Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.
Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We popped into Cafe Crevier downtown and I finally got to try one of their burgers. It was thick and juicy and cooked to perfection. Love that the lettuce was shredded, and that the bun was toasted and slightly crispy. If you’re local, pop in and give them a try - don’t miss the fries!
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Rainbow Cake

June 17, 2009 · Narrative

rAINBOW cAKE

“Whoa, Mom, that is totally going to fall over.”

That is definitely not what I want to hear as I’m attempting to frost a six layer cake.

Unfortunately, Nick was right.  It had a serious lean.  I tried to fix it as best as I could before frosting it, to no avail.  I held my breath as I cut the slices, hoping I could get enough cut before the Leaning Tower of Rainbow Cake fell.  As soon as I cut the first slice, I might have gasped.  In fact, I’m fairly certain I did.  It’s just so darn pretty inside, it’s hard not to.  I think this might be my favorite “kid item” that I’ve made so far.  I totally love it.

When I first saw the rainbow cake a few months ago, I knew I wanted to make it to celebrate the end of the school year.  Nick’s last day of first grade is tomorrow – I can’t believe he’s going to be a second grader already!  He has worked really hard this year, particularly the second half, applying himself to math, slowing down while doing his work and on making his handwriting neater.  I wanted to end the year in a special way, and this cake was the perfect way to do it.

Truth be told, it’s easy to make, just a little time consuming.  I made the layers last night, and put it together tonight before dinner.   Every time Nick was in the kitchen, he asked me what the layers were for.  I told him it was a surprise and he would see what it was when he needed to.  I’m all about a need-to-know basis these days.  When I told the babysitter yesterday what I was making, she said, “oh, ok.”  I told her later that she did not show the appropriate level of enthusiasm for such an undertaking, kidding, of course.  I think she just didn’t know exactly what I was up to.  But when she saw the layers today, she got excited about it.  This time at the appropriate level.  :)  “You’re such a fun mom,” she said.  I try!

I’m a big fan of tradition.  New ones.  Old ones.  Fun ones.  Stuffy ones.  I’m pretty sure we may have just found a new tradition to celebrate the end-of-school every year, and hearing the shouts of glee from Nick and The Girlfriend tonight when they first saw the cake pretty much sealed the deal.

Happy Times
Coincidentally, the cake just happens to match Nick’s t-shirt.

Even though I was giving Madeline a few bites of my slice, apparently it wasn’t enough for her. When the kids were playing on the swingset, she swooped in and took matters into her own hands, literally and figuratively, stealing a few last bites from their plates. Even the crumbs are beautiful!

Mine

Yum

For the complete details on how to make this it’s-easier-than-it-looks cake, check out Rainbow Cake Deconstructed.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Rainbow Cake

Comments

  1. Sarah Caron says

    June 17, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    Well if that doesn’t scream celebratory then I just don’t know what does. What an awesome cake. So bright! So colorful! You are a cool mom, for sure.

    Sarah Carons last blog post..Cinnamon-Sugary Goodness: Snickerdoodles

    Reply
  2. The Sister In-Law says

    June 17, 2009 at 11:20 pm

    Beautiful cake… WOW!!!

    SIL

    Reply
  3. Claire says

    June 17, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    This is so beautiful! I should make this for our pediatric department some time…the hospital logo is a rainbow! Cool.

    Claires last blog post..April Fools!

    Reply
  4. noobcook says

    June 18, 2009 at 1:56 am

    omg this is so, so beautiful! Even a ‘big kid’ like me is attracted. U r an awesome mom :)

    Reply
  5. Janet says

    June 18, 2009 at 4:05 am

    How purdy! The colors are so vibrant, and the cake looks really moist! So much fun to be a kid… even a big kid ;-)

    Janets last blog post..Peach Blueberry Galette

    Reply
  6. MariaV says

    June 18, 2009 at 6:32 am

    Fabulous cake! I want to make one just for myself.

    Reply
  7. Joanne says

    June 18, 2009 at 8:42 am

    That is an INTENSE cake, you are totally an awesome mom! It really is gorgeous. I didn’t know that Nick had a girlfriend – how cute.

    Joannes last blog post..The Great Scape

    Reply
  8. doggybloggy says

    June 18, 2009 at 8:53 am

    ‘far-out man’ wow that cake is ‘trippin’ its a psychedelic overload

    doggybloggys last blog post..cheese update

    Reply
  9. Cathy says

    June 18, 2009 at 9:11 am

    That is a beautiful cake Cate! Great job.

    Cathys last blog post..Uh oh………….

