Maya’s turns 13 on the 19th of this month. This evening she celebrated her birthday with close friends, many of whom will not be able to join her on the actual day. Pictured here is the masterpiece cake she created to share with her guests. It is called a Zauber Torte (Golden Cage), a recipe she selected from the Cake Bible. The cage which hovers above the lemon poppy seed pound cake is made of caramel and garnished with crystallized violets (from our neighbor’s garden) and is a challenge for even the most experienced cooks. Maya did all the work save for the frosting and it was impossible to say whether it was more beautiful or delicious. During the party the girls had a scavenger hunt, played a game they invented called Freedom (two girl’s seek to capture the rest who are hidden throughout the house, once captured they are confined to base unless they are rescued by a teammate), and watched a comedy about a female bounty hunter.