On her first birthday, Sarah Sayles’s daughter traded homemade purées for a bright blue-sprinkled custard from Culver’s, and her reaction was pure magic.

Sarah, who had lovingly prepared every bite her daughter had tasted until now, decided to mark the milestone with a little indulgence. The baby eyed the colorful dessert with suspicion, unsure of the swirls and sprinkles. But once a spoonful touched her lips, her expression shifted from cautious curiosity to wide-eyed delight.

She is our first child and for most of her life so far I have handmade her purées and any food she tried. But it’s her birthday, why not have a little fun and spoil her with some ice cream? We live in the US so that’s why the sprinkles are bright blue. It’s from Culver’s, which technically means it’s custard not ice cream, but she can’t tell the difference.