Happy Birthday

Well another milemarker is swiftly moving into the rear view mirror! To celebrate my birthday today I let myself buy some quilt-y stuff on line - timtex, thread, a few yards of fabric, and batting. I also stopped by a local potter and got a new pot to put on the black stand I picked up at the auction last week.

I played in fabric most of the morning without a lot to show for it...mainly folding, planning , and deplanning (taking fabric out of boxes/bags after deciding I don't want to do that project anymore!) That is one way of shortening the someday list!

I also made myself a Birthday cake.... a Peanut Butter Pound Cake! I got the recipie from a co-worker in North Carolina years ago (maybe 9!) and had never attempted making it myself. It is great. (must be a bit of homesickness coming through....) DH is bringing home chocolate ice cream to go on top so I left off the topping (like that helps the calorie count at all!) It makes a huge cake so I ran some pieces over to neighbors...if it sat on my sideboard I wouldn't be able to zipper my jeans tomorrow! (not the best way of starting out a new year....)

Peanut Butter Pound Cake

1 cup butter

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

2 cups sugar

1 cup brown sugar

5 eggs

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking pwder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1 Tablespoon vanilla

(topping optional)

2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/4 cup evaporated milk

Beat 1 cup butter and 1/2 cup peanut butter at medium speed of a electric mixer until soft ad creamy (about 2 min.) Gradually add 2 cups sugar and 1 cup brwon sugar, beting at medium speed for 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until yellow just disappears.

Combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt; stir well. Add flour misture to butter mixture alternating with the milk beginning and ending with the flour. Mix at low speed until just blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. pour batter inot a greased and floured 10-inch tube pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 35 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10-15 mintues. Remove from the pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.

For the optional topping: beat powdered sugar, peanut butter and melted butter together at a low speed until well blended. Add evaporated milk and beat at a medium speed until smooth. drizzle over cake.