Happy Birthday, Jesus!

by Kym/PurpleButterfly

What a blessed time of the year! Celebrating Christ's birth is such an honor and a joy. Yet, even with the best of our efforts, our children are still exposed to the materialistic aspect of the season. I have been praying for guidance on how to show my family a truly memorable way to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Something even more spectacular and fun than opening presents on Christmas morning.

The answer came to me as I watched my toddler's eyes light up at his cousin's birthday party when the candle-lit cake was presented. A birthday party for Jesus--on Christmas morning! What better (or more fun) way to excite and teach our young children to emphasize Jesus as the true reason for celebration? This will be the first year in what I pray will be a life-long tradition within our family.

Here's what I have planned, in case you'd like to incorporate the same fun tradition in your own family. The week of Christmas, I'll print off a computer banner for my child and me to color together--"Happy Birthday, Jesus!" We'll also create a homemade gift or simple craft (even just a special coloring page) as our gift to Jesus on His birthday, and place it under the tree just for Him.

The day before Christmas, my child and I will prepare and bake a birthday cake for Jesus. When my wee one is tucked into our bed on Christmas Eve, I'll set the breakfast table with our best china, a small nativity scene in the center of the table, and plenty of festive party decorations. Can you guess what wild and crazy meal we will dine on as the family awakens on Christmas morning? Birthday cake for Jesus! Just imagine the lifelong impact and special memory this will leave with your children. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Vegan Delight Chocolate Cake

½ cup soft soy margarine
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 cup Vanilla Silk soy milk
1 2/3 cups all-purpose white or wheat flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ cups natural sugar such as Sucanat or Turbinado sugar
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons Ener-G Egg Replacer
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup water

Put vinegar in cup and add soy milk. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil and flour 2 round layer pans, 8" x 1 ½" and set aside. Place flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, and salt in large bowl of electric mixer, and mix together well with spoon. Mix Ener-G Egg Replacer and 1/4 cup water until smooth. Add margarine, vanilla, soured soy milk, ½ cup water, and mixed egg replacer to dry ingredients in bowl. Beat with electric mixer for 3 minutes at medium speed, scraping bowl frequently. Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees, or until knife inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove from pans and completely cool on cake rack before frosting.

Perfectly Chocolate Cake Frosting (almost vegan)

1 stick soy margarine
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup soy, rice or nut milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Melt margarine. Pour into medium mixing bowl. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add sugar and milk, beating on medium speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk if needed, Stir in vanilla. Makes approx. 2 cups.

Kym is the blessed wife to a precious man and a joyful SAHMama to their 2 1/2 year old treasure from the Lord. You can send her your questions about food to kym@gentlemothering.com.