Sunday, June 8, 2008

Celebrations, Cake & Click Yellow for Bri

I have been back a week now but have hardly had time to breathe. My daughter's 3rd birthday on the weekend gave me only a week to scramble and get everything done in time. There were only six children this time so I decided to do everything at home , including the cake and of course it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be!

I should have expected the madness, considering the fact that I haven't ever iced a cake before. I'm not a great fan of butter sugar icing and don't know the first thing about fresh cream icing. But Birthday baby wanted a "Pink butterfly Cake" so the theme of the party was chosen automatically though I didnt have a theme for even her first and second birthdays! - there were Butterfly invitation cards, butterfly games and even a butterfly cake
- I drew the line at Pink icing for the cake though; instead I made pink marzipan butterfly and flower decorations to put on the icing.

Her best friend's mother got her a pair of pink wings and she was thrilled to bits. This was her first birthday party she really enjoyed; the highlight of the evening was the cutting of the cake of course and she beamed as everyone sang for her!! All that slaving at above 40C temps and 80% humidity was so worth it for that bug eyed look on her face when she saw her cake!

I thought I would never be able to get the marzipan right nor the cookies, the butter and sugar were simply melting and oozing out of everything. I somehow managed to get them both done but I was a puddle of sweat myself by the end of it.

The next day I got a bit smarter, when it was time for the icing I put on the air conditioning in my bedroom and did it all there!! And helping me through it all was Deeba of Passionate about Baking on the phone! - Thanks so much D, I really managed because you kept telling me it would work!

The menu in fact was like a Blog Patrol event I was conducting!!
The basic sponge cake was adapted from this recipe of Deeba's and then I made a butter and sugar icing tinted yellow. The marzipan I adapted, again, from Deeba's recipe, I cut out the flowers and leaves and shaped the butterfly by hand. The stained glass cookies are from her recipe and were much appreciated.

I made these chocolate cupcakes from Cooker's recipe and made some marzipan flowers and leaves to put on them.

I adapted this recipe from Farmgirl Fare to make some delicious carrot and herb rolls. And there was salami and cheese sandwiches, mini idlis and macaroni and cheese.
And then for me to relax after all the sugar fuelled hyperactivity, we had dinner with a few close friends at home - some chilled minty caipiroska, grilled chicken with mango salsa, pesto pasta, dinner rolls and a roasted salad and good company - it was a perfect evening.

ETA: I have just come back and catching up, came across the fund raising for Bri - I am entering this cake in the Click! Yellow for Bri event being hosted at Jugalbandi. I have participated in Click just once before this, frankly my photography skills leave a lot to be desired.
BUT this event is special and is being organised as a fund raiser for Bri of the blog Figs with Bri .
She is waging a second battle against cancer and we are all hoping that she wins this time too. In the meanwhile she needs to pursue all options including alternative therapy which is not covered by health insurance.
Been there, done that and still recovering from the financial effects of battling a major illness, though mine was not cancer. Its amazing to see the outpouring of support and I hope it helps her in as many ways as possible.

If you want to help the fundraiser, you can participate in Click Yellow for Bri at Jugalbandi till the 30th of June. OR you can Make a Donation OR Publicise the fund raiser by writing about it on your blog or website. You can use the HTML at this page.

18 comments:

FH said...

I know arranging Birthday parties at home is very stressful even though we enjoy it. Next year I am thinking of paying the kids and leave them at the movies. No hassle with the decoration and all!:D
Happy 6th to her, cute cake too. I don't think kids care about anything but gobble the cake down in a minute!:)

Nupur said...

The cake is absolutely cute as can be! Happy birthday to your little one.

Finla said...

wow wish i was your tree year old.
I am sure she had great fun.
And what a array of baking you have done.
Happy b'day to your daughter

Cham said...

Cute cake for a cutie! Happy birthday to the little one :)

TheCooker said...

Oh my! What a spread. The cake looks sho shweet.
We too had a butterfly theme for my daughter's 6th b'day.
Hope the cupcakes turned out ok.
Happy 6th to your daughter.

bee said...

what a pretty cake!!! wishing a happy year to your daughter and thanks for the entry.

bee said...

wow that was a wonderful birthday cake for your kiddo! thanks for participating in CLICK. see you at voting! -Jai

Deeba PAB said...

*blush* Miri...thanks a lot for all the good words about me...but ust say you've done superbly. Man, that's some spread to have achieved single handedly & with great applomb...I'm bug eyed too! And then to carry it on with dinner a la exotica...WOW!! Everything looks perfecto!!! Happy birthday to little pink wings again!!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

That's quite a beautiful cake. With such a party spread, she must have had a great party.

Miri said...

I know Asha, good idea to get them out of your hair! It was her third bday, with 6 kids :)

Miri said...

Thanks Nupur, cham and Happy Cook! And thank YOU Cooker for that beautiful recipe...next time I want to make those choc flowers! Thanks Bee and Jai!

Miri said...

Deeba - you deserve all those compliments and more - cant imagine how you turn out those perfectly iced cakes each time - once was enough for me!!

sunita said...

Miri, that is such a cute cake...I am sure the li'l lady must hav3 been thrilled to bits;hugs and wishes to her.

As for birthday cakes, I too make it every year for both my kids( they have only a week between their b'days)...a lot of hard work, but yes, the smiles on their faces do make it worthwhile :-)

Sia said...

miri, thats simply awesome. that butterfly cake is simply gorgeous. well done dear girl:) birthday wishes to ur little darling:)

ns said...

hey everything looks and sounds super delicious! where do you get the energy from? I just serve beer and curd rice for friends...
big kiss to the little one

Miri said...

Thanks Sunita, Sia, Arpana and Nina...

evolvingtastes said...

Sounds like a wonderful menu and a fun evening. :-)

Laavanya said...

That butterfly cake is extremely cute and pretty :) Party sounds great and must've made for a very happy 3 yr old I'm sure.