Blueberry-Lemon Layer Cake

Last weekend I celebrated my 36th birthday. Which was great and all, but I will also admit that at this point in my life the main highlight of having a birthday is trying new cake recipes. And when you're looking for new cake recipes, there is no need to look any farther than the blog Sally's Baking Addiction, which has never let me down.

What didn't let me down last week was the recipe for Blueberry-Lemon Layer Cake, which was sheer, delicious perfection. It was pretty simple to make and got rave reviews from all who sampled it. Make sure you find the heaviest, juiciest lemons to maximize your "three lemons' worth of zest and juice" flavor punch, and be sure you garnish or decorate with fresh blueberries. Here's how to make:

BLUEBERRY-LEMON LAYER CAKE

For the cake:
1 c. unsalted butter, softened to room temp
1 1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. golden brown sugar
4 large eggs, room temp
1 T. vanilla extract
3 c. all-purpose flour
1 T. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk
Zest & juice of 3 medium lemons
1 1/2 c. fresh blueberries
1 T. all-purpose flour

For the cream cheese frosting:
8 oz. full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temp
1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened to room temp
3 1/2 c. confectioners' sugar
1-2 T. heavy cream or milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch salt

Preheat oven to 350. Spray three 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray and set aside.

Beat butter on high until creamy, about 1 min. Add granulated and brown sugars and beat on medium-high until creamed, about 2-3 mins. Scrape bowl as needed. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until combined, about 2 mins. Scrape bowl as needed. Set aside.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Beat on low speed for 5 secs., then add the buttermilk, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Remove mixer and stir lightly until just combined. Toss the blueberries in 1 T. flour and fold into the batter. Do not overmix.

Spoon batter evenly into prepared cake pans. Bake for about 21-26 mins. or ntil a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (Mine took 23 mins.) Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 mins. Add sugar, 1 T. cream/milk, vanilla extract, and salt while mixer remains on low. Increase to high speed and beat about 3 mins. Add 1 more T. cream/milk to thin out, if desired.

Stack cake layers and frost between and on top and sides. Frosting recipe makes just enough to do a light coat. Garnish with fresh blueberries. Refrigerate at least 45 mins. before cutting, and store in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

How parenthood and the Internet made me love science for the first time

I never particularly loved school (aside from the extracurricular activities, of course), but I was always a pretty good student. English and math were always right up my alley, and I even passed "hacky sack" in P.E. ca. 1994. But science and me? We've never been such great friends, I have to say. Admitting and embracing my intellectual limitations and right-brain-dominance, I have always been more than willing to blindly accept the fact that things like electricity just work, rather than having someone explain to me exactly how they work. (I kind of glaze over, to be honest. You should feel sorry for my poor engineer husband.) I appreciate that my attitude is pretty selfish and anti-intellectual. I will own that. I just wish that it made me the worst kind of unscientific person. But I'm not even close.

You see, I think I always took it for granted that most non-science-y people were inclined, like I am, to trust science-y people on issues of, well, science. But the modern prevalence of online communications has given us all a terrifying glimpse into how our fellow humans' brains actually work, and it's pretty ugly. Like, "I dislike facts" ugly. I may have gotten a C in high school chemistry, but I have always been a fan of facts and accepted them for what they are.

It was actually the simplest, dumbest thing in the world that sent me over the edge last week. Someone innocently posted a funny image on Facebook, a commenter linked to Snopes to show that the image is a hoax, and the original poster responded with an appropriate, "Oh, shoot. I'm sorry!" No problem. This kinda stuff happens all the time. The truth was documented, and we're all the wiser. End of the conversation, right? Wrong.

It's what happens next that always gets me. The fact-haters start speaking up in the comments:

Oh, come on -- it's funny! Seeing the humor makes life more pleasant.

I'm just going to go ahead and choose to believe this is true because it's so hilarious.

Why are you ruining the fun by pointing out that it's fake?

It's as though people now take it as a personal insult when others point out evidence, facts, or any of those other silly things that I used to think were universally valued. And the false-equivalency attitude that fact-free opinions deserve the same respect and attention as actual, factual evidence might be the thing that most makes me want to pull my lower lip over my skull and cry in a corner in the fetal position. Like when Bill Nye the Science Guy has to debate the creation museum dude. Or like when I was told in an online discussion group recently that I would have to "agree to disagree" with a woman who'd just implied that vaccines cause autism. Whatever happened to the notion of "You're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts?" That's apparently "out" now. We're living in the age in which people aren't held back by their own lack of knowledge.

