When Operation Enduring Freedom started in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, soldiers would often go without celebrating their birthday or other special occasions with a cake. Birthdays in America are celebrated with candles, balloons, presents, punch, ice cream and cake, so it was often a letdown to celebrate a birthday with Dolly Madison Zingers® or Hostess Cakes and a bottle of hot water.
Enter into the picture BakeMeAWish! a company that specializes in gourmet birthday cakes that are prepared in an award-winning New York City bakery. BakeMeAWish! teamed up with Soldiers' Angels in the spring of 2008, to develop a win-win partnership for the deployed heroes in the campaign called "Operation Birthday Cake."
"Operation Birthday Cake" is a handmade cake, made to order, and topped with the finest imported Belgian chocolate plaque, inscribed with the personalized message of "Happy Birthday." Each cake is delivered in an elegant gold gift box, and specially boxed in refrigerated packaging to ensure freshness.
"Cakes have the power to turn the simplest gathering into a celebration and evoke/create strong memories," said Josh Kaye, CEO of BakeMeAWish. "Everybody knows somebody who has been away from home on their birthday," Kaye continued. "BakeMeAWish.com is proud to work with Soldiers' Angels. Together, we continue to do so much to keep the morale high among the troops by delivering gourmet cakes to loved ones celebrating a birthday away from home."
Kaye inherited a recipe from his Nana called the Soldier's Cake. She developed it during World War II when cake tins were made available in which to bake, pack, and send fruit cakes to soldiers.
THE SOLDIER'S CAKE
Ingredients - 6oz butter; 6oz sugar; 3 eggs; 8oz sultanas; 8oz raisins; 2oz mixed peel; 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoons mixed spice; 1/2 tablespoon golden syrup; 3oz self-raising flour; 6oz plain flour; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 1 tablespoon water; brandy.
Method - Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Beat in golden syrup. Add sultanas, raisins, and mixed peel. Fold in flour to which has been added cinnamon, nutmeg, mixed spice, and salt. Lastly add brandy and baking powder mixed in a tablespoon of water. Bake in a very moderate oven for two hours.
While this is not the recipe for Operation Birthday Cake, it goes to show you that baking cakes for soldiers has been handed down through the generations. So what are you waiting for? It is time to have your cake and eat it too!
