Birthday thoughts and cake

I was born yesterday. My mother remembers a thunderstorm the night before and rays of sunshine around noon on my birthday. This year location and latitude are different and there was a quick storm the evening before. Probably a coincidence.

August is honey and amber, a summer as mature as old wine.  I am grateful it chose me.

Birthdays are not a time to regret getting old and cry over it. They are rather a moment to pause, wipe out any worries or sadness and enjoy yourself.

Last year I made a red velvet cake, this year I decided to pay tribute to a few of my favorite things: meringue, Australia, New Zealand, and ballerinas. When I was little, I used to eat all the meringues I could find at weddings. I loved looking at brides. Now I think ballerinas are more art. I made Pavlova for the first time.

Pavlova is a meringue cake with cream and fruits on top. It was created in honor of the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova during her tour in Australia and New Zeland. It’s not clear which of the two countries is responsible for this delicious dessert, but Pavlova is very popular Down Under and in Aotearoa. Usually, Aussies decorate it with mango, Australia’s national fruit, while in New Zealand it’s common to enjoy it with kiwifruit.

I chose mango, kiwi, and passion fruit for my first attempt of Pavlova. The result is a visually imperfect and very delectable cake.

I spent the day with the people who matter to me most, enjoying the sun and some of my favorite activities. This year’s birthday finished with an evening out for two, a delightful dinner, and our favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. No plans for the next one, just the usual anticipation.