My stomach is so full. Happy full. And still I can think about tomorrow when we will eat fried okra to celebrate my birthday. Its second birthday in birthday week because now my sister and brother n law are here and we can celebrate some more. Wilson style. My favorite birthday meal growing up was baked chicken tenders homemade with parmesan and bread crumbs, fried okra, and rice. Super fancy, with barbecue dipping sauce. Saying it ouloud so many pictures flood my mind of that delicious tradition - I can picture mom on Edgewood Blvd using the electric skillet and soaking up the okra grease on paper towels lining the the counter (and me stealing pieces regularly), I can remember going out for okra and chicken with Mallory, my first college roommate at Auburn, and then two years ago Jon and Stephen made a fabulous round of chicken tenders and okra here in Seattle, So many sweet & tasty memories.

I thought it might be fun tonight on my very full belly to share two recipes for the one part of my birthday that has always been up in the air. My birthday cake. I have never settled on the one. I spent a lot of years eating a cookie cake. Seriously. Then I moved to this sour cream pound cake situation. Then in recent years I jumped on my family's bandwagon for this layered whipped cream and chocolate pudding delicious cake. I think the predicament is, I don't really love cake but i love chocolate but i do really love pie so i may just go for pie. I don't know, but here is what we did this year.

First to try a new take of cookie cake, we made these AMAZING Paleo cookies: http://www.texanerin.com/2015/11/perfect-paleo-chocolate-chip-cookies.html. Sidenote, I CANNOT bake. In fact, the other day, Hannah was letting me know the things she liked about me and it went like this: "You bake good. I mean actually, sorry mom, not bake, but cook. You actually don't bake as good." The girl speaks the truth. I don't bake and I am allergic to reading directions closely, so my sister made these and they are FANTASTIC! Paleo is so much better for my belly, so I am excited to find these that I can pretend are healthier.

Second, we make a layer cake that is something like this that my dad has had as his special bday cake since 1977 when our dear family friend JoAnn Goans made it for him. Tonight was his 2nd birthday and here is basically how the cake goes: Make a crust of butter, pecan and flour. Then add a layer of blended cream cheese, powdered sugar and fresh whip cream, then a layer of chocolate pudding (we like trader joe's belgian chocolate pudding), then fresh whip cream, then sliced strawberries. YUM.

Anywho, its sweet, literally, to live in a family that humors week long celebrations and the chance to taste a few special treats on the road to finding my signature birthday cake. In case you wanted some new ideas, try these, and Happy Friday!