Monday 16 April 2012

Cake Decorating Disaster



Note: This is a true story that occurred 7 years ago, but I’m telling it hear in the hope of saving a new mum from the pain…and tears…oh my goodness!!

How hard could it be to make a Shrek cake… really???

That’s the rhetorical question I asked myself on the eve of my oldest daughters 2nd birthday

My little daughter loved Shrek! I so wanted to see her face when I revealed to her the stunning, almost life-like Shrek cake that was in my imagination…how hard could it be?!

For her 2nd birthday I had organized a lunch time BBQ. Family was due to arrive from Sydney and I had invited various other neighbors, family and friends. I had the food and drinks taken care of. However, in my confidence (or inexperience), I left the cake to the morning of the party….surely the length of my babies morning nap would be sufficient to decorate a cake…..

I figured that having a toddler, just turning 2 and a 6 month old baby, I’d take the easy option and buy a slab cake from Woollies….well, never a drier crumblier, tasteless cake was ever baked…let me tell you!!

Not letting a simple thing like quality deter me. I cut the crumbling cake into the shape of Shreks head and ears. Armed with a bottle of green food colouring I read the instructions on the back of the icing packet.

Who knew there were actually different types of icing?? Who knew there was such a thing as butter cream…or fondant or frosting. Who knew that the directions on the back of the icing packet made a simple glaze icing…that would harden into solid gloop making spreading it on the cake an impossible task. Who knew that the directions made icing that  that was not meant for cake decorating….who knew…certainly not me!

Icing the cake was a complete and utter disaster. The icing was setting as I was trying to spread it causing me to gouge out great big holes and chunks in the crumbly cake. I was also attempting this precision cake decorating techniques holding my wide-awake non-napping 6 month old!

It soon became glaringly apparent that I was not creating the amazing Shrek cake of my imagination…the self deprecation started to set in as the I pictured the disappointed look on my little daughters face…

what sort of mother was I that couldn’t even ice a cake???

I persevered through tears determined to make that Shrek cake for my little girl…until I saw the result….desperately dejected, I ordered Grumpy Daddy to go and purchase a Shrek cake….through tears I admitted defeat.

At the party, after a few glasses of ‘false confidence’ I dared to show my horrific creation to some of the other party goers…who immediately stated rolling around on the floor laughing…but at the same time, trying to reassure me that it was not so bad…really…

After a few more glasses of wine, I boldly decided to bring both the cakes to the table, my Shrek cake and the commercial one……just for a laugh…

…well you should have seen my daughter’s face, and the other kids! They just loved my Shrek cake. When given the choice they all wanted a piece of Mummy’s Shrek cake…who would of thought…certainly not me!

Beauty truly lies with the beholder!

Which Cake would you choose??






Linking up with Jess at Diary of a SAHM for #IBOT Pop over and read the fantastic Tuesday Posts and meet #TeamIBOT


27 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Trish!...I couldn't believe anyone wanted to eat it!

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  2. Every kid wants a Shrek cake!!

    I am currently deciding on what cake to make for my son's 1st birthday!! Definitely has to be home made! Thats the one thing I really want to do!! I might look at Cake 2 the Rescue website though - they send you all the info/stuff to create a good character cake!! Not quite cheating :)

    xx

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    1. Thanks Yvette! going to the Cake 2 the rescue web site is definitely not cheating! I have learnt a lot since then and I think I should post some photos of cakes I have made since this 'incident' to redeem myself!

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  3. I loved this! I have been there before, way too many times actually. My poor big girl has had some shockers of cakes, especially in the earlier years. She never complained, though this year she did ask for an ice cream cake lol!

    Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses #team IBOT

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    1. Thanks Rhianna! the little girl in the photo had her 9th birthday on Easter Monday and she requested an ice cream cake too! :)....do you think they are trying to tell us something?

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  4. I love it! I think you've done a get job!
    I've had some disasters in my time; the most recent was last week for Boatman's birthday; his cake pretty much looked exactly like something a dog would pass.

    Tasted good though :)

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    1. Thanks Jess...It just didn't come out the same way as I had pictured it in my imagination!

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  5. Ha ha, what a classic, sounds like my attempts. I am so glad you still brought it out, what a golden moment!!x

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    1. Thanks Karla...looking back on it I'm not sure bringing it out was such a good idea. It makes for a fond memory though!

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  6. That's Great! I love that kids don't see the imperfections we do. I'm with you, the cakes I conjure up always look awesome... at least in my head!!

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    1. Thanks Mandie! that''s right! little kids just don't see the same imperfections we do...just take a look at some of their art and craft! I hadn't thought about it like that before :)

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  7. Ha ha ha!!
    This is not a cautionary tale - it's an example of the beauty of children!!!
    I love that you brought both cakes out.
    :-) xx

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    1. Thanks Shar, you're so right! There is a pure quality to children...with no prejudiced against messy green goopy icing!

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  8. I love your Shrek cake, it’s far more imaginative than the shop bought one and put together with a ton more love. I would choose a slice of yours every day!

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    1. Thanks Barbara....I'm certainly not cut out for a career in cake decorating!

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  9. Naaaawwww I love it too Nicole! I think it was an awesome effort and I'm glad the littlies agreed! ;)

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    1. Thanks! I learnt to never underestimate the difficulty of cake decorating :)

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  10. Ohhh my goshness! I love it!!! How could she not lovbe that cake! I've always found my kids love Mummy's cake better than bought one.

    Happy iBOT! xxx

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    1. Thanks :) I was really surprised that my cake was chosen above the commercial one!

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  11. Ohhh I think your Shrek cake looks awesome! Don't worry, I'm a battler when it comes to making character cakes. I can do a good old plain cake in any flavour and ice it, but try to do something a little different and mine look very dodgy. I did a Cars inspired theme for my boy's 4th birthday this year and ended up just throwing on a whole lot of mini Cars 2 characters, to make it look half decent.
    Gorgeous photos! xo

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    1. Thanks! It all seems straight forward when I'm planning a cake masterpiece.....it's the actual reality that is the problem!

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  12. Oh what a great story!! And this would be exactly what I would expect if I tried to make a Shrek cake - so (being a chicken) I've never tried! Good on you for being brave!

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    1. Thanks for thinking I was brave....I think it was a bit more delusional on my part ;)

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  13. I baked a cake for my daughter's birthday once. It emerged from the oven looking like a Quatermass experiment (showing my age here). I didn't bother again since even the cat turned its furry nose up at it, and that little rat will eat anything.

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    1. Ha! this cake baking thing is tricky....but even the cat wouldn't touch it??.... ouch!

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  14. Aww it looks wonderful!! :) I'm gonna attempt to make some sort of princess cake for my girl's 3rd bday in a few weeks. Will need luck on that! ;p

    Ai @ Sakura Haruka

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