It’s February, and around our house, it’s a time for celebration. Of course there are the typical “holidays”, Valentine’s Day and Marti Gras. For us, though, there are more reasons to celebrate!
First, Valentine’s Day is a little more special for Brooke and I. When we started dating, it was on Valentine’s Day in 2000. We’ve been together for 13 years. While our wedding anniversary has replaced our Valentine’s Day “dating-iversary”, it’s still special to us. Valentine’s day marks our beginning and it always will. Unfortunately, this year one of us spent Valentine’s Day quite ill, but Brooke is on the mend now.
February is also special because it bares Brooke’s birthday. In fact, today is Brooke’s birthday. So, I got her a very special treat. In the south, lane cake is a serious tradition. Often times unheard of in the north, lane cake plays second fiddle to other southern traditions such as BBQ and black-eyed peas. Every family has their own recipe for this delectable cake. Typically, booze is shunned in the south, so most cook’s find a way to hide spirits in foods. Lane cake is no different. It’s loaded with bourbon, our favorite spirit. Some families load so much bourbon into their lane cake that it becomes an adult-only dessert. Otherwise, it’s just simple white cake, Italian meringue frosting, and a filling of pecans, raisins, and other goodness.
A big thanks to the amazing Kim Coryea at Hummingbird Bakeshop for putting together this custom cake. We will certainly enjoy every last bite. Happy birthday to my amazing wife. Brooke – somehow I have always loved you, even before Valentine’s Day, 2000. I hope you have a wonderful day.
