Sugar

Back in the day...which was only about 4 months ago...the King needed about 3 daily diet pops (yes, it's pop) in order to survive his work week and and come home to a baby that wouldn't sleep.  Remember these days? Ugh.  Just thinking about those days makes me want to take a nap.  It was rough.  

The caffeine addiction would take hold of him during the week and then he couldn't sleep, so on the weekends he would give up the caffeine in order to bank enough sleep to get through the next week.  It was a very vicious cycle.  His interests at the time included the Princess and cookies.  Things got ugly.

One bright and wonderful weekend day, the King decided he was going to turn things around and start drinking black coffee to fulfill his caffeine fix and he is a changed man because of it.  He gave up all sugar and dessert like items.  He is now happy, cheerful, and 20 pounds lighter.

This study proves his logic.  Diet soda is linked to an increase in depression.  Coffee drinkers are ten percent less likely to experience depression.  So drink up coffee lovers!  

However, the shunning of sugar brings me to a dilemma.  The King's birthday is in a couple weeks and I have nothing to stick candles in.  As it looks right now, he may be getting a beer bread cake?  Help!  I need ideas.

To help provide me with my own personal cake baking fix, I took advantage of a friend's birthday.  This is what I came up with:

Hard to tell, but that is some pretty kick-ass mint chocolate chip frosting.  The King doesn't even know what he's missing...

Cake

•   1 pkg cake mix

•   1 4-serving package Jell-o instant pudding & pie filling

•   2 eggs

•   1 3/4 cup milk

1.  Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  

2.  Mix by hand until well blended (~2 min).  

3.  Pour into 2 greased & floured 9" round pans.  

4.  Bake @ 350 for 40-50 minutes, or until cake springs back when lightly pressed with fingers.  

5.  Cool 15 min in pan; remove from pan & continue cooling on rack.

Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream Frosting

•   1 cup butter (at room temperature)

•   2 lb confectioners' sugar

•   1/4-1/2 cup milk

•   1/2 tsp peppermint extract

•   1/8 tsp green food coloring (or more to achieve desired green-ness)

•   11 oz. mini chocolate chips

1.  Beat the butter until soft & smooth (I find using a hand mixer works best for frostings).

2.  Add 1/2 confectioners' sugar and mix at low speed until fairly well blended.  

3.  Add the rest of the sugar, continue blending at low speed.  

4.  Add milk and beat 3-5 minutes until creamy and slightly thinner than what you need (frosting will firm up). 

**Makes enough for two 9" layers plus filling.