This particular weekend, I opted to give the real Cake Boss the day off. I know, you should be shaking your head in chagrin, I quite agree. However, I got it into my nonscensical head that sometimes it would be nice for her to feel appreciated in that she now works full time, has other commitements and I had already hit her up for two cakes in the past six weeks; one for the youngers party and one for the first birthday party held in the house for the eldest. I discovered early on that if you hold the birthday party early, there is still the expectation of another cake on the day of the REAL birthday. There is the twist that gets them too cakes instead of one. Why didn't I think of that when I was younger? Oh right, I would have been told to get some sense and that money didn't grow on trees. I am too soft I think. (and I really like cake!).
So, since I talked myself into baking the cake, that meant that I had to have the idea. Harnessing a smidgeon of the imagination of what my eldest loves, I wandered into Chocolates by Candlelight. I had a coupon for six free chocolates if I bought six. They had mice. Large chocolately mice. The idea hatched...mice and she loves nutcrackers, especially the nutcracker ballet. I would bake a nutcracker cake. Sounds simple...right?
Ok, I put the chocolates into a cupboard and promptly forgot about them. Ok, so I sampled a carmel roll and decided to ignore the rest and really did forget about them after that. The Wednesday before the birthday arrived and I conned a coworker into going grocery shopping with me. Cake mixes and icing jars were buy one and get one free. I can take a hint. I bought the supplies. I put them in the cupboard and thought no more of them until Saturday when I realized if I didn't start baking, I wouldn't have cake. That wouldn't be popular since I invited a whole bunch of people for cake....
So, I managed to assemble the mixes. I made a chocolate rectangle, a chocolate square and a chocolate circle. I still didn't really have a plan. I stood in the kitchen while they baked on the grounds that if I left, I would burn the cakes and then...more trouble. I took the cakes out on time and then let them cool. There is where the trouble began. I tried to flip them out of the pans only to have them fall apart. So, I reassembled them with some icing. It was a good thing that I bought two containers...phew. I put the rectangle down, the square next and then the circle. Icing was put over the joints to assemble. I had both chocolate and vanilla. Already, it looked like a hot mess. Sigh...call for help or abandon ship?
I am too stubborn I guess. I got out the red chopsticks and shoved them in strategically to make sure it stayed together. Then I shored up the outside with marshmellows. Red and green icing was used to distract the eyes and to add some color (OK it was more glue...sigh) I then realized that it was looking well...interesting. So, it was go big or go hide in shame. I got out the sprinkles and covered the cake. I added icing happy birthday and candles and a nutcracker ornament. Then found a small doll to be clara. Then I added the mice and chocolates.She loved it. It was bright and tacky and cheerful and full of creativity. It tasted good and really, that was the important thing. The barbeque went well and all were fed. I breathed a huge and heavy sigh of relief. I had a cake, and it almost worked. But...in a very small voice and with the biggest puppy dog eyes I can muster...
No comments:
Post a Comment