To celebrate our daughter turning three, we had a feast with friends and family. She requested lobster, corn and beans and so lobster, corn and beans it was. More on that fiasco another time. What I want to tell you about today is the cakes.
Birthday Cake Two Ways
We've introduced her to very little sugar in her short little life so far, and in that spirit I developed a very low sugar vegetable-based cake for her second birthday called a Harvest Cake. It was such a hit we decided to do it again this year.
But wait. I kind of liked the idea of going a step further and serving a completely sugar-free savory dessert item. Cypress Grove Chevre's Truffle Tremor had just won first place at the American Cheese Society competition so I served a nice big wheel of it, decorated similarly to the Harvest Cake, with three white candles plunged into its earthy skin.
I see my role as a mother and my role as a food writer to be quite similar in one way: my job is to introduce people to ways of cooking and eating that make them excited. Sometimes they are traditional ways. Sometimes we push the envelope a little. Along the way I encourage healthy choices, but without being didactic.
See, to me, a thin slab of truffle infused aged goat cheese is its own kind of healthy (Vegans, hold your fire!) Having a child who, for now, will try anything, gives me hope that she will also make creative and healthy choices in her long eating life ahead.
Happy Birthday, little girl.
Related:
• Harvest Cake with Goat Cheese Frosting
• Cypress Grove Chevre
More Birthday Cake Action:
• Eight Fall Birthday Cakes
• Sexier Than It Sounds: Oatmeal Cake with Broiled Coconut Topping
A version of this post was originally sent to our email subscribers yesterday. To receive Sara Kate's weekly email, sign up in the column to the left or click here. Something tasty will arrive in your inbox every Thursday.
Tags
Entertaining, Cheese, Desserts for a Crowd, birthday cake, posted email, Cypress Grove ChevreShare
Comments (13)
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What a brilliant idea! Our daughter has also gone without much sugar except around holidays when I get the baking itch! We might have to steal this idea for her upcoming third birthday. We have encouraged her to try many things as well and because of that she loves sushi, edamame, tofu, (even the caviar my Russian husband gives her!) and anything new I throw at her. I'm hoping these kinds of eating habits stick. Growing up I didn't have healthy role models and have to learn everything now in my mid 20's, so I think it's great to hear about parents putting their child's health front and center.
view tirzhaz's profile
love this! cheese as dessert=yummmmm!
view rachpie's profile
What a lovely child! And the cake looks beautiful, too. The photo of her blowing out the candles is wonderful.
view Elizabeth B's profile
*squints*
Your three year old requested Lobster.
And I can't even get a five-year-old to TRY a shrimp. Yeesh.
view bfootnovellista's profile
oh i love this! i think you've given your daughter the best birthday gift ever - a healthy and spirited way of enjoying food.
view ddot_'s profile
SUCH an adorable little girl! The cake looks fabulous as well, I would love to make something like that soon!
view Sprouted Kitchen's profile
As a vegan, serving a cheese-"cake" sounds really funny. Obviously not something I would do.
view Rosey G.'s profile
Lobster? That's my kind of three year old.
view emaozora's profile
I love the marigolds, nasturiums and dahlias on the frosting. The beautiful flowers add to the birthday festivity and joy. What a nice idea.
view lona's profile
your daughter is adorable.
view youenjoymyself's profile
Sara Kate,
Not only is your daughter adorable, but you're gorgeous. What fantastic pictures.
view kelleyk's profile
Happy (belated) Birthday Ursula!
(I remember how tiny you were when your parents brought you home from the hospital :-))
Wish we could make the harvest cake, but the walnuts seem to be key ingredients, and my daughter has a walnut allergy... :-(
view mschatelaine's profile
So pretty!
view sunshinestate's profile