She Threw a Party August 8, 2009

My oldest baby is 3 tomorrow. We had the party with her grandparents, and uncle today. She had a wonderful time, and had a lot of outfit changes, as she received several new costumes, and each new one, prompted the old one to be removed and the one to take it's place. The gifts were heavy on Fancy Nancy and Little House on the Prairie. So fun to be a little girl.

We don't give Mini refined sugar, and only in the last 6 months has she had maple syrup or honey as a sweetener. She's not diabetic and I know the syrup and honey have the same effect on blood sugar, but we have tried to limit her sweet/sugar intake because not only is it empty calories, it spoils the flavor of the naturally sweet things in life, like veggies. Birthday time is the only time I feel compelled to reassess our choices with sugar. Cake and ice cream just go with birthday tradition, and not just the birthday honoree is looking for it, but so are the guests. For her first year I made a cake sweetened with fruit and applesauce. It was pretty good, but not amazing. The adults were served the cake with cream cheese frosting, and Mini had hers with unsweetened whipped cream and loved it. Last year, strawberry shortcake, again, sugar for the guests, but not for mini. Again, big hit. This year, since we are using honey in small quantities with her, I opted for a "real cake", sweetened with honey, and containing chocolate!! I then found a complimentary ice cream recipe, and added blue berries.

Our Birthday Celebration lunch was very local...all you One Local Summer readers!

The choice of Chicken Salad, or Egg Salad on either local made bread, or on a bed of fresh garden picked lettuce. The Chicken came from Lasting Legacy Farm, the Eggs, were from our girls, and the basil from our garden was mixed into both.

Sides were potato salad made with potatoes, onions and peppers from the farmers market, and instead of mayo I used pesto, yum! I made some of the yummy beet salad I made a few days ago.

The ice cream was the biggest hit for Mini. She is a fan of homemade ice cream, made with Brookford Farm cream, of course.

I now, conveniently, have several lunches worth of leftovers in the fridge!

I haven't forgotten bunny pics, I promise. They are forthcoming...