Turtle Cheesecake…a Delicious Alternative for the Traditional Birthday Cake

I am planning a surprise birthday party for my husband.  This year is a milestone birthday for him.  He will be entering a new decade of life, so I want to celebrate this event more than we usually do.  Since he is a person who likes the simple things in life, I will keep the guest list small.  He surely would not enjoy a grand affair, nor would he want a lot of presents to open, so I am asking the guests to only bring lighthearted birthday wishes in the form of humorous greeting cards.  For those who insist on a present, I’m suggesting they give a charitable gift to those less fortunate than we are, in my husband’s honor.

I plan to host this surprise birthday party at our home.  We have a spacious back yard which is well suited to entertaining.  There is plenty of room for our parents and siblings to sit comfortably on the patio, as well as a nice lawn for the younger children to race around. Decorations will consist of connectingstrings of colored patio lights, which will also illuminate the area nicely.  Easy-listening music will be played on our outdoor CD player to create an ambience of serenity.

My husband is not a cake lover, so finding suitable birthday refreshments is always a troublesome matter.  In the past, we have had oatmeal cookies or vanilla ice cream with various fruit toppings.  One year, he was perfectly content with popsicles.  This year, I have decided to serve a fabulous turtle cheesecake.  The rich caramel and chocolate fudge combined with the distinctive tanginess and texture of cheesecake will be a special treat.  The sprinkling of salty pecans will certainly keep his taste buds satisfied.

Flash forward:  With all of the planning of this surprise birthday party accomplished, the day of this celebration finally arrived.  Mother Nature provided a gorgeous evening.  Our parents, siblings, children and friends were in our back yard, waiting to shout the customary “Surprise!”, as I led my husband outdoors to enjoy the delightful weather.  Cards were opened, read, laughed at, and passed around for all to enjoy.  “Happy Birthday” was sung as I presented the turtle cheesecake, complete with a few lit candles, to my husband.  As I predicted, my husband and our party guests thoroughly enjoyed this birthday cake substitute.

It was an evening of quiet, comfortable pleasure; full of stimulating conversation, light-hearted jokes, and treasured fellowship of close friends and family…exactly the kind of celebration that my husband appreciates.

When the party was finished and everyone had gone, my dear husband thanked me profusely for having the kind of party he truly appreciated.  I asked him if he had any suspicion about this surprise.  He replied, “I kind of suspected something was going to happen”.  At least the exceptional turtle cheesecake was a surprise!

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