Planning For Baby's First Party
TMT Photo By Jaime R. Carrero
What Mess?: Copeland Taylor, 1, of Quitman, son of Dacia and Wes Taylor, smashes a Spiced Banana Cake With Dried Fruit on Monday at the Tyler Paper in belated honor of his first birthday, which was in April.
Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of party stories that will run periodically in the Food section. Next month, get new ideas for throwing a fantastic bridal shower, followed in future months with outdoor grilling, gaming and others.
If you have planned a private party that will literally "take the cake," write to Food Editor Kelly Prew at food@tylerpaper.com, or call 903-596-6247. If it's truly something special, I may sneak by and feature your party plan in an upcoming article.
There are certain milestones for people that feature cakes: Wedding Day, 50th Anniversary, Going Away, Retirement and the all-important First Birthday.
In some ways, this cake-centered party is more for Mommy and Daddy than baby, but those photographs always will be special.
There are several trains of thought on how to approach the cake. The most common is the two-cake plan, offering the baby a "smash cake," while the party's centerpiece stays out of harm's way until cutting for adults and older children attending.
Others simply offer one cake and let the pieces crumble as they may.
"Of course, the cake should be the main centerpiece while baby enjoys their individual smash cake," says Jennifer Kuhn, pastry chef at Edom Bakery and Grill.
One thing is for certain - the baby will thrillingly find a way to make a mess with colorful icings and a cake he can really sink his fingers into.
Having two cakes also can ensure the guest of honor have something a little more healthy than sugary icings and rich-ingredient cake (see included recipes for healthy first cake). The smash cake can be constructed with minimal ingredients that are healthy for baby.
An important note, Ms. Kuhn says, is to consider possible allergies and other health issues. Infants usually are not exposed to intense levels of sugary foods, eggs and nuts until after their first birthday, as recommended by pediatricians.
"Many bakeries can cater to these needs by preparing cakes with no eggs, sugar, or by using gluten free flours," she says. "Also, other alternatives that can be used are ingredients like sugar-free chocolates, Rice Krispies, fruit purees and other sugar substitutes."
A larger, more elaborate cake can be constructed on your own if you have the time and inclination. However, bakeries can provide a wealth of options, whether grocery store or specialty, to keep budgets in tact and offer ways to reduce the amount of leftovers.
"If cost is an issue, you can speak with your local baker about possibly using dummy cakes to cut down on some of the cost," Ms. Kuhn says. "Dummy cakes are decorated the same as a regular cake, but without having a lot of wasted cake when your guest list is small or when you prefer to bake a cheaper cake (box cake for example) yourself and serve it from your kitchen without having to destroy your beautiful centerpiece cake."
Ms. Kuhn also says to consider personalized decorated cookies that can be used for place settings and thank you gifts for the smaller guest. These, too, are available at bakeries or made at home if you've got the time.
In addition to the cake, Mom and Dad first must decide on a time of day. In order to gain the best possible results, expert party planners recommend scheduling around the baby, rather than expecting the baby to adapt to a strange day.
Be careful not to schedule too many activities. Keep things simple, and let children play in between present opening, games and cake time.
You want to be free to document the day with video and photos.
For the purpose of this article, examples for a rubber ducky-themed party were chosen. Other good ideas included, rainbows, trucks and trains and teddy bears. These are ideas discovered on the Internet that can be tailored to fit any party event.
Ms. Kuhn also suggests party cake themes such as a building block cake, lollipop garden cake, under the sea cake and color scheme cakes.
As with any good idea, making it your own is key. Older siblings should feel like part of the big day, so allow them to create homemade invitations, pack party favors or make decorations.
Above all, don't feel like you have to spend $1,000. Budgets, for most people, are not meant to be broken.
Find ways to save overall if you want an elaborate professional cake. Plastic table coverings and a venue outdoors can save money and a few square feet of carpet.
"Overall in the end, I think a little work is well worth the joyful experience of your baby's first birthday," Ms. Kuhn says. "Besides, you only have one first birthday!"
