Happy birthday, Mom!

My sister and I pulled off the impossible over the weekend. We surprised our mom! (If you have a family anything like ours, we come from a long line of Type A personalities. We like to know what's going on and when. And what we should wear, of course.)

At the Culinary Institute, back in October for the Bake-Off

And how do you celebrate the woman who taught you 99.9% of what you know?!? Who one day you'll inevitably turn into? (I open my mouth about once a week and hear her words come out.)

Anyway, she and Dad went to Florida with friends for a long weekend and were driving back on her actual birthday. So we swooped in, decorated the house and had dinner waiting when she walked in the door. Take that!

I made several new recipes (including Bang Bang Shrimp and lighter Twice Baked potatoes!), but more to come on those later. Life is uncertain, and I have one heck of a sweet tooth, so I figured I'd show you dessert first.

Meet Mom's favorite Caramel Cake.

She's a beaut.  And you'd never know she came from a box! Duncan Hines, to be exact.  And the frosting? From the Cake Mix Doctor.  Just piped on with a petal tip, inspired by none other than Martha Stewart herself.

I thought the cake was too pretty to write on, so I made a little birthday banner with wooden skewers, thread, cut out printer paper and tape.  Took about 5 minutes and turned out really fun!

So thanks, Mom, for all that you do and have done over the years. I can only hope to grow up to be half the woman that you are!