At an early age, I was resigned to the idea that I would never eat cake. It was always a given that I wouldn’t be able to partake in any sort of celebratory treat at school, parties, sporting events, potlucks, etc. Dairy and desserts went hand in hand I knew better than to bother asking about the ingredients because those inquiries always ended in disappointment and pity from everyone else as they chowed down. I accepted the notion that I wouldn't get to eat any sort of baked treat unless my mom tried to make something for an extra special occasion—and it typically involved plenty of substitutes that had a tendency to hamper the outcome. Then one day, my brother, who also has dairy and egg allergies, came home from second grade boasting that he had eaten a cupcake at school.