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Archive for April, 2007

Birthday Cake

Posted by bawlingpress on April 20, 2007

I believe it is important to have traditions within the family. To have rituals that are repeated on a regular basis that gives the members of the family a feeling of inclusion as well as bonding. It is our first experience of being a member of a group. My mother was wonderful at creating traditions. We had many within our family, some that were repeated every week and others that were practiced around holidays and birthdays.

Do you know what is so special for a child’s birthday celebration? It is the birthday cake. They love the moment of cutting the birthday cake. There can be so many gifts for the child, but the center of attraction is the birthday cake. Therefore, it is worth putting a lot of time and money in planning the birthday cake.

Every Saturday evening we would have the same dinner. Mom would make Swiss steak, baked potatoes and tossed salads. We were allowed to eat in the living room on TV trays and watch television. Every Saturday morning was cleaning time. Everyone had their assigned chores. When your chores were done you had free time until dinner.

Mom s traditions around birthdays included picking your favorite meal as well as your birthday cake. There were four kids and dad that mom would do this for. My brother would ask for the same meal every year. He wanted homemade corndogs, baked beans and fruit salad. His birthday cake was always homemade chocolate with dark chocolate frosting. Mom continued to make him this same meal and birthday cake until she died. Now my brother is fifty years old and his wife makes him this same meal.

More than the taste, we need to concentrate in shape, color, and size of the birthday cake. It is always better if we could design the birthday cake in cartoon characters that are familiar to the children. If the birthday cake is made in the birthday child’s favorite color, they will obliviously love it.

If the birthday cake has a theme or idea the attraction for it, is immense. Here are few suggestions. There are Pirates and Princesses, a classic birthday cake themes for boys and girls. They can be Cinderella Castle Cake, ice Cream Castle Cake, Pirate Cake, Pirate Ship Cake, Princess Cake, Splendid Castle Cake, and Treasure Chest Cake

I would not always ask for the same meal. Sometimes I would ask for spaghetti and other times I wanted mom s homemade chicken dumpling soup. My birthday cake was always the same. I wanted a marble cake with white frosting and pink roses from the bakery. I still have wonderful memories of those past birthdays every time I see a bakery cake with pink roses.

My mother was a wonderful cook so most of the traditions in my memories of home include food. I think that this is a great way to create traditions because the use of food involves so many of the senses. There is the sense of smell and taste along with sight that can trigger memories of past events. My sister s choice for her birthday dinner was creamed tuna over chowmein noodles. The smell of tuna always reminds me of my sister. Her birthday cake choice was a chocolate jellyroll filled with cream and covered in chocolate frosting. I tease her husband that he is supposed to make this cake for her each year. He has bought the jellyrolls at the bakery, but they do not compare to mom s homemade.

The birthday cake design can be anything. If the birthday cake design is different, meaningful, the kids, children and adults will appreciate it. Listed below are a few design ideas for your next birthday cake.

We still remember each others birthdays and have the memories of having our special day as we were growing up. I have continued this tradition in my family and so have my siblings. We have our mom to thank for giving us such a strong since of family traditions.

Once the birthday cake is made or purchased, it should be decorated well. The decoration is generally done to the top and sides of the cake. It is always better to decorate the birthday cake using the favorite color of the birthday boy or girl. The table in which the birthday cake is placed also should be decorated suitably.

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