Green Grass - A Birthday Cake Special Post!

Becca here with a special Birthday Cake post!  One of my sons wanted to celebrate with a 'camping' birthday party this year, so that's what we did!  And while normally I try to avoid artificial coloring (my children not-so-affectionately refer to it as "paint" in their food, ha!) and processed foods, for his birthday he wanted to serve the stuff his friends share with him when they go camping - "white (powdered) donuts", cheetos, hot dogs, and a cake with green grass on it like he had last year, but with camping things.  Easy stuff!  I normally make the kid's cakes, although I wouldn't say that I have many cake decorating skills at all, I think they always turn out cute, and the kids have always been thrilled with them.  That's what counts anyway, right?  So I made 'green grass' using coconut last year for the first time for Nathan's cake when he wanted a Little Einsteins cake.  I added his toy Little Einsteins rocket on top, along with a few chocolate rocks, and he was more than happy.  And remembered it enough to ask for the same coconut 'grass' and chocolate rocks again this year.  It's super, super simple to make the grass, and the possibilites are endless; just add some chocolate rocks on top (purchased at my local Walmart that's tiny even :), a few of their (clean) toys to fit the theme, and you're good to go!  Bonus, the coconut tastes amazing!

Green "Grass" for cakes
makes enough for 9x13 very easily, with a bit leftover

1 bag (16 oz.) sweetened dried coconut
green food coloring - I used 60 drops
1/2 - 3/4 cup water, divided

Pour coconut into a large mixing bowl that the color won't stain (I use stainless steel).  Begin adding green food coloring to the coconut.  I do 5-6 drops at a time in several different spots across the top.  Add 1/4 cup of water, drizzling over your food coloring spots, and gently stir well.  Repeat until desired color is reached (I used 60 drops in the above photos!), adding up to 3/4 cup of water.

Spread evenly on large baking sheet, and bake at 225 for 10-15 minutes, or until it feels dry & crunch to the touch (the very outer pieces may start to brown a bit, that's fine).  Let cool, and store in an airtight container.  The morning of the party, I frost the cake normally, and then sprinkle the coconut grass on top.  Yum!!

*To make the campfire that really lit up, I used pretzel sticks for the logs, and 4 flourescent colored candles inside, for extra fun :)