Baby Shower BBQ

I threw a co-ed baby shower bbq last weekend.  A good time was had by all, and I had many compliments on the food.  I tried to keep the food simple, but must admit that it was a time consuming mistake on my part to try to do everything homemade.  I think people would have been fine with purchased hamburger buns (though they may not have been dairy free then!).

Baby Shower BBQ Menu:

Guacamole and Chips

Veggie Chips from Trader Joe's (these are so addictive!)

Sliced watermelon, pineapple, strawberries and grapes

BBQ lil' Smokies

Sliders on homemade buns (this recipe, but I use 2 Tbsp of olive oil in place of the butter)

BBQ Ribs (secret recipe! lol)

and...

Silver White Cake w/ white "buttercream" frosting

This is a 4 layer cake.  The bottom tier is 2 - 9" layers and the top tier is 2 - 6" layers.  This recipe will make two 9" layers, so I had to make two batches for the cake shown above.

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cups shortening

1 1/4 cups vanilla flavored coconut milk

3 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla extract

5 large egg whites

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease the bottom and sides of your cake pans with shortening and lightly flour.

Beat all the ingredients except the egg whites in a large bowl, being sure to scrape frequently.  Beat until mixture is smooth.  Beat in egg whites until well incorporated, scraping the bowl occasionally.  Pour into your cake pans.

Bake 9-inch rounds 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool rounds 10 minutes: remove from pans to wire rack.  Let cool completely before frosting.

White Buttercream Frosting

3 cups powdered sugar (sifted)

1/3 cup dairy-free butter

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 - 3 Tbsp vanilla coconut milk

Mix powdered sugar and butter in a bowl.  Stir in vanilla and 1 Tbsp of the milk.  Gradually add in enough remaining milk to make the frosting smooth and spreadable.  This is enough frosting for two 9" layer cake.