Birthday Bonanza

Celebrating a birthday means making favorite food for the birthday boy or girl. For me, that meant making German chocolate cake, my mom's recipe, and key lime pie, my own recipe/something I found years ago online. To top it all off, I made little ribbon flags on skewers that I shoved into the cake at the last possible moment like you would candles. Blowing on those does not have the same effect as blowing out flaming candles and it left me feeling a little lackluster---until I got to pass out the flags with pieces of cake. Wee!

I should have you know that I did get carried away with the flags. I couldn't stop myself. It looked better on the table- more of a centerpiece- take a look.

I'll go ahead and share the key lime pie recipe. It's pretty short and sweet.

Key Lime Pie

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

• Go out and buy a graham cracker crust from the store. Don't be a snob.

Pie:

• 4 large or extra large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup fresh key lime juice (12 key limes or 2-3 regular limes)
• 2 teaspoons grated lime peel, green portion only
• whipped cream for garnish

MAKE IT UP

1. Use an electric mixer and beat the egg yolks until they are thick and turn to a light yellow, but don't over mix. 
2. Turn the mixer off and add the sweetened condensed milk. Turn speed to low and mix in half of the lime juice. One the juice is incorporated add the other half of the juice and the zest, continue to mix until blended (just a few seconds). 
3. Pour the mixture into the pie shell and back at 350 for 12 minutes to set the yolks and kill any salmonella in the eggs.

SERVES
8