This is my dear, sweet friend Tania who I met years ago when I still lived in New York. I’ve mentioned her a few times before. She is one of the greatest women and mothers I know.
One of my favorite memories of Tania was when she came to visit me and bring me dinner after I had my first baby in 2004. She had only given birth three weeks before I had and she was bringing me dinner. To this day I remember the homemade turkey soup, rolls, and the best brownies I’ve ever eaten in my life. Tania’s famous brownies topped with a layer of melted Andes mints, the inspiration for my Peppermint Bark Brownies.
Tania is a labor and delivery nurse and so she didn’t even flinch when I told her how much trouble I was having with nursing and all about the crazy rash I had all over my body…and then I showed her. We were fast friends. A few years later we spent a most memorable and enjoyable Thanksgiving at her home with her family. It is still my favorite TG to date.
Tania came into town last week to ski and celebrate her big birthday. She e-mailed me a few weeks ago asking if I knew of any restaurants where she could have her party. We e-mailed back and forth discussing different options, and while I never said it to her, I was hoping she’d bring me on board in some capacity to make some of the food.
She ended up deciding on The Lion House in Salt Lake City. It’s a beautiful historical mansion in downtown Salt Lake City near Temple Square. It is a favorite spot for parties and receptions. It’s very lovely.
Tania asked me if I would be able to make a few cakes and cupcakes. I was so happy she asked. I didn’t want to impose myself, which is why I didn’t offer. Nothing makes me happier than making food for people I love–especially birthday cakes. The only request she had was that there was chocolate and fruit. The rest didn’t matter. She let me do whatever I wanted. It had way too much.
Happy Birthday, Tania! Thanks for letting me be a part of your special day.
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And now for the cakes and cupcakes…
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Tania cutting into the Black Forest Cake |
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The inside of the BF Cake. |
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Inside the dark chocolate mousse cake |
One of the coolest things Tania did for the party was to have a candy table. It was so whimsical I thought. She had little bags for us to fill up with a sticker that said “40 is the new 20.” :) I love the tiny stainless steel scoops. She ordered them from Sur la Table.
21 Comments
Lindsey, WOW! My mouth is watering. I am amazed at your talent. I wish you were here to make multiple birthday cakes for me. They look and sound absolutely delicious. What a fun way to celebrate your friend!
love it!! how fun and the setup is INCREDIBLE!
You had me at “Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake.” Oh my.
HOLY COW. I want to get remarried just so I can hire you.
That chocolate cake??? INCREDIBLE. I need a piece.
And…I’m sorry about last week. Holy cow. We have a hard time. What about tomorrow?? Busy?
This is so beautifully done and DELICIOUS!!
Everything looks so delicious and beautiful! wish I could try these!
lindsey, i am so, so impressed. it all looks amazing. and to think i offered my help, i’m a dork. no way do you need it.
the table looks gorgeous covered in your cakes. delightful.
It was so sweet of you to prepare all these lovely treats and cakes for Tania’s birthday; they sure do look mouthwateringly delicious !
It may seem like a silly question to ask, but how did you get the chocolate shavings in the Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake to curl up like that without breaking, and arrange them so beautifully ? It’s a piece of art, really. : )
Your story about this woman was so heartwarming; it’s so great to be surrounded by wonderful, inspiring people, and it seems, from your posts, that that is definitely the case for you : ).
Thank you so much for your ongoing support, by the way ! I am really clueless about how to use blogspot, so I haven’t quite learned how to reply to comments, but I do indeed read them, and every word really means a lot : )
Brilliant idea to use the shelf liner!
What a friend you are, Lindsey!! What talent, what a beautiful job you did. Super duper impressed. What a fun way to celebrate 40. Wish I would have done something like that for myself back in December.
lovely, and great tip dearie
Those look so amazing! I love the Lion House, but your desserts blow theirs out of the water! :)
Those look amazing! Even more than that, but I can’t think of a better word. Delicious!
OH MY GOODNESS. I am so sad I couldn’t go, because I really wanted to see Tania and celebrate her birthday, and I wanted to see you. Now I’m really sad I missed that I also missed your chocolate cake! :)
These cakes look INCREDIBLE! How great that you could be there to celebrate for Tania. You both are such amazing talented women!
What an amazing menu! Love the cupcakes – so beautifully made and look delicious!
Hey, sweetie, just so you know, my birthday is in November. ;)
xx
wow – that looks delicious. Want to move to Nebraska for my next birthday?
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Oh my goodness! I loved your article on Design Mom so hopped over and am so glad I did!!!
I am totally going to copy the cake/cupcake and candy tables for my 40th in a few years!
Oh my goodness! I loved your article on Design Mom so hopped over and am so glad I did!!!
I am totally going to copy the cake/cupcake and candy tables for my 40th in a few years!
What a great party! So many terrific ideas…thank you. And women who take care of other women when they’ve had babies are the best.