose that "make believe" part.  The magic of innocence and youth.

Although their birthday parties may change, I hope that no matter how old they get, they'll never lose their imagination, their innocent magical moments, and their dreams in the stars.

Star Wars themed Pull Apart Cake

This cake is as easy as making cupcakes...the cupcakes are "joined together" with the icing, and when serving (especially if you're doing a party outside of the home), easy to serve, without needed utensils).


Ingredients
For the cupcake/cake:

• 1 cup white sugar 
• 1/2 cup butter 
• 2 eggs 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder 
• 1/2 cup milk
• cupcake/muffin liners

For the icing:

• 1 cup of butter
• 1 1/2  cup of confectioner (or icing/powdered sugar)
• 1/2 cup milk or whipping cream
• 1/2 cup of boiling water
• Vanilla extract (optional, to taste).

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper liners. 
• Cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.
• Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the paper liners. 
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cupcakes are done when it springs back to the touch.
• Let cool completely.
• While the cupcakes are baking, make the icing.  Whip the butter with the sugar and cream, then add the boiling water slowly until desired consistency.
• Assemble the cupcakes so the sides are touching, until you have a rectangular shape
• Carefully spread the white icing all over the cupcakes, as you would a cake, until all the cupcakes are "attached" together with the icing.
• Using a icing bag (or a ziplock with the corner cut off), ice the chocolate icing in rows to make the mask (use a picture as an example).

Eat with the birthday stars!