Treat of the Week: A Victorious Birthday

Today is my father's birthday.  Hooray!  Unfortunately, my father's spent more time helping me out the past few weeks than he's been able to spend on himself, and, I've been such a mess that I haven't been able to shop for a gift for him.

Thankfully, my mother is always prepared, and, this past Sunday she made a pre-birthday feast for my father which was fit for a King!

To begin, an entree of pork chops prepared in apple butter and apple cider offered a beautiful combination of sweet and savory.  This was served with asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, and couscous, and fresh, crusty bread.  

But, the star of the birthday show, was the cake.  My mother refers to this monumental cake as a “Victory Cake.” It is certainly a triumph of the art of baking! Freshly whipped cream and sliced bananas are sandwiched between layers of dense, luscious home-made chocolate cake. The whole of it is topped with more whipped cream and sliced banana.  Whipped cream rosettes and candied nuts add further adornment.  A bit of salt on the candied nuts is also a brilliant counterpoint to the sweetness of the chocolate and the cool creaminess of the banana and cream. There’s nothing quite as luxurious as this combination of flavors. This superb creation is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion.

So...happy birthday to my pop!  Thanks for taking such good care of us for all these years!