
Malcolm Gladwell ( I’d like to be “Bodeswell” ) wrote The Tipping Point. “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.” (Amazon) It happens everywhere.. I’ve seen a batch of roasted pumpkin transform instantly into a flurry of cookies, muffins, soups and…

by Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
Happy birthday to Katie! What an occasion and what a cake to mark it – gorgeous. x ps. Sidenote: I really enjoyed The Paris Wife. Reading Hemingway’s Boat now.
How is that book??
Happy Birthday to Katie! I loved The Paris Wife too! I loved reading about their ski holidays.
Happy Bday!! To Katie!
I will pass along your wishes:D xx
I’ll let her know!!
Beautiful cake! Happy birthday to your little peanut.
Lovely cake:) That book is fabulous:) I purchased it a few years ago to read when I got to my destination.. but as I started to read it as the plane was taking off it was so good I read the whole book during my flight:) a must read:) thank you for sharing:)
What a great looking cake, but sadly I’m afraid of anything that is a ‘substitute’.
Happy Birthday to Katie- she is blessed to have a wonderful mother! So true about tipping points. You gave me my first smile of the day!!!
I have spent a lifetime trying to gauge the precise position of the tipping point and I’m still looking, and then tipping again.
Smidge, does anyone make a Prettier cake than you? (Hint: NO!!) Honestly, friend, I want to spend a weekend with my elbows on your counter just marveling as you twirl about! Happy Birthday dear Katie, you’re as cute as a button and even prettier than your mama’s cake!
What a great post Barb…tipping point/turning point/boiling point!
I’ll go to check out Michael’s blog and I’m going to put The Paris Wife on my nightstand! xx
Absolutely lovely cake and sounds delicious as I love carrot cake. I am never able to get a cake to look like this. That is another reason I don’t bake.
Happy 21st birthday to your daughter Smidge! Such a precious picture of her as a little one.
It goes by too darn fast doesn’t it?! Seems like just yesterday that they were born. This looks like a wonderful cake to enjoy for a birthday celebration – or any celebration for that matter. Delicious! Loved this post today. It was perfect for my state of being lately and got me thinking. I love when you do that to me Smidge!
Happy birthday to your beautiful daughter. Here’s to many more happy healthy ones.
Happy birthday to your GORGEOUS daughter!! Amazing looking cake. My birthday is in February..CAN I HAVE A CARROT CAKE!!?!? HAHA.
Beautiful! I love thus tribute to the ‘big’ moments in life – and having a grown daughter is sure one of them. Mine is almost 15 and getting there
beautiful cake and wonderful post Smidge!
Yay! Happy Birthday Katie! What a beautiful cake to celebrate with too. You are incredibly talented my dear, it’s just amazing. I love ALL the photos too, they’re gorgeous.
Looks deelish! The tipping point for me would be… just one more slice?
I love the sound of that book too, and have added it to my list of books to read. Thanks!
That has to be the prettiest carrot cake! Happy bday to Katie! She’s a yr younger than mine, and I wonder where the years have gone. What a beautiful young woman she is, and such a little cutie! I think I have to pick up that book! I could use some good reading right now to take me away!
I’ll have to tell her to come see these wishes:D
I’m half way through it.. And finishing it today, I hope!
Awwww happy birthday Katie
A gorgeous post and such an incredible recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks
It sure goes by so fast.. in no time she’ll graduate and move out:( That will be exciting but a sad day for me!
I hope you love the book as much as I do.. I’m only half way, fingers crossed, but I don’t think it’s a happen ending for the two of them??
Thanks, Sarah, I’ll let Katie know:D
These years go by so fast.. my youngest is 19 just next week, so this is a busy month for us!
If I could think of a way to send it!! xx
I agree! xx
I am glad it had the effect on you:) So go hug your little ones (like you’ve probably already done, a gazillion times already today!) xx
Practice.. lots and lots of practice.. and lots of cake eating:D
Here you are spreenkling joy all over my Comments section again.. thanks so much, love! You make me sound like the Cake Fairy, something I would love to become! I hope you enjoy the book.. I’m just half way, we could compare notes:) xx
Ahh, yes, and I ask myself “when will I ever learn” over and over
We have had so much joy raising Katie.. she’s just a sweetheart.. Thanks so much! xx
I, too, was absolutely terrified when I realized I had to make something Vegan for my daughter’s friend who was attending. I’d read that egg substitute can taste metallic, so I thought a dense and spicy cake would hide that, as opposed to a fluffy vanilla flavor. The icing, when first mixed, had a latent “tofu” flavor.. which made me think it would disappoint. In true form, I went around apologizing about the icing to everyone and they thought I was crazy. When I ate my slice later, I realized that tofu flavor had vanished. The cake tasted exactly like the original. Now, having said all of that, the original recipe may have a slightly higher “rise”? Vegan or regular, they tasted exactly the same. It makes me so much braver to try again when I have to.
Fell about laughing at the giraffe poster and then gorged on the cake (in my imagination).
Such a cute peanut, and didn’t she turn out well!
I enjoyed Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point and I REALLY enjoyed your take on tipping points. Naturally I laughed out loud at the giraffe image! Happy Birthday to Katie.
