Let them eat cake...

My youngest is turning (gulp) four...  baby no more.  His latest craze is all things Lego's, and more over, Star Wars Lego's~so we are having a Star Wars Lego themed birthday party with family and his special girlfriend (whom he told me he "tan't wait to show to Damma and Dampa!"~oh my! ;)). 

I really enjoy making my boys' cakes for their birthday.  A labor of love, and sometimes a wee bit stressfull :).  I had ordered a silicon Lego baking pan from Amazon and paid entirely to much for it as it is a discontinued and "rare" product made years ago.  It was made up of six Lego bricks and I was very excited, only to find it to be very, very small upon arrival.  Did a practice run of it today.  Went all right.  Took a long time to bake. I was worried the nubs wouldn't come out--a few came out less than perfect circles~which isn't going over well for this OCD momma :).  Again, size is an issue.  More like six cupcakes and the four little "nubs" on top of the small bricks will be ever so much fun to frost.  So, back to the proverbial drawing board.  Not scrapping it entirely, just ready for a new idea...

While browsing some blogs, I found something that may just work.  A mom created a Lego brick using a pound cake recipe in a loaf pan (as it is more "durable") and turned it into a Lego brick by halving marshmallows and frosting.  I had forgotten how much I love pound cake and thought I'd give it a try.  I could always put the little cupcake like Lego's around it.  I went to my old stand by of all things yummy, my Better Homes and Gardens red and white gingham cook book--sticky and battered from 11 years of use :).  I hadn't made pound cake in ages--many, many years ago for my girl friend, Sara's, birthday.  It is rather time consuming, but so delicious!

Sour Cream Pound Cake
Prep:  30 minutes       Bake:  1 hour or more     Cool:  2 hours       Oven:  325 degrees

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup dairy sour cream (I use vanilla yogurt)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• (I also add almond flavoring to taste to mine--about 1 tsp or a bit more)

1.  Allow butter, eggs, and sour cream to stand at room temp. (30 minutes).  Grease and lightly flour an 8x4x2 inch or 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.  Combine flour, baking powder, and baking soda.  Set aside.
2.  In a mixing bowl (here is where I am so grateful for my standing kitchen aid mixer we got as a wedding gift from Marty's grandparents) beat butter with an electric mixer on high for 30 seconds.  Gradually add sugar, beating 10 minutes or till very light and fluffy (it takes ten minutes, don't fudge on this :)).  It should look like something like this...

Beat in vanilla.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating one minute after each addition and scraping the bowl frequently.  Sorry for the shadows--dark and rainy day outside today--but perfect for baking :).

Add dry mixture and sour cream (in my case, vanilla yogurt) alternately to beaten mixture, beating on low to medium speed after each addition just till combined. 

Pour into prepared pan.

3.  Bake in a 325 degree oven for 60 to 75 minutes or till a wooden toothpick comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  Remove from pan; cool.

Now to make it into a Lego.  This blogger cut marshmallow in half and placed them on top of the pound cake she made and frosted them accordingly.  She did an amazing job.  I hope G's turns out as fabulous.  All of the other Lego cakes I found required rolled fondant.  I do not do rolled fondant.  One failed experience in trying to make the stuff was enough for me--and I much prefer the taste of home made cream cheese frosting.

I hope G likes it :)  If nothing else, it will taste good.  I have to thank Celebrate Express for all the Star Wars Lego decorations and Pez Star Wars party favors and bouncy balls as I couldn't find much in the realm of Lego Star Wars--lots of Star Wars--but we need the Lego variety.  Can't believe my little guy is going to be four.  Seems impossible!  Happy birthday cake making, momma's.  Keep putting your ideas out there!!! 

Love and peace (and frosting :))!