Can you believe I'm a year old already! At 6:30am on my birthday, Papa woke up Mummy and said, "wow, 1 year ago from this moment, you were pushing." Nice flashback, Papa!
I have to say though, this has been the best year of my life! OK, so I don't have much to compare to, but what an adventure life is. I'm a far cry from the newborn I once was. I'm cruising with the best of them and pull myself up every morning in my crib before I give my parents a wake-up yawp.
Let me take a moment to thank my parents for being such troopers this past year. I've really taught them the ropes of parenthood. I know they've been through a lot, making a new place home and starting new jobs. They're tough cookies. Let's see how they withstand something I like to call "toddlerhood!"
Ok, time to share birthday pics. I have to thank so many of my friends and family for sending me many presents. I really feel the love.
Here are some highlights from my little party:
I like balloons, but mainly because helium is the 2nd element on the periodic table. (Aunty Jas taught me that.)
I raised the roof with some of my guests...
...while Mama did the cooking. We had a major spread. Special thanks to Aunty Lynne and her mom for making special sushi you see on the left hand side. Also want to give a shout out to Aunty Nan for my octopus hotdogs. You can compare pictures... the nori faces on the ones below really add some special oomph, but mine were fun too.
And of course... cake time! Mama made me a special ricotta cake with my favorite blackberries and peaches in a whipped cream frosting.
It's kind of fun to have just 1 candle on your cake. I hear it only goes up from here. Now let's get down to business!
One relatively clean before shot...
And after! (before Papa took the cake away from me so some of the guests could have cake before I really had a chance to get into it.)
Here are a couple of the birthday recipes:
Birthday Ricotta Cake
(which I believe has been adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe.)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and butter and sugar a 9" springform pan.
Mix 1.5 lbs of ricotta, 6 egg yolks, 1/4 cup of flour, 6 Tbs sugar, zest of 2 lemons, and 1/4 tsp salt until smooth.
Whip 6 egg whites + 6 Tbs sugar until stiff.
Fold 1/3rd of egg white mixture into the ricotta mix, then fold in rest.
Bake for 1 hour until golden brown and set in the middle.
It comes out puffy, but sinks as it cools so don't get disheartened. Mummy frosted it with fresh whipped cream and blackberries and peaches which I adore!
Herbal ice tea
(Click here for original recipe from Ina Garten)
4 lemon tea bags
4 hibiscus tea bags
(Celestial seasonings as Ina uses are wonderful for this, but I've had trouble finding "red zinger" any more. Apple-raspberry works well as does mango black tea bags from Trader Joe's)
Steep in 4 cups of hot water.
Add 1 can of frozen apple juice and 3 cans of cold water. (sometimes I stretch this out a little more if I'm making for a big group.)
Very refreshing over ice!
2 comments:
happy belated birthday maia! have some more cake for me :)
happy 1 year maia! I can't BELIEVE IT! I remember you as a bump in the tummy! sweet first year cake-destroying pic :)
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