Happy (upcoming) Birthdays to you all! I'm in, thanks for the generous giveaway :)!

I love baking, I normally bake at least once per week if not twice. I have a lot of favourite dessert recipes! What do you like? Cookies? Cakes? Pies? Squares? Muffins? Brownies? Scones? Cheesecakes? I've got them all, I'd be happy to share. Here is the one I made yesterday:

Quay Lime Pie

Filling:
3 egg yolks
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lime juice (roughly 3 limes) *Yes I use ordinary limes, not quay limes, so sue me :P!

Meringue:
3 egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar (optional)
2 tbsp white sugar

Method:
1) Prepare a fully-baked pie shell, set aside to cool. (*you can either make one by hand, or use a store bought one. I prefer home-made, it’s not hard to do but it does require some experience. If anyone wants my pie shell recipe, just ask :)!
2) beat meringue ingredients together in a medium bowl until stiff but not dry and holds peaks (2-3 minutes)
3) in a separate large bowl, beat egg yolks
4) add condensed milk to egg yolks, and beat
5) add lime juice, and beat
6) pour filling into fully-baked pie shell
7) spread meringue on top of pie, touching/covering the crust around the edges.
8) bake 350F 15 minutes, until meringue is golden brown.

And while I’m at it, here is my favourite birthday cake. It’s kind of a family tradition, my Mum made this cake a lot when I was a child, and I still make it (birthdays or not). It's actually a vegan recipe (if you don't use the suggested icing), but don't let that throw you off, it's really a very good cake!!

3 Hole Cake

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda

6 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup water

Method:
1) mix baking soda, sugar, and cocoa powder together in a large bowl to break up lumps.
2) add all remaining ingredients and mix vigorously, then pour into 9-inch square cake tin.
3) bake 375F 30-35 minutes until done, allow to cool to room temperature.
4) top with butter icing (below)

*Note: This is called “3 hole cake” because the traditional method of making it (and how my Mum used to do it) is to first mix all the dry ingredients together directly in the cake pan. Then make three holes/depressions (one large, two small), add the liquid ingredients, and mix. Saves washing up a bowl!

**Note 2: This cake actually tastes better after it’s aged for a day or two, I normally bake it the day before I want to eat it.

Butter Icing

Ingredients
2 tbsp butter (room temperature)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup icing sugar
1 - 2 tsp milk

Method:
1) mix together butter and vanilla in a medium bowl
2) blend in icing sugar
3) add milk slowly, mixing as you go, until icing becomes the correct consistency
4) spread icing on cake!
5) (Optional) For an extra-special birthday addition, top cake with chopped marshmallows and drizzle with melted chocolate!