The food for Ruby’s 1st birthday was very simple. I always love entertaining and always love cooking for friends, but considering the circumstances in our life that week (being in the middle of a move and hosting the party at a park), I wanted to keep things mellow and stress free.
So, instead of a full out meal, I decided to go for snacks that one year olds and adults can both eat, fun treats, and of course, yummy cupcakes!
I tried to make the majority of foods match the ladybug color theme of reds, whites, and blacks. Hence the red strawberries, red grapes, and black blackberries.
One of my favorite things were the platter of animal crackers and graham crackers placed in red cupcake liners for the kids, in their own personal size! Love it!
In addition to the fruit and crackers, we had to have some treats!
Red and black licorice, red swedish fish, and an assortment of red hard candies…too cute!
And for the chocolate lovers, pretzel rods dipped in chocolate with red and white sprinkles and toffee bits. FYI- this is SUCH an easy and cute party treat! Just melt semi sweet chocolate in the microwave, dip your rod in there, and then sprinkle of the toppings while the chocolate is still warm. Let set and serve! I made mine days before the party and stored them in the fridge til we needed them. So easy and SO cute!
But, then came the cupcakes! YUM! Instead of making them, I ordered them from a local bakery here in San Diego that I am IN LOVE WITH!!
They did such a great job and for such a good deal…vanilla cupcake with a delicious ganache in the center and whipped cream icing. Oh my,….oh my…..
The food turned out to be so fun, so magical, SO STRESS FREE, and so cute! Definitely something I’d do again!
