Today is my birthday! I am the big 2-3! Last night I went to dinner with a few friends to one of myfavorite local spots, Twisted Root Burger Co. I went on Monday with Kyle and his mom (who I happen to share a birthday with,Happy Birthday Gina!) and I also went last night with a small group of friends. I went twice in a week, so you know its good. Last night I got the black bean and corn veggie burger with guacamole and sweet potato chips. It was so delicious and I split the chips with a friend, so I didn’t feel awful after the meal! Here are a few pictures of my friends and I.

This morning I went to lunch with Kyle, my mom, step dad and my grandparents at Ihop. I got an egg beaters scramble and 2 pancakes with sugar free syrup. Not bad for the birthday girl huh?

Who am I kidding, its not a birthday without a birthday cake! I knew that this cake would be 10% for me, 90% for Kyle so I made something we both would like. My lap top died last week and the weather was pretty awful, so I baked with ingredients I already had in the pantry. (Today I purchased a new lap top, and boy they sure have improved lap tops since 2004 when I got my last one!)

Peanut Butter Cake with Reeces Bits and Brown Sugar Frosting

1 package butter cake mix
1/2 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy soynut butter)
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup water
2 packages Reeces (4 individual cups), chopped
4 large eggs

1. Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Set aside.
2. For cake, cream together peanut butter and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time mixing well after each one. Add cake mix alternately with the water; stirring until just combines. Pour batter in the prepared pans. Chop up the Reeces cups and evenly divide half of the Reeces bits on top of the cake pans and push them in a tad.
3. Bake for 25-30 minutes until or until wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. All cakes to cool in pan for 10 minutes on wire rack; turn out onto rack to cool completely. Frost when cool.

Brown Sugar Frosting

1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; reduce heat to low. Boil and stir 2 minutes; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm, about 20 minutes.
2. Gradually stir powdered sugar into brown sugar mixture. If frosting becomes too stiff, stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, or heat over low heat, stirring constantly.
3. Frost your cake and top with the remaining Reeces bits.