I spent a lot of time this week either lying on the couch blowing my nose, blowing the nose of one of my children, or passing out vitamins and natural immune system boosters.
Every time I'm laid up for more than a day I start to second guess myself and wonder if I'm just taking advantage of the situation. Maybe I really enjoy watching the dishes overflow the sink, and the laundry pile creep out of the laundry room into the hallway. Maybe deep down I'm just lazy.
Today, just as in all previous illnesses, I woke up and instantly attacked dishes, laundry and CAKE! (well, not always is cake involved) But I was once again reassured that when my body is ready, the work will get done.
So back to the CAKE!
Shannon turns 5 next Tuesday. We finally got a party for a couple of her friends organized for that day, and of course the compulsory party for the grandparents on Sunday. And what's a part without cake?! And of course since you have 2 parties, you need 2 cakes...RIGHT?!!?
Shannon had already asked for an ice cream sandwich cake (link to follow). It's really easy to make, so I decided to look for something a little more special for the second.
See, my mother always made 'fancy' cakes. She took a night course at the local high school, learned how to make roses, ruffles and just about anything else your little heart desired out of icing. She had many magazines in the house and for months I would scour through them trying to decide what I'd like for my birthday cake, and she always delivered.
So now that I'm a Mom, my brain tells me that's how you 'do cakes.' However, now that I'm a mom of 3, (+1), I realize how precious time is, and how much time 'fancy' cakes take to make.
(I really should post more often...then maybe they wouldn't be as long...or maybe that's why I don't post so often, I never have the time to sit down and type all I have to say!) Back to the cake!
Maybe someday I'll find all the pictures of the cakes I've made and scan them for you, but for now, just know that poor Shannon has really had the short end of the cake deal. (Yes, I've been known to make a few not-so-fancy cakes.)
A few months ago she asked for a Dora cake. So I thought I would come through this year and surprise her. But, then I found really cool Disney Princess stuff at the Dollar store. This morning it occurred to me that I could make a princess cake!!
Thanks to my buddy Google, I was soon supplied with a plethora of ideas and info on how to make one. Everybody insisted that fondant made a beautiful skirt. I've never worked with fondant, but how hard could that be? Melted marshmallows, and icing sugar, knead and voila! Well, lets just say, I'm REALLY glad I found the web site that recommended using a heavy duty mixer! (thanks mom for your Kitchen Aid) Shannon and I had a lot of fun spraying icing sugar all over the kitchen and licking VERY sticky utensils!
Then there's the matter of the cake. The web sites suggested just baking a roundish cake and sticking a Barbie in the middle. I discovered that the local store even carried the proper Wilton pan needed to make the cake in the easiest manner. (Although Trish's idea of using a flower pot was quite intriguing, and second on my list.)
Off I went to pick up the goods. Got home, opened the box of the rental pan and it clearly said on the lid..."Does not work with a Barbie...she's too tall!"...and I had even asked the lady! Ah, well, good thing I bought 2 cake mixes. (Hey, I said fancy on the outside!) So, one went in the skirt pan, the other in a 9x13. Unfortunately I don't have any great story to tell of how they didn't rise, or how they overflowed into the oven, or stuck in multiple places when I tried to get them out. I cut the 9x13 in half, stuck them on top of each other, and stuck the skirt on top. Now it doesn't fit under my cake dome, but it's done.
Tomorrow we decorate, and find out if working with fondant is as easy as making it...with a Kitchen Aid!
For now here's a picture of Shannon, licking the fondant dough hook. The icing sugar on her nose was a natural result of our fun together and her line of the night, "Don't worry Mom, just leave the licking to me!"
Here's the link for the ice cream sandwich cake...amazing!
Click here for a super easy cake...Just one quick note, you do not need to put the foil under the cake...makes it much easier for serving!
Sweet Dreams!
