Party DIY {Cards for Dad}

Happy Friday y'all! I'm so glad we finally made it to the weekend. It's time to take a few days, sit back, relax and find something to celebrate. Like most of you, this weekend I will be celebrating my dad. I hate to brag, but my dad is pretty awesome and I am beyond excited to head to Jacksonville for the weekend to spend some time with him. I know he's got a weekend planned full of lunch at a great local brewery/restaurant, Engine 15, and probably some fun by the pool or at the beach. I can't wait to give him his gift either. I think I may be more excited to give it to him than he is to get it! One thing is safe to say though, the one part about Father's Day I always dread is picking out a card. They always seem to hit two extremes, young children giving cards or sentimental cards. Somewhere along the line they forgot the people in the middle who like to give cute, funny, sweet cards that won't make you cry but still let dad know you care. That's why this year I've decided to make my own! This one has a nautical feel for my dad, but you can customize to whatever dad's interests may be. Say your dad loves the outdoors, find a small rock and use the saying "Dad, you rock." If dad is a major sports guy write "I got a hole in one with you for a Dad." If dad is a fisherman, "You're a reel great dad." The possibilities are really endless, just make sure you make it something your dad will get.

I hope you all have a fun weekend! What do you have planned for dad?

A Little Friday Lovin' {Dad}

Seeing as Father's Day is Sunday, I wanted today's Friday Lovin' to be all about my dad! Lately I've been thinking about what I can do to make the day special just for him.  For a man who does so much, this should be his day to do as he pleases and partake in some of his favorite things.  So here's a little run down of how I'm thinking our Father's Day should go this year! I'm thinking the perfect day for Dad starts with some homemade blueberry pancakes and maybe a bike ride down to the beach to hang for a few hours.  The beach will be followed up with a great came of ball with our dog, Harley.  Finish off the day by throwing ribs on the Big Green Egg or grilling burgers at Jose's (the bar my Dad built on our back deck) with a rum drink in hand!  But, even if we don't spend the day this way, I'm sure it will be great! Making Dad happy on this day is all that matters.  After everything he has done for me, he deserves more than one day a year dedicated just to him. Thanks for everything Dad! I love you. 

*Pancakes, Biker, Drinks

Dining Uncorked {German Chocolate Cake}

With Father's Day coming up on Sunday, I decided to take a little inspiration from my wonderful Padre for today's Bite Me.  Since his favorite cake is German Chocolate, I have been on the hunt for the perfect recipe for him.  When looking for recipes, I Google image search what I want to make and find the recipe from the image.  My thought is if it looks delicious it probably is (I eat first with my eyes so it must look as good as it tastes.).  I found this picture and the recipe sounds as good as this picture looks.  So assuming your mouth is watering as much a mine is now, enjoy this German Chocolate cake recipe from SharedSugar!

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

cake adapted from Baked, filling adapted from Baker’s

makes one 8-inch 3 layer cake

• INGREDIENTS

• cake layers

• 4 ounces dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 2-1/4 cups unbleached cake flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (8 ounces) strong, hot coffee
• 1 cup (8 ounces) buttermilk
• 1-1/4 cups (2-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups pure cane sugar
• 5 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• filling

• 4 egg yolks
• 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup pure cane sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 seven ounce package (about 2-2/3 cups) sweetened coconut
• 1-1/2 cups chopped pecans, toasted

• DIRECTIONS

make the cake layers

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper. Butter pans and dust with cocoa powder (instead of flour which leaves white splotches on the chocolate layers), shaking off the excess.
In a double boiler, melt dark chocolate. Remove from heat and cool. Quicken this step by cooling chocolate in the refrigerator.
In a medium bowl, sift the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together coffee and buttermilk.
In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy, about three minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping sides of bowl down after each addition. Add vanilla and mix until incorporated. Add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the coffee/buttermilk mixture. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Remove the bowl from the mixer and using a spatula, fold in the melted chocolate.
Divide the batter evenly between the three pans. Batter should fill pans about half to two-thirds of the way full. Smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Transfer cakes to a wire cooling rack for 20-30 minutes. Invert cakes onto rack and remove pans and parchment to let cool completely.

make the filling

In a large saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, evaporated milk and vanilla until well blended. Add sugars and butter and cook over medium heat, stirring often, for 12 minutes, until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat. Mix in coconut and pecans. Cool to room temperature.

assemble the cake

Trim tops of cakes to level out surface, if necessary. Place first cake layer on platter or cake stand. Spread one third of filling on top. Add second layer and spread another third of filling on top. Follow with final layer and top with remaining filling.