Hey, I admit that I have made a conscious choice to be part of the online parenting community and that there are inherent risks in doing this. A lot of them, actually. I've privately lost my mind more than a few times dealing with discourteous people who think the world revolves around their children and activists who for some reason think it's a heroic cause to insert their noses into the issue of how other people feed their babies. Bottom line: There are certainly a lot of people out there raising their kids without facts. And while it makes me sad, I try not to make it my business. Until it is.

I am absolutely, 100% entitled to be angry with people who live in my community, don't vaccinate their children, spread their B.S. around, and then send their kids into public spaces with my kid, putting him and others at risk. I am absolutely, 100% entitled to be angry with Alicia Silverstone for using her celebrity status to write a book telling depressed new mothers that they wouldn't feel like committing suicide if they'd just eaten more vegetables.

These fact-free evangelists are actually killing people. And for what?

I guess that's why now, approximately three years into my adventure in the online parenting world, I have seen enough, am officially angry, and have taken it upon myself to learn more about scientific research methods, even if I am still not 100% sure how my blow dryer works. Because now that any person can be an amateur scientist or any celebrity mother can write a medical book, apparently, we all have to be armed with facts. Real, meaty, lovely facts. And we can't be afraid to share them with people.

Why, no. Having your pregnancy induced does not increase your chance of C-section.
Why, no. Breastfeeding your baby won't actually make his IQ higher.
Why, no. Herd immunity isn't a myth.
Why, no. Guns DO kill children.

For many years, it was considered bad practice for doctors to participate in social media. But staying away from the discussion may have been the worst practice of all. Today, when you search for parenting information online, most of it is bad information. If you need someone to tell you breastmilk cures cancer or how to sue the government because your child definitely developed autism from a vaccine, you can find him or her. What's really missing from the online discussion are the voices of evidence-based medicine. I'm glad more and more medical professionals are starting to insert themselves into the discussion -- including our own pediatrician, who recently started a blog to distribute accurate information for parents. The more we get, the more likely we'll be to heed it and ignore the crazy stuff.

Then maybe next time a father "googles vaccines" he won't get information that scares him out of a tetanus shot -- making a decision that nearly kills his son. In the battle between facts and the Internet, the Internet is winning in a big, scary way. But me? I'm cheering for science to become cool again.

Pink paradise

For many years, our family has celebrated the birth of one boy after another. So we may all be going a little nuts now that my brother and sister-in-law are expecting a baby OMIGOSH GIRL. It was fun this weekend to throw a baby shower for Michelle and pretty much put pink things everywhere.

Fluffy decorations from Nobbies

Served Ivy's Tea Room Chicken Salad with La Mie croissants

North Face pink and purple coat from Marge purchased at Active Endeavors

Orange/raspberry cupcakes. See recipe below.

Dessert was something pink, too. This cupcake is well-received every time I make it, and it's really easy to do. I used to be very anti when it came to making cakes or pancakes from mixes, but over the years I've learned that sometimes the stuff in the box is just right and that you're wasting your time doing it from scratch for the same general result. This recipe uses Betty Crocker white cake mix as its base, and it works really well. I love the combination of orange and raspberry, so this is a great choice in my book.

ORANGE-RASPBERRY CUPCAKES

1 box white cake mix
vegetable oil and egg whites, as directed on package
1 1/3 c. pulp-free bottled orange juice
1 large orange, zested
1/2 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 c. heavy cream (I like Sheeder Cloverleaf Farms)
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/4 c. raspberry jam (I used the Overholts' Amish raspberry spread from Kalona, Iowa)
1 container fresh raspberries for garnish (or themed picks, if the occasion permits!)

Bake cake according to package directions, substituting orange juice for water and adding orange zest.

For frosting, combine butter, heavy cream, powdered sugar, and raspberry jam with a hand mixer. Add water to thin as necessary.

Frost cooled cupcakes and garnish with a fresh raspberry or decorative pick.

By all accounts, Baby Girl likes these cupcakes. So, hey: Don't argue with my niece's taste. (I do so love saying the phrase MY NIECE, by the way.) Congratulations, Michelle and David!

