Red Velvet Cake, It's A Birthday Tradition!

In our family, tradition is HUGE. If I tried to explain all that it encompasses, we'd be here all day! Suffice it to say, Red Velvet Cake has ALWAYS been the cake of choice when birthdays roll around. My grandmother started that tradition when my sister and I were just wee ones. And now, it's what our children ask for on their special day. My grandmother had her own recipe, and as children we thought it a delightful cake. Not to speak ill of my wonderful grandmother, but as we grew older we realized our cakes were lacking.... something. Then my mother picked up the spoon and she started baking cakes for our children. The kids LOVED MeMe's Red Velvet Cake, and we rode that cake plate for quite some time. But as each generation passes, so must the baking of the beloved Red Velvet Cake.

RED VELVET BROWNIES

'Tis the season to satisfy your sweet tooth, right? From candy to cookies to cakes, everyone has their favorite Christmas sweet. It's no stretch to say that my family LOVES Red Velvet Cake. It's the most requested cake in our family. 

There's nothing more festive than ending your Christmas dinner with a beautiful and stately Red Velvet Cake. This year I have decided to shake things up a bit and make Red Velvet Brownies instead of cake. Sacrilege! I know. I will keep you posted on how this goes over with the family. Fingers crossed. Red velvet brownies are a bite-size version of the classic cake we all love so well. Top it with cream cheese frosting and you've got yourself the ultimate holiday dessert! This already sounds like the kind of thing that will be calling me at night!

Christmas Eve Party-In-A-Box

This has to be one of the best ideas I have come across in quite some time. My kids and their sweeties will adore this little extra special gift on Christmas Eve. This all-in-one surprise in a box is easy to pull together at the last minute. If you happen to find yourself wandering your local Walmart, brain dead from the mad dash you have been on since Thanksgiving, look up and add these  items to your basket and start a new family tradition.

DIY: Christmas Boxwood Wreaths

Wreaths traditionally grace many homes during the holiday season. I have always loved Boxwood wreaths. They are simple and beautiful adding serenity and class to the splendor of the season. But do you know the origin of the winter wreath?

Southern Desserts 101: Banana Pudding Cheesecake

Bananas are inherently Southern. Most likely because they can trace their roots back to the late 1800's. Ton after ton of the tropical fruit arrived in America through Southern ports, particularly New Orleans. So much so that watching bananas being unloaded from cargo ships became a popular pastime for locals and tourist alike. Southern cooks began to experiment with their beloved bananas. Brennan's Restaurant, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, is the birthplace of 'Bananas Foster'. Mr. Brennan decided his restaurant needed to promote the plentiful fruit. He challenged his chef, Blangé, to create an interesting dish and Bananas Foster was the result. Little did anyone realize the dish would go on to become an international favorite appearing on menus from New Orleans to Paris, France. The same can be said of Banana Pudding. It came on the Southern scene in 1903. Mary Frazer combined a simple custard with bananas and VOILA, this all-American dessert was born.