I didn't make this cake.
Pete's birthday was Sunday and this incredibly cute cake was brought by Melissa to celebrate the occasion. Wow! I made an ice cream pie (photos soon) so this was just perfect. And look at it! It's from the Bakery Bar and is a carrot cake with a cream cheese frosting— not too sweet at all. Just perfect. It's a 6" round with 4 layers. I think I might have to try this size. 8" rounds are my go-to cake pan size because I love the height they give, but now I am thinking I want even more. Height that is. Pete made out pretty good. He got some kill Pumas and some smart-wool socks. Not terribly exciting, but still good. He's actually playing out tonight. After a long hiatus he is playing live music again and I am so happy. The guy is a genius. A music major who picked up brainy software development on the side (?) He has missed the music side of life for awhile now and I have missed it too, vicariously through him. He is the best Dad ever, one of those guys that is 100% with the girls when he is home—which is how I get all my Amy stuff done. But, I feel guilty, or I have felt guilty, that he's had so little time of his own for the last few years, so now that he's playing music again is so very cool. Putting the 3 girls to sleep by myself while he's out playing is laughable. The last gig he had they were still up when he got home, on the couch, reading—but hey, at least no one was crying.
I think Pandora has a sick side to it. Have you noticed this? Like every once in awhile it will throw in something completely random, like Captain Beefheart. *edit-pete has confessed he added this to our list on pandora. but still.
That cake is adorable... and I so wish I was around Portland to hear Pete play. I remember that little smidgen of guitar I heard after your Cratypod podcast thing. I was blown away by how friendly and awesome you were, and then again by Pete's music. He's super talented! Go Pete!
Posted by: Nicole | January 28, 2008 at 07:52 AM
Sorry... CraftSanity podcast? Something like that? I've only had one cup of coffee, and I have three small girls too. Sometimes I think that the only way I run is through caffeine and sheer will to live.
Posted by: Nicole | January 28, 2008 at 07:57 AM
HAH! I totally relate to the Pandora comment. I love the site - but every once in a while I am so happy there is a "do not ever play this again" button.
Posted by: nan | January 28, 2008 at 08:01 AM
What a cool cake!! My husband's birthday is today, we also had carrot cake and he also received SmartWool socks. How weird is that??
Posted by: Liz | January 28, 2008 at 09:31 AM
i'd love to hear your radio station...fun!
Posted by: melissa | January 28, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Pete sounds like Mick. He puts M to bed every night. He also gets him up, gives him breakfast and brings me breakfast in bed...
Posted by: Nancy | January 28, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Cake....MMMmmmmmmmm! I could eat that whole thing! (In fact I probably have!) Still trying to lose weight...your cake picture isn't helping!
Posted by: Jana | January 28, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Okay. Bakery Bar has been on my list for a long time but I've let it slide. I'm pretty sure my sis will help me rectify this very soon. Heck, it'll be almost Valentine's Day and so what if the babies aren't eating wheat yet, they need cake *nearby* for their first V-Day. Don't you think?
Posted by: Daphne | January 28, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Amy, thank you for putting that link for Bakery Bar! I just found out my sis-in-law is getting married and am going to have to make her a cake for the bridal shower I've decided to throw. Such cute cute cakes. I'm jealous you get to hear your husband play! Mine plays violin but I've heard it only once, ever.
Happy Birthday to Pete!
Posted by: Chelsea | January 28, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Happy Birthday to Pete and how great he gets to do what he loves. My brother plays in a band and I love going to see him and see how much happiness it brings to him, I am always in awe of those with a musical talent.
Posted by: mary | January 28, 2008 at 11:27 AM
so is pete a genius? or so amazing that he is a genus all to himself?
hee hee hee. *snort*
sorry, the biologist in me just couldn't resist.
:)
Posted by: equisetaceae | January 28, 2008 at 11:34 AM
genus!! ha! you can see who is NOT the genius. . .that's almost as good as "pants" in a terrarium. . .
Posted by: amy k. | January 28, 2008 at 11:38 AM
That cake is wow! What is the stuff on the sides? I want to try and make one similar.
Posted by: Lovey | January 28, 2008 at 12:03 PM
The design studio I used to work for is located next to the Baker Bar. Walking down for coffee and a treat is definitely one thing that I miss about that area.
Posted by: emily | January 28, 2008 at 01:46 PM
hey i had forgotten all about pandora. so that was a nice little diversion..as was the bakery bar website! i'll have to add that to my list of incredibly awesome things about portland. (it's a big one.)
Posted by: sarah | January 28, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Tall cakes are the best because even when you ask for just a tiny slice you get enough to break the diet.
Posted by: ingrid | January 28, 2008 at 03:30 PM
Yes, do share your Pandora station! And you're right, every now and then it is NOT what I'd have expected!
Posted by: Lori Seaborg | January 28, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Wow I love the star on that cake!
Posted by: Gwyn | January 28, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Just an aside, two of the best programmers I have ever worked with were also musicians. Great musicians at that. Proclivity for patterns, that's what I chalk it up to.
Happy Birthday, Pete!
Posted by: LetterB | January 28, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Cute cake! Happy Birthday Pete.
Thanks for the Pandora tip. I had never heard of it. I was actually telling my husband that I need to figure out a way of finding new bands since the radio sucks, and my music collection is getting stagnant. This is perfect!
Posted by: courtney | January 28, 2008 at 08:46 PM
100 percent dads are awesome. you would be as cool and funny even if you didn't blog/write/work, but if pete weren't so rad none of us would know about it.
Posted by: melissa f. | January 28, 2008 at 09:20 PM
darling cake and wonderful Dad...how lucky can one girl be?
best,
carol
Posted by: carol Eldridge | January 29, 2008 at 05:13 AM
Oooh, you made me REALLY miss Portland (I moved from there about 6 months ago). For my husband's birthday last year I had Bakery Bar make a cake with little tiny fondant carrots, peas, and radishes all over the top. No bakeries quite like that here in New Hampshire :( Happy birthday to Pete!
Posted by: sarah | January 29, 2008 at 06:47 AM
That carrot cake looks amazing!!! Yummy!
♥Lisa
Posted by: Lisa M | January 29, 2008 at 07:14 AM
Just had to comment that my coworkers and I have an ongoing sneakily-add-random-artists-to- each-other's-Pandora-lists battle. Childish, maybe, but certainly entertaining. Sort of an "I see your Dwight Yokam, and raise you a Rosemary Clooney!" You never know who you might find playing after an extended absence from your desk... :)
Posted by: Emma | January 29, 2008 at 08:15 AM
oh the cake is fabulous :) I'm also running a recipe contest on my blog, so stop on by if you get a chance and check it out :) hugs!
Posted by: Kristin | January 29, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Very cool cake! I'll definitely have to try that size instead of 8" rounds. I feel like I am wasting cake when I end up cutting the tops off to do the decorating, and we can't have that! :)
Posted by: AJ | January 29, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Carrot cake - one of my favorites. I love the towering effect of this cake. What's Pandora? Do I really want to know?
- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife
Posted by: the farmers wife | January 29, 2008 at 03:03 PM
I *always* use 6" rounds -- usually three. I love the petite-but-tall cake.
Posted by: Grace | January 29, 2008 at 09:56 PM