What a gorgeous cake! (for a gorgeous daughter!) I’ve had that frosting technique bookmarked for a while – it looks awesome!
Happy birthday to your daughter. What a gorgeous looking cake. I love how you decorated it. How did you do that? I haven’t seen a cake iced like that before. It looks so pretty. Your daughter must have been thrilled. I’ve friended you on FB but I’m not seeing your updates in my newsfeed. I don’t know what’s going on with FB and why some people are invisible to me. But I’ll go to your page and see the slideshow – because I know you would have given her a celebration worth seeing! xx
Apparently we are supposed to pay to have our page show up on more news feeds. I refuse to pay because that just seems wrong. I guess I should have posted it here as well, it’s just that my posts get so long, lol! Thanks for your kind words! xx
Sent from my iPhone
I know exactly how you feel. I have a 21 year old son that just taught me how to text!!!
It’s really good! His relationship with his boat is sort of a parallel for his whole life and his other relationships (with Hadley, Pauline, Bumby etc.). Weaves in other biographical details well.
I have to hand it to you, by combining your life and your passion for food, you’ve created something truly wonderful and fun to read. Well done!
That’s great Barbara, and I’m sure your daughter’s friend really appreciated the extra effort you put into it.
Happy Birthday to Katie! She is gorgeous and so is your vegan carrot cake. So moist and so delightful, perfect for sharing. I love those little twirlies on your frosting… Love your auspicious tipping points, I feel like today I have had the top 3 already occur. Guess it is time to stop the madness…Take care, BAM
Hahaha.. just be careful when finding solace in a glass of wine.. one too many and you’ll have #4 to reckon with, lol! I hope the rest of your week is much quieter! It’s almost impossible with teenagers, though, isn’t it. It’s quite a roller coaster, isn’t it? xx
Beautiful cake! And, Happy Birthday to your lovely “peanut”
.
I was so relieved there wasn’t a gluten-free required as well, there are so many people on special diets these days. Thankfully, it’s not me!
Thanks:)
Ok.. that one is next!!
It was easy, I just made the “blobs” a bit big, so it got kind of unwieldy, lol!
It was texted to me by Paige.. a reminder of the night we’d had;)
I’ll tell he for sure:D
Do you remember when our mom’s told you just wait until you raise teenagers of your own? Ohh how that little phrase comes back again and again. On day at a time, one hour at a time… We too will get through this…Take care, BAM
First and foremost, here’s wishing your daughter a great birthday and an even better year to follow.
As for this cake, Barb, you’ve really outdone yourself. This has to be the prettiest cake you’ve shared with us yet — and you’ve shared some phenomenal cakes. The fact that you were able to create a vegan version that mirrors the taste of the original says a great deal about your abilities in the kitchen. A beautiful cake and a great post. Well done, Barb!
Happy Birthday to your peanut and wow! Even sliced it still looks so very pretty!
I will let her know! Thanks so much, John.. the technique is easy, I think the trick is not making such big “blobs” of icing and then smearing a little more on the gentle side.. for some reason the sides reminded me of owls feathers:D I was so impressed by the substitution in this recipe. I might be game to try with a lighter cake.. but given I’m not vegan.. I may not get the chance:) Thanks again!
And.. I gave so much away and we’re still eating it. I have to say, I’ve decided I prefer the middle/cake layers.. the icing is certainly sweet!
Unwieldy or not, it looks great
Birthday blessings for your daughter! I love the addition of coconut in this cake
You make me feel like picking up The Paris Wife. Maybe I’ll do that very soon. What a beautiful cake for a beautiful girl! Really love how you decorated it. The blobs at the side make the cake look like its made of tiny clouds. beautiful! hope your daughter had a wonderful birthday celebration!
A very Happy Birthday to Katie. The cake looks amazing Barbara, I’m very impressed. Your post has also made me want to go out and get The Paris Wife as I can never have enough to read. One of my favourite books it The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Have you read it? If not do, it’s a fantastic read. R x
What a spectacular cake! I bet it was delicious!
Lucky Katie and lucky you – belated greetings to her! Am still chuckling over the giraffe photo and lickign my lips at that amazing cake.
Katie, are very likeness you … a stunning beautiful young woman and her girlfriends too. What a lovely bunch. Understand you’re a proud mum … and I love carrot cake, but I want it NAKED!!! So when we becomes neighbors in Aqua .. remember that I don’t want anything with icing. Wonderful post and stunning photos.
Such a beautiful cake — you are an artiste!!!!!!
Well, I am back camping in an empty house this week and have no TV and no internet, so my time to surf the net is limited to small breaks during work. I’ve read your post the other day and was in complete awe, you seem to outdo yourself all the time with your beautiful photos, text, and recipes… I could not comment then, but here I am to say a quick but “from the bottom of my heart” HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE! It must be awesome to be the Daughter of Smidge!
Enjoy your 21st Bday, it is a magical phase, and I hope it only gets more magical as each year goes by (they tend to pass pretty quickly, don’t say I never warned you…
Happy Birthday to Katie! What a lovely cake to celebrate with.