    Reply
  10. The Neighbor (Wife) says

    June 18, 2009 at 9:45 am

    That was a great cake! They both got a kick out of it! I’m glad we got to share in the last day of school festivities!

    Reply
  11. Ramona says

    June 18, 2009 at 9:50 am

    Really pretty. I noticed right away that the cake matched Nick’s shirt.

    Funny, 1st grader with a girlfriend. Your little one won’t be getting married next year will she? Just kidding….

    Wonderful cake, know the kids loved it. Colors are great. How fun.

    Ramona

    Ramonas last blog post..Don’t throw those away…..

    Reply
  12. Tyanne says

    June 18, 2009 at 12:22 pm

    Wow, this is really pretty. You are a cool mom.

    Reply
  13. Patsy says

    June 18, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    You’ve got me wanting to attempt the rainbow cake now! I know my boys would love seeing those colorful slices go into their bellies! :)

    Patsys last blog post..PARENTS Magazine: 10 Best Family Restaurants

    Reply
  14. Claire says

    June 18, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    BTW, is this just a basic recipe with coloring in it AND did you cook the layers as six separate layers?

    Claires last blog post..April Fools!

    Reply
  15. katie says

    June 18, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    How pretty!!!

    katies last blog post..Garlic Lover’s Pasta; Vocabulary-Free?

    Reply
  16. Faith Kramer says

    June 18, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    What a fun momma you are!
    I think my guys (age 18 and 21) wouldn’t mind a cake like that, too.
    Great pixs, too

    Faith Kramers last blog post..Not Your Grandmother’s Beet Borscht

    Reply
  17. Kalyn says

    June 18, 2009 at 6:45 pm

    Love it! And congratulations to Nick!

    Kalyns last blog post..Recipe for Marinated Fresh Mozzarella with Herbs

    Reply
  18. tigerfish says

    June 18, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    Oh so colorful!

    tigerfishs last blog post..Roast Chicken with Spices

    Reply
  19. ttfn300 says

    June 18, 2009 at 8:19 pm

    that is incredible, looks amazing!!!

    ttfn300s last blog post..An Easy App

    Reply
  20. Natasha - 5 Star Foodie says

    June 18, 2009 at 9:11 pm

    You are totally a cool mom! That is one incredible looking cake! I know if I show this to my daughter she will demand I make it too :)

    Natasha – 5 Star Foodies last blog post..Collard Wrapped Sockeye Salmon with Shiitake Mushrooms and Fried Potato Cream

    Reply
  21. kiss my spatula says

    June 19, 2009 at 10:07 am

    LOVE THIS!! it’s like rainbow bright on a mission to teach the world how to bake. and who didn’t love rainbow bright???

    kiss my spatulas last blog post..Lawnmower Coconut Cupcakes

    Reply
  22. Rachelle @ "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" says

    June 21, 2009 at 4:48 pm

    I love that!! I’ve seen rainbow cakes before, but have never made one, yet. I love all the bright colors. Maybe I’ll give it a go, since I have 2 kiddy birthdays this summer! =)

    Reply
  23. Somer says

    June 24, 2009 at 7:11 pm

    Oh my goodness that is a fantastic looking cake! I am of the mindset that cake sets off any celebration and when the cake looks like THAT, it’s bound to be a good time!

    Reply
  24. ladybughugs says

    June 29, 2009 at 11:35 am

    Would a dowel down the center help keep it upright? Don’t they do that for wedding cakes? I think I’d try it using a white (instead of yellow) cake mix for July 4th… Will have to check my Wilton colors when I get home, but I’m sure there must be a red and a blue in there. (I just hope they haven’t dried out! LOL!)

    Reply
  25. !n$@n!ty, at its very finest (: says

    July 21, 2009 at 10:49 pm

    you. are. my. HERO. might i suggest thinner and wider layers though, to keep it from falling over? but i do like the thickness of the layers in your cake. i’ve been thinking about making a rainbow cake for a while (: i didnt know it could look so phenominally beautiful though!! this cake is an exquisite piece of work, thank you for sharing with us (:

    <3 !n$@n!ty, at its very finest.

    Reply
  26. sweets from the heart says

    July 21, 2009 at 11:20 pm

    WOW!! Thats great, not what comes to mind when i think of a Rainbow cake. But this is a REAL Rainbow cake, others can not compair!! Great Idea. love it I will be talking about this to friends :-)

    Reply
  27. cheyenne says

    July 22, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    thiz cake looks amazin
    but at the same time it looks
    hard to make hahah i have to go

    Reply
  28. carolyn says

    August 22, 2009 at 2:26 am

    I love bright colors…this is soo me!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  29. Jana says

    March 17, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    this cake is awesome! not only can i not wait to try to make it, i used it as an example of rainbow foods on a recent post on my blog.

