New Year’s is a party time, for sure, but then it quickly becomes a time of reflection. Know what I mean? The challenges and adventures of the last year, the hope for a bright new year, resolutions for change in the upcoming year.

We’d like to add “giving” to that list.

As in: Who needs my help? Who needs a pat on the back? Who needs a statement of appreciation from me? Who needs some money from my pocket to help them along? Who needs a push in the right direction, or maybe even a kick in the pants? What skill do I have that I can pass on to help someone? Even the simple act of showing a child how to bake a cake or a loaf of bread can create a precious memory that will last a lifetime (unless they teach someone else, maybe even one of their future children, and so on).

This year, we’re using the ole’ martial arts credo…Be ready for anything!

I am so very grateful for the tremendous support of the Bake This Cake! blog this year. With so many new friends and followers this year, it has been an amazing (and fun) year.

And what adventures we’ve had….like…

The Culinary Historians of Southern California’s Yosemite Dinner — The annual potluck event where 80 culinary historians gathered in Pasadena to recreate an historic dinner between President Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir in Yosemite. May I add that I baked the Edith Roosevelt Cloves Cake? AND I discovered a major error in a 100-year-old recipe (but more on that in an upcoming blog). 🙂 You can see an album of photos from this event by clicking >here<.

The Annual Neighborhood Halloween House, sponsored by our neighborhood property owners’ association, at our house going on 20 years in a row now, with chili dinner and treats for the whole neighborhood and their guests…and a ghostly graveyard for the kids…

The Techmunch L.A. event, where food writers from all over the U.S. gathered to learn better techniques for food blogging.. You can see a photo album of this event by clicking >here<.

The Slow Food USA $5 Meal Challenge where we whooped-it-up for an entire meal for a family of 5 for $5 — whoo hoo!….

The NutrItaly event in Westwood, where we learned new ways to create healthier Italian food. You can see a photo album of the NutraItaly event by clicking >here< and a video on the event >here<.

The Food Bloggers Los Angeles Holiday Cookie Swap, where I added my Little Prairie Cakes to the gorgeous table of holiday cookie delights. You can see a photo album of this fun event by clicking >here<. And you can get all the recipes for the cookies by visiting our friends >here<.

My 90-year-old mom’s book signing event for her photo-poetry book, “While Wandering”, where I launched my vintage Lady Baltimore Cake…

There were office parties…

…with homemade lasagna for a Thanksgiving potluck…

…a special strawberries and cream birthday cake for 50…

…the Go Green Day to promote public transit…

…a deli table retirement party…

And there were some nice big sit-down dinners with friends and family….

…Thanksgiving buffet at the river house with our River House Whipped Cream Cake…

…Christmas night dinner in the city…

And the shared recipes on our blog during the year …

Now it’s time to say thank you to our readers! And, a BIG thanks our sponsor of this giveaway, King Arthur Flour (we’ve received a free boxful of lovely gift-giving products to give away to one lucky winner).

1.) King Arthur Flour Bake and Give Pan Ring – 1 Set of 12…

2.) King Arthur Flour Bake and Give Round Pans – 1 Set of 6…

3.) King Arthur Flour Bake and Give Wooden Bakers – 1 Set of 6…

4.) King Arthur Flour Tulip Papers – Red – 1 Set of 24…

5.)  King Arthur Unbleached Cake Flour…

Here are the contest rules….

+ 1 King Arthur Flour Unbleached Cake Flour

Do one or more of the following once or once a day. Each task gives you an additional entry. With the exception of making a general comment, you must let me know in the comments section of this blogpost what action you took. For example, if you tweet about the giveaway,like, “Check-out the cool giveaway by @BakeThisCakeCom at http://www.bakethiscake.com&#8221; then come here and post a comment like: “I tweeted the giveaway!”.

This is a giveaway contest with an approximate value of $50 and no purchase is necessary in order to win, however, you must follow the rules of the Contest. Read the full Contest Rules >here< and the full disclosure policy >here<.

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UPDATE! WE HAVE A WINNER! Hip hip! (Don’t worry, we’ll have more!). 

With her permission, a little about our winner: 

Inger Frauenheim of Seattle…who is a busy at-home Mom of 2 young boys. She likes: baking, cooking for her family and friends, baking with her boys and eating homemade goodness. She cherishes the memories baking times create, knowing they will provide stories to tell for generations to come. She is always looking for new recipes, especially time tested ones, that will fill their days in the kitchen with time spent together baking and sharing in celebration.

Congats, Inger!

And thank you all for participating! More giveaways to come. 🙂

Good luck and Happy New Year!

Leslie

Related articles

• Little Prairie Cakes Recipe – Old Fashioned Cookies Made Modern (bakethiscake.com)
• Lady Baltimore Cake Recipe for a Special Celebration (bakethiscake.com)
• River House Whipped Cream Cake Recipe (bakethiscake.com)
• Pioneer Skillet Cake – Apple Pandowdy (bakethiscake.com)
• Sweet As Sugar Cookies (sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com)