A few weeks ago, Kato turned two. According to house custom, I baked him a Jello cake, having assumed this responsibility on behalf of Seiko, who had been the standard bearer for decades.

Ever more confident in my abilities to measure, mix, sift, and separate, I kept a clearer head and did not create the conditions for a forced evacuation of the premises this time around.

A slight wrinkle presented itself when I arrived at the grocery store to find strawberries out of season and unavailable. Robbi’s steady hand selected a tub of raspberries, which, just as she promised, fit the bill just fine.

Kato was none the wiser. We caught him in the moment of wish contemplation.

He would not tell us what he asked for, but I have a hunch that it might have been an elephant.

As for the taste? We’ll never know. These small people are as undiscerning as their father.

Which is to say, the three of us thought it was delicious. And really, what else matters?

Here’s the little man a year ago.

He’s gotten bigger (a least a bit) and is now able to register his enthusiasm for cake with actual words. But as for his appetite, it’s stayed pretty much the same.

Here is the recipe for those of you who would like to start a new tradition (or just try some light-yet-delicious cake).