One of my sons turned 3 on Tuesday. He had requested a Backyardigans cake which I intended to create and decorate on my own. While I’m not a newbie to cake baking and decorating, I don’t have nearly the experience as my mother who has been crafting beautiful birthday cakes for her four children and other relatives, wedding cakes, baby cakes and just for the heck of it cakes for over 20-years. I should have backed away and let her do it, but I was determined and when I get determined, there’s something that clicks in my brain and I don’t stop for anything…
Except for those very crumbly, falling apart layers of white cake you are probably gaping at right now. Yep! I made the mistake of using a somewhat questionable (based on reviews) new white cake recipe and thought if I plugged in the right baking technique, we’d be good to go. Not so. I whipped up 3 batches of cake batter and allowed them to cool but as I assembled the layers, they began breaking off and crumbling. It was like putting together a puzzle. Obviously, I don’t give up easily. You can see I’d even spread on the strawberry preserves (his request) and had mixed up and colored a large batch of buttercream frosting. But at 2:30am, a box of toothpicks and many tears later, I declared to myself it was no use. I grabbed my big girl panties, cleaned up my mess and made a desperate call to Ann’s Bakery first thing the next morning. Now, I realize you don’t know me very well, but admitting I couldn’t do it and taking the step to serve bakery cake at my son’s birthday party was an act of love for him and took me to a new level of humility and freedom I didn’t know was possible. All that over a cake? Sadly, yes! Although I’ll never apologize for trying to be as independent as humanly possible.
I wouldn’t have called any other bakery but Ann’s! They crafted my parent’s wedding cake nearly 40-years ago and have been here in Tulsa since 1938. When I managed wedding receptions for a local wedding chapel, I was always excited to see an Ann’s cake walk through the door. Why? Because their cakes were always beautiful and always fresh and delicious. Ann’s is still located in Tulsa at Harvard and I-244 in the original building (what was once the first owner’s home) and is still owned and operated by the same family. They came through for me on Tuesday with a cute, tasty cake for my birthday boy and they will retain my loyalty forever!
Life is all about learning and growing and I hope it never ends for me. When placed in perspective, my ‘hard-knock’ for this week is really nothing, but I feel I’m a better, more mature and healthier person because of it. And the birthday party was a success (except for the part where I forgot the matches to light the birthday candles).
you tried, and this is what counts, putting your love in this cake, you failed, and you admitted it, and fixed it all with a little help. so proud of you!
Thank you, friend! You’re so right!
Hope your day is going well.
Aw shucks. Bet it tasted good. Did you think of turning it into a trifle?
Dang! I didn’t even think of a truffle and that would have been nice to nosh on too! Next time I goof (I surely will), I’ll salvage it! Thanks for the idea. Have a great day!
Bless your heart. After several of my own cake disasters, I have finally learned to humble myself and purchase Pillsbury mixes. I cannot seem to make a cake as tasty as theirs, sadly. But I completely understand your stubbornness! I want to make everything from scratch, fix every thing in my house, reupholster all my furniture–I drive myself crazy!
Same here!! It is maddening. I’m glad I finally learned it’s okay to say, “I can’t” and own and be proud of myself anyway. That lesson has been a long time coming, let me tell ya! Hope you’re having a lovely day in Clyde!
Thank you!
We have been there. The effort is what matters and the learning lasts a lifetime. But it’s no fun while it’s happening.
Great post, cooking and baking have ups and downs, just like any other worthwhile pursuit. And baking for family is a very worthwhile pursuit!
Thank you! It really wasn’t fun, but life goes on. I agree, baking for family is very worthwhile! One of my favorite things for sure! Hope ya’ll are having a beautiful day!
Bet it tasted good. I had a chocolate layer cake that decided to act like a leaning tower one hot summer day. It had been sat on top of the refrigerator so my four year old wouldn’t see it. I managed to sort of slide it back together. After that I made sheet cakes for the kid’s birthdays.
It did taste good! Haha! Learn and live, huh? I think I’ll stick with sheet cakes too…:-) Hope you have wonderful day!
aawww man! Sorry to hear about your cake. Its all about learning… bet your next cake will be pretty
!
Thank you! I sure hope so. Next time it counts, I’ll stick with a recipe I know and be a little more prepared. I reserve the right to goof again though.
Have a lovely day.
I am hungry looking at the picture. Too bad your attempt didn’t go as planned. I’m sure you are extraordinary when it comes to creating cakes. Sometimes things just don’t go our way. It’s great you have a go-to bakery. I have one, too. Our neighbors across the street on an Italian bakery. We order just about everything — when I don’t make it myself — from them. They never disappoint and run a good business.
Well, I’m nothing close to extraordinary, but I love to try.
The sad thing is, the cake really did taste good! In fact, I took that chunk off the top after I decided to I was done. Yum.
sounds like we’re a bit alike ~ i’ve learned the hard way that humility is a good thing ~ and baking isn’t too bad a way to meet up with it, heh heh
I love your story Amy. I guess we all have that ‘mother soul’ feeling – sometimes we feel if if it doesn’t come from our hands it doesn’t come from our heart – we learn!!. Im sure you had a fabulous day. Happy birthday to your wee boy.
Thanks! And you hit the nail on the head. We can’t do everything, I suppose. Of course he never knew the difference and enjoyed his birthday party just the same.
Hey Amy! We at sistersizzle LOVE this post! In the spirit of humility and a good laugh, we recently started a “Wall of Shame” for our own recipe fails (we know there are likely to be many)! We’re thinking of featuring a “Fail of the Week” post on our Wall of Shame and would be honoured if you’d let this be our first Fail of the Week reblog! What do you say?
ha!ha! That’s great and yes you can re-blog my post.
Thanks!
Reblogged this on The Sisterhood of the Sizzling Pans and commented:
Fail of the Week! It’s always nice when someone’s fail means business for someone else haha it’s the circle of life!
Thank you! Great idea. I’m sure I’ll have plenty more posts that will qualify by the end of this blogging adventure.
Haha, well I hope so too!
keep ‘em coming! x