The Latest Cake Project

For David's birthday today, I made a mille crepes cake (using this recipe from my favorite food blog, Smitten Kitchen). I didn't put my decorating skills to work on this one -- how exactly do you decorate a mille crepes cake? I tried to sprinkle sugar on top and caramelize it with a culinary torch, as the recipe suggests, but it didn't really work. The sugar didn't caramelize fast enough, and the top layer was starting to scorch. In the end, with that sparkly sugar on top of an otherwise beige cake, it ends up looking a lot like a sesame-seed bun:



The side view is a bit more attractive, if rather sloppy:



But the inside is what looks really cool:


Oh, and it tasted pretty decent, too.

Cozumel, by the numbers

Hours spent in flight total: 8

Minutes spent running through the airport to catch our first flight: 15 (a very fun run with two three-year-olds and a bunch of luggage)

Average temperature in Cozumel: 75

Average water temperature in the resort swimming pools: 32

Times the sound system at the swimming pools played "Copacabana," immediately followed by Smash Mouth's "All Star": Eleventy billion

Rainstorms: 2

Dolphins kissed: 1

Members of the family who upchucked at least once: 3

Friends made by the girls: 5

Parents of those new friends who are now my Enemies For Life: at least 2

Car seat laws in Mexico: none, apparently

Taxis in Mexico that have no seat belts: at least half

Timeshares purchased: zero

Animal sculptures our maid crafted from bathroom towels: 5 (stunning, every one)

Time each morning when the twins woke up, announced that it was "awake time," and threw aside the dark curtains to let in the oh-so-bright Cozumel sunlight: 6:00 am

Submarine adventures: 1

Wildlife spotted: numerous iguanas, flamingos, peacocks, fish, turtles, cats...

Good times had by all: countless