2013 Recap: Excessive Docu-Momming Edition!

Ever since my son started talking, my Twitter feed has sort of degenerated into a lazy mom's baby book, rife with excessive docu-momming of all the ridonculously adorable and/or ridiculous things my son, CJ, says on a daily basis. But it's also proven to be rather valuable as a log that allows me to browse through the highlights of the past year. Because when you have a toddler, let's face it: Laughing at all the awesome things he says is pretty much the best (and/or only) thing you do.

So here's a brief recap of 2013 CJ tweets. Because that kid cracks me the heck up.

Jan 9: Bossy toddler's new favorite activity is ordering me to vacuum. At least for a few weeks, we'll have the cleanest floors in Polk County.

Feb 13: Just like anything involving a phone is a "hi," anything involving climbing/stairs is a "down." Still getting acquainted w/ CJ's vernacular.

March 9: Me, after CJ climbed into my lap this evening: "Are you ready to go night-night?" CJ, looking at his dad: "Bye!" I took that as a yes.

April 16: After I had Siri show us pics of Elmo on Ben's iPhone, CJ started picking up the phone & yelling into it "Elmo Elmo Elmo." Cutest thing ever.

May 8: I had to pretend a diaper was eating a banana. #reasonsiamlateforwork

May 12: CJ ate a ham sandwich for 90 straight minutes today. He never put it down -- not through a diaper change nor helping me do laundry.

June 23: CJ now appreciates scatological humor. Spent a good half hour this evening busting a gut while I exclaimed, "Poopies!" Yes, I encouraged it.

July 3: When the director of your son's child care center sends you an email w/ the subject line "Dancing Fool," YOU OPEN IT IMMEDIATELY.

Aug 26: CJ's new favorite game is "Big Stumble," which is basically an intentional faceplant.

Aug 28: Turned CJ's car seat forward. Now I don't turn right on red because he cries if he doesn't get to see the light turn green.

Sept 3: CJ, after his family gathered around him and sang two verses of "Happy Birthday" to him and he blew out his "2" cake candle: "Do it again!"

Sept 10: Tonight I told CJ he was going to go with me to vote. He thought I said "boat." Needless to say, his disappointment was palpable.

Oct 5: I ran out of pennies for CJ to throw in the Valley West Mall fountain, so he pawed through my wallet & suggested we throw in my debit card.

Oct 7: Nothing has ever been or ever will be cuter than the way my 2-year-old says the word "cookie:" Toot-key.

Oct 9: CJ has a stuffed Ernie doll that says "I've got the sniffles." Or, as CJ says it, "I've got the nipples."

Oct. 12: CJ's up & trying to sing the alphabet song in his crib. "A, B, C, D, E, F...aw, shucks...H...Q...Q" I'm dying laughing here.

Oct. 25: My 2-year-old as we drove by Panda Express: "Panda!" I smiled and said "You like their food, don't you?" He corrected me: "I loooovvvve it!"

Nov 3: When you go outside to mow the driveway, always insist on wearing your full Halloween costume. (See photo above.)

Nov. 10: Left @CycloneWBB game with 8 minutes left per 2-year-old's request. He said bye to everyone & told them to "enjoy the game." CJ Bruns 2048.

Nov 19: Just when you think kiddo is getting so smart, you spend 20 mins. trying to explain to him why a picture of a plate of cookies isn't edible.

Nov 26: Explained to CJ that Daddy was coming from Cedar Rapids tonight. When Daddy got home, CJ said, "Daddy all done rabbit store!"

Dec 4: Reason #468 why CJ didn't get to bed on time: He was putting lotion on his matchbox jeep.

Dec 8: Got our Christmas tree yesterday. CJ likes to sit on the floor next to the tree and watch it drink water. He gets very excited about this.

Dec 18: CJ, tipping back the Tropicana bottle and trying to get the OJ out that's sitting in the bottom: "This isn't working out."

Dec 19: CJ, counting a large quantity of items: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4...4....4....4....4...."

Dec 22: The other day, as we were walking out of the house, CJ, 2, told me would just stay home alone & order pizza.

Looks like 2014 will be the year of the 2-year-old teenager for us. And yeah, I probably won't stop tweeting about it. You've been warned.