<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/rose-cake-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-735" alt="buttercream rose cake" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/rose-cake-2.jpg" width="500" height="325" /></a>

I've sworn off cakes for the summer....that's working out well for me, don't you think? But, when my own personal minister asked me to make a birthday cake for her big sister, I just couldn't say no.  After all, she did fly in from out of town to do both our wedding (which happened to take place on her own birthday) and O's world welcoming festival...plus, we are hoping she'll be back when we can finally manage to make baby #2 (Lesley, I hope you are reading this!).  Anyway, Karen celebrated a milestone birthday that will remain unspecified on this site -- but let's just say it was a big one and a big cake was in order.  Chocolate, her favorite raspberry jam, and vanilla buttercream were accented with delicate purple orchids commemorating her residence in Hawaii and all of the good things that have happened there.

<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/rose-cake-3.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-736" alt="chocolate cake with orchids" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/rose-cake-3.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a>

<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/rose-cake-4.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-737" alt="buttercream rose cake" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/rose-cake-4.jpg" width="500" height="373" /></a>