Rubber Ducky Party
www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com
By KELLY PREW
Food Editor
Invitations:
Make rubber ducky party invitations by cutting the duck shapes out of yellow foam sheets or construction paper. Using a stencil will cut down on time. Think of using wiggly eyes or permanent marker to makes eyes, and color the bill orange.
Write the information for the party on one side. Making a flappable wing is another creative way to hide the information and jazz up the invite.
Another idea is to take a photo of your guest of honor in a bubble bath full of rubber duckies and adhere it to a paper invite.
The Cake:
There’s no limit here. Create a rubber ducky scene on a sheetcake, find a rubber ducky mold or utilize your local bakery. Cupcakes and rubber ducky-shaped cookies are fun, too.
Coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com offers ideas for elaborate theme cakes you can make yourself.
Food:
Remember time of day. If you’re having a lunchtime party, guests will expect to eat. Later in the afternoon, hearty snacks can replace a full meal. Try to balance the sweets with good-for-you fruits, veggies and whole grains. Be sensitive to any food allergies your guests, especially the little ones, might have.
Hamburgers and hotdogs are good choices any time, but there are always ideas to fit the theme.
Jell-O in party colors is fun and can be utilized in colorful fruit salads or alone in colorful parfaits.
Cheese and “quackers” is easy and fits the theme, as do animal “quackers” and duck-shaped sandwiches.
Another idea is “Duck Feed,” made with dry cereal and nuts. Present it in small aluminum pails with small signs that say “Duck Feed.”
Duck Pond Punch: blue punch with clean rubber duckies floating. Add Sprite or 7UP for a kick. Lemonade works, too, with orange Gatorade mixed in for a color enhancement.
Decorations:
Use wading pools full of yellow duckies for the children to play in outside, but if you’re forced indoors, create a giant bathtub atmosphere with a bubble machine, pearlescent balloons and blue cellophane streamers.
Balloons and streamers of yellow, blue, orange and white work well. Make yellow “duck prints” out of construction paper and adhere them randomly around the party area.
The table need not be elaborate, but simply follow the color scheme you choose. A blue table cover with yellow and orange paper plates works well. Follow the same thought with cutlery, napkins, etc.
Real rubber duckies can be purchased from online party suppliers in relatively inexpensive bulk units. They can be utilized pretty much anywhere, and serve as great take-home prizes.
Bubble wrap makes good placemats and can be creatively included in the décor.
Coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com also suggests crafting a giant faucet, either protruding from an indoor wall or incorporated outside. Rolled up cardboard and aluminum foil works well. Blue and white streamers give the look of water coming from the spout, and a large, red “H” and blue “C” on the handles add a little something extra.
Choice of music can be water-themed, too.
‘Ducktivities:’
Rubber ducky hats: Use yellow sun visors or regular party hats. Out of orange fun foam, make duck bills and glue them on. Googlie eyes and yellow feathers top it off.
Bubbles: Make your own, or purchase in bulk units for the kiddos to romp with.
Duck Hunt: Hide rubber duckies around the party area and have teams hunt with clues to each one. The winning team (first one back with all the ducks) gets a prize.
Rubber, Rubber Duckie: A slight change to the traditional “Duck, Duck, Goose.” The “it” person says, “Rubber” until choosing a person for the “Ducky.”
Duck Calling Conte-st: Each guest must do their best duck imitation, while other guests must mimic that call. Each turn can lend a lot of laughs.
Duck Toss: Fill a pool or tub with water and let the babies toss rubber duckies in. Although simple, they will enjoy it. For older ones, put the ducks in the “pond” and let them try to ring the ducks with plastic rings for a prize.
Edible Playdough: This is fun for kids of all ages, and don’t worry about hand-to-mouth, as long as each portion is cleanly divided into baggies per child beforehand.
Have the children play and mold the playdough at a table you’ve covered with plastic. Make sure you’ve designated this area, or they’ll attempt to eat it in the sandbox or somewhere else.
Mix and knead:
3 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
4 cups powdered milk
3 1/2 cups corn syrup
OR
2 cups creamy peanut butter
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups powdered milk
2/3 cup honey
There are other edible recipes available at www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com.