Thanks, I will tell her.. xx
I will pass on your wishes.. 21 was a magical time!! I still remember it well! I hope you make a nice blanket fort in your house.. and enjoy the rest from blogging:)
Thanks.. I love to play with icing and different piping tips:)
This is one cake that would stand on it’s own without icing! The cake is my favorite part.. the icing is a touch too sweet.. so I will remember that when we are in Aqua:D
I did read that one!! I loved it!! I wish I could write like that:) xx
Barbara, the cakes don’t have to stand out on it’s own for me .. it won’t have the time to do neither – I love a moist carrot cake .. I baked today by the way. Post will come ..
Vegan carrot cake! Yay! Love the giraffe meme, btw.
Hahaha.. me too, I thought it was hilarious!
What a wonderful surprise to find this link and recommendation from one of the best recipe writers on the web. Wow! Truffle risotto…..yes! The most important thing is to have truffles. The black truffles from Oregon are honestly quite nice and a fraction of the cost of the Italian and French varieties. Make a rich chicken stock then cook some lovely mushrooms in part of the stock and pour another over some dried porcinis. This will provide when blended (removing the shrooms for another use), a wondrous umami base. Use some Vacche Rosse or other unreal Parmigiano that is fresh as fresh. Make the risotto as you would normally, the shave those truffles in abundance right over the top and serve. (a truffle shaver is almost essential unless you have a very precise mandoline) I am now craving the heck out of this!
Oooo! This is the carrot cake you mentioned the other day! It’s so beautiful. I can imagine how fluffy and delicious it must have been
Wow thats a really nice cake, beautifully made
Oh Smidge, 21! How fast they grow up! Happy birthday, Katie! Lovely post and a really lovely cake too! xx
They surely to! It’s a bittersweet celebration every year, isn’t it!
It was super fun!
I hope you make it, then.. and take lots of photos of each step:D And thank you! I’m off to find truffles!
If you were here.. I had lots to gorge on:D
I’m really enjoying it.. it’s one of those books I am taking my time and not rushing because I don’t want it to end! Clouds.. that’s a great analogy!
It was, er, it is:) It was massive!
Paige sent me that one to remind me of the night;) It was hilariously accurate!
I was so pleased that the substitutions didn’t alter the taste at all.. and there was more than enough to go around:)
Amazing cake! I watched your video on FB a few days ago. Very sweet. What a lovely daughter you have. Time flies by much too fast!
Your daughter is so lucky to have that beautiful cake for her big birthday! Happy birthday to her!
It seems like I have missed a few of your posts lately! Perhaps because I was so busy eating!
I love your posts and the little glimpses of your life, your daughter and son…it gives me a feeling of knowing you like you lived close by!
I wasn’t aware of your FB page..I’m on my way there now!
What a gorgeous cake, Barbara. It’s just incredible…and that’s saying a lot, since all of your recipes are head turning! Your daughter really was a tiny little thing, wasn’t she? And now she’s a beautiful young lady. 21 is a big milestone. I like your tipping points. What a sweet (cake and daughter) post!
Thanks, Debra, she still a little thing.. I’m 5’3″ and she never made it that high:)
let me know if you find them. The Italy ones are so amazing but the prices are just crazy
What a stunning daughter you have! And 21! You hardly look old enough to have a 12 year old! Daughters are a precious treasure in life. Funny, my first sassy gal will be 21 in February, weighed in at 5lbs 15oz when she was born.
The cake, I can’t even begin to tell you how beautiful that cake is. I’m so impressed as I could never in my wildest dreams make anything that beautiful! Smidge you are so talented. I could just snatch that last slice right out of the computer. Delicious!
I loved the birthday photographs and wow, what a cake! Massive, is an understatement! I’m catching up on your posts this morning and it is a beautiful way to start my day. Thanks for sharing this special occasion with all of us. Only wish we could sample the gorgeous cake.
[...] from my daughter’s birthday and the Cinnamon Streusel Pumpkin Coffee [...]
Happy Birthday to your daughter, Katie! She is so lucky to have you as a Mum and I am sure you love her to bits. Beautiful cake though I must say 10-11 cups of icing sugar for the icing sounds HUGE! I know, I know it’s a party-sized cake.
Looks positively divine!
Beautiful carrot cake!
Those are some delightful-looking dollops! Lovely post, and lovely daughter. They do grow up quickly don’t they? My own little smidgen is now a strapping 8 year old. Such a beautiful bonus when their friends are good people too.
That is sooo true! That’s the one area a mom and dad don’t have a lot of control over, is it? Although, I do try, lol!
Hi! Your recipe looks so incredible! My brother in-law is dating a vegan and last night I met her for the first time. So, in prepration, I wanted to make sure that I had something sweet to finish the meal with that she could have. An hour and a half and three stores later, I had some cookies. They were tasty, but I really wanted something more. Your carrot cake looks like it will be the perfect choice for the next time she comes over. Not only does it look like the cake will be moist and beautifully spiced, but I love how you decorated it! I can definitely see why you recently won the Canadian Blog Awards! Very cool. Thanks again for posting and I look forward to reading more of your posts!