My youngest child just turned 5 years old. I am officially the father of three post toddler age boys. Let the fun begin! Thankfully, I’m already bald.
A party was in order. Now if you have read this blog at all, you know I feel that food should be natural and wholesome, and families should gather in a home for birthdays and holidays. Sure, families can cause stress and make a birthday gathering feel like having root canals done on all of your teeth at once, but at least the food can be wholesome, right?
In the recent past my brother and sister have thrown B-day parties for their respective children. Both parties at their homes and both great successes. Their spouses and they welcomed the mayhem that is family into their homes and prepared great food and a very nice time. Albeit some slips with high fructose corn syrup and other food infractions in my mind, but hey, baby steps. Just a few years ago, I had my recent five-year-old’s 2 year party at a local restaurant and you may all remember the recent “Bella Luna Debacle” (Love you bro, all in good fun). We all grow, learn and evolve.
So, in my bed that I have made, I had to sleep with the realization that I have put myself and my party practices under intense scrutiny. The day arrived, I was up early, nervous with anticipation. The menu consisted of vegetable lasagna, a salad and a homemade cake. I had my work cut out for me, but I was up for the challenge.
Crap. As I’m writing this, I have realized that I failed to take a picture of the lasagna. I could have sworn I snapped a shot of the glorious dish. Something’s fishy here. Maybe the work of the Agent F and the dreaded Food Patrol. Curses.
The lasagna was made with 100% durum pasta, fresh broccoli, carrots, onions, and bell peppers. I used homemade tomato sauce and part skim mozzarella, provolone, romano and ricotta cheese.
I’ll give you an idea of what it was like to look at my creation…
or maybe like this…
You get the idea. The salad was basic, fresh greens, tomato, cukes, carrots, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. I also put out some snacks for everyone to munch while we were settling in and rehashing why it is we can’t stand each other. Fresh pineapple, mixed nuts, and hummus with baked, whole wheat organic chips. What the hell is hummus?
Yes, I noticed the bowl of hershey kisses too! More evidence that Agent F may have been around plotting party sabotage!
The cake was a throwback to the classic 70′s homemade sheet cake that mom used to make when we were kids. Unbleached, un-bromated flour. Organic, free range eggs and milk. Real butter in cake and icing. My only regret was the use of regular white sugar and powdered sugar in the cake and icing respectively. Baby steps.
Pièce de résistance…
A plugger cake!
Top of cake glistening with spittle!
OK, more sugar in the chocolate chips. Darn.
At least there was no soda pop in sight! We managed an entire family gathering without HFCS or Hydrogenated Oils! There were some confused grumbles over the lack of soda pop, but everyone forced down some good wholesome juice or water.
Children played, adults diagreed, gifts were opened, good food consumed. As the great Selma Diamond said on Night Court… Bailiff Selma.
Enjoy your parties at home, control what goes in your and your families mouths. Only drawback is that you may end up shelling out money for birthday parties for many many years to come!
E-vite me to you next party,
FV
Eat This NY
The Duchess of Amboy