Randomness and a Contest

Hello everyone! I just felt compelled to blog today, even though I don't really have much to say that's food-related besides the fact that I have a strong urge to bake tonight. Possibly cookies. My co-workers will love that.

Ok, so I know that being a foodie blogger, you don't really get to know me personally, other than "that crazy girl who cooks and procrastinates on her Daring Bakers challenges." LOL, anyway, I will tell you that I am a total geek. I may not look it, but I am certifiably the geekiest person in my circle. Don't believe me? Want me to prove it? Ok, here's one: I have a Lord of the Rings tattoo on my left foot. Not only because I couldn't live without LOTR, but because it's the same tattoo that the cast got while filming the trilogy. Yeah, I got a double whammy on that one. I can recite the LOTR movies verbatim... which is why no one will watch them with me anymore, because I can't help myself from reciting the script while it's playing onscreen.

Which brings me to my next point: I have just discovered Wil Wheaton's blog (http://www.wilwheaton.typepad.com/). When I was 4 years old, I declared to my whole family that I would marry him. I watched "Stand By Me" non-stop for about a year of my life. Gordy was my favorite character, probably because he was so relatable, so "real" to me. When I got a bit older, I read Stephen King's novella "The Body" and all I could do was imagine Wil playing Gordy in my mind. I know he's all grown up now and so am I, but every time I see his face, I rewind back to 1986-88 to when I thought I was the girl for him. Is that weird?

And, last but not least, feelow blogger marye over at Baking Delights is holding a contest to win a cookbook by Dorie Greenspan and a $10 Amazon.com gift card! I figured, hey, why not give it a shot? All I she's asking for is a tagline for her blog, since she desires something punch and pizzazz. So, I'm hoping she likes what I came up with, which is:

"Baking Delights: Good enough to take a bite!!"

I was thinking of maybe saying "byte" instead of bite, so it's a play on words, since her blog is online and stuff, but I didn't want it to sound too... dorky. Anyway, keep your fingers crossed!! And marye, I hope you get just what you're looking for from this contest. Gotta suuport my fellow DBers!!

~Mehgan~

Mom's Birthday Cake- Take #1

Hello people!

My dear Mom's 50th birthday is coming up on the 26th, and I have been put in charge of the cake. We're having a nice intimate dinner with friends and family at this lovely German place called the Black Forest Cafe, which I am so looking forward to. There's stuff on the menu I've never heard of, which I'm always game for!

But, here's the thing: I am panicking. I've never decorated a cake, besides cupcakes that I've just slathered a bit of icing on and called it good. I've only used an icing bag a half dozen times, and I know that with practice I'll be ok.

I'm just worried that I'll work super hard on this cake, only to have people think it looks less fabulous than it looks to me. I'm planning on practicing tons between now and then, so I'm pretty sure I'll be alright in the decorating department.

She says she wants chocolate everything: cake, filling and frosting. Here's where you come in, fellow foodies. I need the yummiest, tastiest, most decadent chocolate cake recipe you can find. This is your challenge.

I will be popping by between now and then to fill in you in on the progress of the birthday cake and to post the final results. I'm so nervous, but really excited!! Thanks everyone!!