Every time we asked her what she wanted for her birthday, her answers never changed. There were three simple things that she continued to request. One of her requests were fulfilled on her birthday adventure on Saturday (will probably share tomorrow), but the last two were done on her actual birthday. The two simple requests were... sushi and a camera.
Thus, on her actual birthday we had just a simple celebration with the foods she loves most, sushi included of course, and a happy little dinner with just the five of us. The birthday princess was absolutely elated and proud to finally have turned four!
I totally wanted a cake that looked like this, but my own version with drippy frosting will have to do. I think the dairy-free butter I used was too watery as the frosting did not want to stay up. I was bit bummed it didn't come out the way I liked, but I guess that means I have to give it another try sometime! Oh well. Any resident bakers have any suggestions?
Also, I made little mini cake stands inspired by Danni's and these. I wanted to have all her goodies prettily displayed.
Happy as a clam, she kept exclaiming, "It's my birthday! I'm four! I'm four!"
Right before the birthday cake, she got her last little wish... her very own digital camera. Then, we were singing happy birthday, she got all little photog on us as was documenting each little thing and moment. It was almost if she was going to be blogging all about it herself! A little blogger in the making? Maybe so.
Her camera is now attached to her hip and me thinks that her birthday was absolutely perfect for her. We didn't have a big party, less stress, and just everything that she wanted. All was perfection! Of course, with that, the grandparents did contest the lack of a party, so I told my mom she could make True a small birthday dinner, so that is what we did on Sunday night. Though, my mom's idea of simple is very different from mine, nonetheless True felt the happy birthday love from her grammie and grumpy. Hopefully tomorrow I will share what her other request was and how that led to her Saturday birthday adventure...
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what a beautiful spread! i think it is awesome that she requested sushi for her birthday! what a good little eater!!
ReplyDeletewhat a great Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!gorgeous as always!
ReplyDeletewhat kind of frosting did you use? buttercream would be firmer...
ReplyDeletehave u ever tried using whipping cream and marcapone cheese? its a nice alternative to butter but im not sure how firm it would be
i hope she's happy with the camera!! what a great present
My four year old loves sushi too! I tried to get her a kiddie digital camera for her last Christmas, but they were always sold out. They are hot commodities.
ReplyDeleteI love it all...it's so simple,pretty & colorful! She looks soooo happy....aww,to be 4 again,such a great age! I love her dress,too. :)
ReplyDeleteI always use the fluffy vegan buttercream recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, and I've never had a problem. It will pipe or do anything you want perfectly.
ReplyDeletei love how special you kept everything even though it was a family party. so often we skip the pretty stuff when it's just "us" and i think that's a bummer. everything you created for your daughter is so inspiring!! love it all.
ReplyDeleteHer crown was precious of course! I don't know about dairy-free, but to help with icing any cake, be sure that the cake is fully cooled. Sometimes I will even refridgerate it for a while just to be sure the warm cake doesn't melt the icing. Also, being in humid Florida, I will often put the finished cake in the fridge until right before the event.
ReplyDeleteI finally gave up trying to make "pretty" dairy-free, gluten-free frosting from scratch when I discovered Cherrybrook Kitchens. http://www.cherrybrookkitchen.com/index.php
ReplyDeleteTheir frosting always turns out - and tastes! - very good. I've even put it in a piping bag and piped with it.
I can solve your frosting problem! Here is the perfect vegan buttercream:
ReplyDelete1/2 cup Earth Balance stick margarine
1/2 cup nonhydrogenated shortening
3 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup plain soy milk or soy creamer
Beat shortening + maragarine together til fluffy. Add sugar and beat about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and soy milk, beat another 5-7 minutes until fluffy.
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Yes, that's a lot of beating. But this is a GREAT frosting that really stands up. I even use it for piped, intricate cakes and it won't melt or run. Your runny cake problem will be solved forever!
I think you can sub another kind of milk for the soy if you are avoiding soy. Use Earth Balance margarine, NOT Smart Balance, which has too high a water content for this kind of frosting (it will run).
The recipe is from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero (p. 142).
I was hoping you'd post True's photos! You have to find this book (it is on amazon.com): "Boy With a Camera: Story of Jacques-Henri Lartigue". He got his first camera at age 7 in 1902 and he takes photos of his life in France...he's amazing! It might inspire True! I think my cousin's college professor wrote it or something... that's how I found it. I just love that True loves sushi too!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love True's big proud 4 year old smile. How I wish people would smile the same smile at 40! Her Misha Lulu birthday dress is gorgeous and your little cake-stand- display is very, very attractive.Best wishes, Hedy
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to have to start bringing True around on weddings with me!
ReplyDeleteso cute! :D
ReplyDeleteHappies of Birthdays True! May your wish come true...but it looks like it did!
ReplyDeletetrue just looks so happy as a clam on her bday! your pictures are amazing of the food items! and that little digital camera is soo adorable, she really is a blogger in the making!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adorable birthday girl! For your frosting, next time make sure the cake is cool (you can refrigerate it) and if your frosting seems runny, add more powdered sugar!
ReplyDeleteeverything looks fabulous!!!
ReplyDeletelet me know when her blog is up... hee hee.
My 3-year-old has been begging for a pink camera since well before Christmas. I got her that same camera Brave has! It HAD to be pink. She likes it, but I think she would like it more if the screen wasn't so tiny! I loooove her dress in those pictures, by the way. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHey Rubyellen! What camera did you and Ben end up getting her (and do u like it)??? My lil' niece wants one and we've researching them...haven't found a great one yet...TU!!
ReplyDelete