A hap hap happy birthday

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday my dearest Nael, happy birthday to youuuuuuuuuu........

Mini burgers, potato wedges, deep fried samosas, creamy chicken mushroom pasta, spicy baked chicken, thousand island sauce, ghulab jamun!!!

Now before you all collectively shake your heads in dismay at the high-calories, high-carb fare placed on this table, hear me out first:

This all is actually quite healthy keeping in mind what you normally get on a three years olds birthday party. Okay, it wasnt really a childrens party, just a get together / dinner sort of a thing. Unlike his first two birthdays, Nael has celebrated his third one at the kindergarten with his new friends this year, so we kept it very simple and pretty domestic inviting the two couples who are very dear to our little mans heart.

The event was unplanned but very special, the guests were like-minded and informal, the ambiance was great, the food was awesome but the cake....Oh please, dont ask about that! I am sure it was the worst character cake I have ever done. A complete fiasco - from start to finish!!

Believe it or not, this is the best image I could find for uploading here!

Looking at my sons latest obsession for the Disney´s cars, I actually wanted to make him a Lightening Mcqueen cake but there was this whole series of disasters simultaneously happening that day which turned the red ganache-iced chocolate cake look more like an old rusted car with a ruined bumper and dented fender instead.

I shouldve baked the cake a day ahead, that wouldve made it easier to carve and ice

Look at the grainy ganache, didnt have enough time to seal the crumbs:(

Although my husband had warned me not to upload any images of the awful mess but I am still doing that. I am a daring blogger, after all :p No, I seriously wish my readers to consider for a while before getting critical and judgmental that it was a surprise gift that a mother tried to conjure for her son in a limited time of only three hours. There are certainly more beautiful and better car cake ideas out there on the net but this one is exceptional not only because of the emotional attachment I have to it but also because it was my first attempt on colouring white chocolate ganache. So, in the end it wasnt something to be overly negative about :)

And here is a photo of the Madagascar cake my little lion man and his friends got to tear into at the kindergarten two days later.

By the way, in case youre wondering about your share of the treats, I have attached recipe links to few of the items above. Will  do a separate post on how to make marzipan and fondant figurines in a few days but for now, here is the recipe for potato wedges.


Homemade Potato Wedges

Ingredients:

5 potatoes
3/4 tsp garlic paste
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp mixed italian spices
salt, pepper
Olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice (optional)
1/4 tsp red chili flakes (optional)

Wash potatoes with a scrub brush. Cut each one of them in half, then each half into three wedges.

Take a large bowl, mix together all the herbs in 2 tbsp olive oil. Tip: In case youre using lemon juice, dont add it at this stage!

Lay the potatoes (skin side down) on a baking tray lined with aluminium foil or baking paper. Drizzle with 1 tbs olive oil and bake in a preheated oven at 200 C for about 40-45 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork.

Drizzle with lemon juice and bake further for 5 minutes.

Mouth-watering, arent they?? One bite and youll be hooked forever!


Love