Happy Birthday !

Today my middle child turned 20.  Even though he is in Michigan and isn't living at home right now, I made his favorite cake, Almond Poppy Seed, so we could celebrate.

This is the picture I took with his 3 younger brothers before we dug in. 

I also made a cake mix and sent it in his birthday package so he can have his favorite cake 
too.

To make the cake mix I put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mixed them together. I put that in a ziploc bag and included directions for how to make it.  He has made it on his own at home many times so with the recipe he can easily make it.  In this picture I added the milk before I took the picture.  But you get the idea, only put the dry ingredients in the mix!!!

This is the cake, ready to bake.

And here is the finished product.  Not too fancy, but oh boy is it delicious.  The trick is poking holes in it and getting the glaze to seep down in it.  

Now, the recipe:

Almond Poppy Seed Cake

                                         3 cups flour
                                         1 teaspoon salt
                                         1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
                                         2 1/4 cups sugar
                                         1/4 cups poppy seeds
                                         1 1/2 cups milk
                                         1 cup oil
                                         3 eggs
                                         1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
                                         2 teaspoons almond extract

     Mix all the dry ingredients.  Make a well in the center and add the wet ingredients.  Beat until smooth.  Put in a greased 9"x13" pan, or 2 loaf pans, or a bundt pan.  Bake at 350*, about an hour for the bundt pan, less for the others.  When it comes out of the oven, poke holes with a toothpick or a skewer and pour the glaze over slowly so it goes down into the cake.

GLAZE

                                          3/4 cup powdered sugar
                                          1/4 cup orange juice
                                          2 teaspoons melted butter
                                          1/2 teaspoon vanilla
                                          1/2 teaspoon almond extract