In our family, it is traditional for a child to have their very own cake when they turn one year old. Of course, there is a nice big cake and ice cream for all the guests, but the birthday girl or boy gets a smaller cake which they are allowed to eat any way they please – usually with their hands getting it all over themselves.
Last week, my niece, Morgan, had her first birthday and everyone gathered at Mom and Dad’s for a party by the pool on Memorial Day. After enjoying some delicious barbecue sandwichs Mom had made and a sausage-stuffed beef brisket my brother had on the grill plus, of course, deviled eggs and potato chips, we gathered close to watch Morgan open her presents. In true one-year-old style, she cared very little about the actual gifts, but had a glorious time playing with the all the pretty bags. It took a lot of help from her big sister Brooke, but eventually every present was open and it was time to blow-out the candles and cut the cake.
Once everyone else had their piece of cake (a store-bought party cake with green and pink icing and butterflies on it), Morgan took her seat of honor in her high chair and was presented with 
her pint-sized cake. She was very hesitant at first, reminding me of Nicholas (my youngest) who refused to eat his cake without a fork on his first birthday. We couldn’t help but reminisce about how big brother Ryan (six years old at the time), had taken Nicholas’ hand and placed it in the cake in an attempt to show him how it was done, but Nicholas promptly removed his hand and held it up until someone came along and cleaned it. He then, very properly, ate his cake with a fork and very little mess. Likewise, once my brother Mickey gave his youngest daughter a spoon, she started eating and eventually did make a bit of a mess (which is the best part of the tradition).
her pint-sized cake. She was very hesitant at first, reminding me of Nicholas (my youngest) who refused to eat his cake without a fork on his first birthday. We couldn’t help but reminisce about how big brother Ryan (six years old at the time), had taken Nicholas’ hand and placed it in the cake in an attempt to show him how it was done, but Nicholas promptly removed his hand and held it up until someone came along and cleaned it. He then, very properly, ate his cake with a fork and very little mess. Likewise, once my brother Mickey gave his youngest daughter a spoon, she started eating and eventually did make a bit of a mess (which is the best part of the tradition).
She didn’t, however, make nearly the mess Ryan made on his first birthday. In usual Ryan-form, he did the tradition justice and ate his cake with gusto – and his hands!
Over the long weekend, I made a cake any one-year-old would love to put his hands in. My father-in-law raved that it was the "best cake he ever tasted" which surprised me because I thought it would appeal more to the children than the adults. In actuality, we all enjoyed it. The best part... it was super-easy with just a cake mix and a traditional powder-sugar icing – with a twist.
Pulled Pork for a Crowd (my Mom made this for the party and it was a hit!)
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