    Reply
  30. susie @newdaynewlesson says

    June 5, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    Here is another brave soul who attempted this:

    http://www.homebakedonline.com/2010/04/rainbow-birthday-cake-with-white.html

    Reply
  31. louise says

    July 1, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    Where do I get the full range of those gorgeous rainbow recipes???!!! Please, please – my daughter is driving me crazy for a rainbow cooking session!!!

    Reply
  32. jen says

    October 16, 2010 at 12:13 am

    Hey, I would love to make this, can you pass along the recipe?

    Jen

    Reply

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Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef

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Last week when I met the owners of the new French Last week when I met the owners of the new French bakery in town, I told them how happy I was that they were opening … because now I had an endless source for gifts for my mom’s future birthdays and Christmases. She was born in Paris and we’ve grown up with a healthy appreciation for French things … starting with their pastries and baguettes, but so much more. My daughter took her first trip to Paris last year and thoroughly enjoyed the croissants there and she deemed the ones at @chocolatinenj just as perfect. No surprise there since the owner is a French pastry chef! If you’re local and haven’t been, do make a point to stop in and visit. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday and have a wide selection of sweet and savory items and a few French retail selections as well. We’ve tried the macarons, the Croque Monsieur, the croissants, the tomato tarts, the baguette … basically we’re working our way through their display case in due time. Don’t miss this one - enjoy!
People complain about how much time is spent on ph People complain about how much time is spent on phones sometimes, but if it wasn’t for phones. I wouldn’t have these awesome little snippets of them growing up. I only wish I had more. Appreciate and document the little mundane things, for they are the very fabric of your life.
happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’v happy Spring, friends! Y’all know how long I’ve been waiting for the seasons to change and I’m so excited that Mother Nature was on board today! ☀️ There is nothing like the energy from the sun and it makes me happy. Hope you got some today!
Weekend photos in review, old school style. Contex Weekend photos in review, old school style. Context: 1) saying goodbye until Easter, 2) sending him back with good bagels, 3) sunlight charging station, 4) the sun was out all day yesterday and it was glorious, 5) hitting the farmers market for my favorite garlic butter, 6) make a wish, 7) sun patterns, and 8) my sous chef
I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I I don’t eat French fries often, but when I do, I’m going to make it count. Doo Wop Eats opened a few months ago in downtown Denville and their fries are LEGIT. They are hand cut and taste the way fries should … like potatoes! I add a sprinkle of salt and dunk them in a side of their special sauce and they are pure perfection. You can order a small bucket or a large one (better for sharing!), or as a side item with one of their other delicious menu items like their cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches or cheesesteak. I do believe they’re the best fries in town. I said what I said. Doo Wop’s menu celebrates all your favorite Jersey shore boardwalk treats, including Fried Oreos, clam strips and milk shakes and has a fun vibe for kids and families. 😍
The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that The Grinder Salad, a recipe I found on tiktok that takes all of your favorite ingredients from a grinder (or sub) sandwich and makes it into a delicious chopped salad. It’s as easy as putting everything in a bowl and chopping it up. Perfect for busy days and lazy nights, light meals and warm weather choices. Ingredient list below. Enjoy!

One bag or arugula
One container of cherry tomatoes 
Quarter pound of hard salami
8 Oz of fresh mozzarella
One small red onion
1/3 cup banana peppers 
Handful of fresh basil
Half cup Italian salad dressing
3 T Kewpie mayo
2 T red wine vinegar 
Sea salt and black pepper

Chop it all up, add a half box of ditalini pasta, cooked. Mix to combine.

Recipe from GrilledCheeseSocial.
We had a fun little board party this week and the We had a fun little board party this week and the delicious whipped Brie I shared earlier was front and center. If you haven’t heard of board parties, it’s when every guest makes a different type of food board and brings it - so much fun noshing ensues! With toasted baguette slices, cornichons and local honey, this was mostly a French-inspired board. So simple to pull together and totally my kind of meal.
Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We Lunch date with one of my favorite people. 😍 We popped into Cafe Crevier downtown and I finally got to try one of their burgers. It was thick and juicy and cooked to perfection. Love that the lettuce was shredded, and that the bun was toasted and slightly crispy. If you’re local, pop in and give them a try - don’t miss the fries!

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