This was just way too much fun. A cake pop birthday party with my co-worker Simone for her daughter Rachel’s 11^th birthday. Oh sure, sugar up the kids and then go home - my speciality! But it was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. My job was to bring the decorations for the pops. Again, my speciality. We had mini chocolate chips, crushed vanilla wafers, licorice sticks you could pull apart which is a great item for making hair and lips! Also found some gel candies that looked like watermelon slices and others that were sweet peach rings (which I like using to make hats). Along with all that, the usual colorful sugars, chocolate sprinkles, and some tubes of sparkly gel to do with whatever their creativity desired. Simone was smart and whipped up the pops the day before, and had them all ready to go Sunday. So take all that along with ice cream pie, pizza, a warm summer afternoon and a lot of giggly girls...now that’s a party! The girls had a great time and managed to make a beautiful mess along with the beautiful cake pop creations that were all delicious. Then the pool party kicked in and the last time I saw them, Rachel had opened all her really cool gifts ( I want that fedora!). It was a fun afternoon with good friends and a chance to kick up the energy with all the kids.

   We've talked about cake pops before in Kelly's Kitchen; so easy when you start with a basic recipe and then make it your own. Check this one from Wilton.  I still have my cake pop pan that bakes a cake mix right into a ball shape, but it’s lighter than the ones that use the cake as the base and add mix ins. I think I actually prefer the heavier mix, and chilling them ahead of time also helps. Cake pops are fantastic all by themselves, and equally fun to use as an embellishment on a cake. The only limit is your own imagination, and we know how endless that can be when kids are involved. I did pick up a book on decorating cake pops that has some great ideas. And a trip down the aisle of the dollar store can really help stir your creative juices. The sky is the limit.

 NEW RESTAURANT ALERT

    The Kitchen At Janus Live opened last week, located on the Jannus block on First Avenue North between 2nd & 3rd Street N. The menu features Sea Bass Tempura and Pomegranate Lamb Chop to a Sushi Menu, on Rolls like the Headliner Roll and Pacifico Roll. They describe the items as all fresh, made from scratch and made to order, serving everything from an Ahi Tuna Burger to Ancho Carmel Pork Chop. Their site also says they offer takeout and home delivery service, along with a full selection of beer, wine and liquor.

LEND A HAND

   The Manhattan Dolce Bar & Bistro will host a percentage of sales event on Monday, June 18, 2012 to benefit Champions for Children. They’ve committed to donate 50% of all sales, both food and beverage, made anytime between 5:00 pm and 1:00 am on that Monday. Customers are not required to say anything during their visit to participate in the percentage of sales opportunity, as the Manhattan Dolce Bar & Bistro said ALL sales will be included and added to the overall total from the night’s event. The Manhattan Dolce Bar & Bistro is located at 4328 W. El Prado Blvd in South Tampa.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM KELLY’S KITCHEN

All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much. - George Harrison