By KELLY PREW
Food Editor
Invitations:
Make rubber ducky party invitations by cutting the duck shapes out of yellow foam sheets or construction paper. Using a stencil will cut down on time. Think of using wiggly eyes or permanent marker to makes eyes, and color the bill orange.
Write the information for the party on one side. Making a flappable wing is another creative way to hide the information and jazz up the invite.
Another idea is to take a photo of your guest of honor in a bubble bath full of rubber duckies and adhere it to a paper invite.
The Cake:
There’s no limit here. Create a rubber ducky scene on a sheetcake, find a rubber ducky mold or utilize your local bakery. Cupcakes and rubber ducky-shaped cookies are fun, too.
Coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com offers ideas for elaborate theme cakes you can make yourself.
Food:
Remember time of day. If you’re having a lunchtime party, guests will expect to eat. Later in the afternoon, hearty snacks can replace a full meal. Try to balance the sweets with good-for-you fruits, veggies and whole grains. Be sensitive to any food allergies your guests, especially the little ones, might have.
Hamburgers and hotdogs are good choices any time, but there are always ideas to fit the theme.
Jell-O in party colors is fun and can be utilized in colorful fruit salads or alone in colorful parfaits.
Cheese and “quackers” is easy and fits the theme, as do animal “quackers” and duck-shaped sandwiches.
Another idea is “Duck Feed,” made with dry cereal and nuts. Present it in small aluminum pails with small signs that say “Duck Feed.”
Duck Pond Punch: blue punch with clean rubber duckies floating. Add Sprite or 7UP for a kick. Lemonade works, too, with orange Gatorade mixed in for a color enhancement.
Decorations:
Use wading pools full of yellow duckies for the children to play in outside, but if you’re forced indoors, create a giant bathtub atmosphere with a bubble machine, pearlescent balloons and blue cellophane streamers.
Balloons and streamers of yellow, blue, orange and white work well. Make yellow “duck prints” out of construction paper and adhere them randomly around the party area.
The table need not be elaborate, but simply follow the color scheme you choose. A blue table cover with yellow and orange paper plates works well. Follow the same thought with cutlery, napkins, etc.
Real rubber duckies can be purchased from online party suppliers in relatively inexpensive bulk units. They can be utilized pretty much anywhere, and serve as great take-home prizes.
Bubble wrap makes good placemats and can be creatively included in the décor.
Coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com also suggests crafting a giant faucet, either protruding from an indoor wall or incorporated outside. Rolled up cardboard and aluminum foil works well. Blue and white streamers give the look of water coming from the spout, and a large, red “H” and blue “C” on the handles add a little something extra.
Choice of music can be water-themed, too.
‘Ducktivities:’
Rubber ducky hats: Use yellow sun visors or regular party hats. Out of orange fun foam, make duck bills and glue them on. Googlie eyes and yellow feathers top it off.
Bubbles: Make your own, or purchase in bulk units for the kiddos to romp with.
Duck Hunt: Hide rubber duckies around the party area and have teams hunt with clues to each one. The winning team (first one back with all the ducks) gets a prize.
Rubber, Rubber Duckie: A slight change to the traditional “Duck, Duck, Goose.” The “it” person says, “Rubber” until choosing a person for the “Ducky.”
Duck Calling Conte-st: Each guest must do their best duck imitation, while other guests must mimic that call. Each turn can lend a lot of laughs.
Duck Toss: Fill a pool or tub with water and let the babies toss rubber duckies in. Although simple, they will enjoy it. For older ones, put the ducks in the “pond” and let them try to ring the ducks with plastic rings for a prize.
Edible Playdough: This is fun for kids of all ages, and don’t worry about hand-to-mouth, as long as each portion is cleanly divided into baggies per child beforehand.
Have the children play and mold the playdough at a table you’ve covered with plastic. Make sure you’ve designated this area, or they’ll attempt to eat it in the sandbox or somewhere else.
Mix and knead:
3 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
4 cups powdered milk
3 1/2 cups corn syrup
OR
2 cups creamy peanut butter
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups powdered milk
2/3 cup honey
There are other edible recipes available at www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com.
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