the hypocritical cake eater.

[gfrancie]

Cakes gone wild. This is significant after a conversation with mockduck. I noticed that there is a significant trend of themed birthday cakes for children. (in particular in England. keen use of fondant) It isn't a bad thing (often they are impressive)
I have done exactly one theme cake. It was such a terrific bother that I thought, "fuck this noise." My Mother inlaw and my brother inlaw have a history of doing ornate theme cakes. Hey power to them for attempting this. I am a fairly lazy mother (I like to think of it as a philosophy. The mantra is, "eh") so I just bake up a pretty simple cake (in whatever flavor the kids ask for) and then put some frosting on it and maybe a decorative pick or two (and candles) and call it a day. It doesn't require me to stay up late trying to be the pastry chef I am not.
I love my kids. Truly.
I just fucking hate most theme cakes. And if I am honest with you, the ones I have tried have never tasted all that good. The cake is slightly dry, the frosting cloying. But I am guessing flavor is an afterthought for these suckers. Many wedding cakes suffer from this affliction. Though like the late dearly beloved Queen Mother, I do get pretty excited about cake at a wedding. FREE CAKE. I will eat your dry cake and thank you for it. But afterward I will think, "could have been better."
Maybe this year once I move, I will succumb to the English lure of theme cakes. And because I am such an utter bastard, I will make that cake taste good. I am going to help out that nation with their cakes. (because they need a little help)

Comments

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

It was interesting when they mentioned that book. I saw a copy once and it is rather interesting. A relation of my husband's gave me some variation on the book. Some of the ideas were interesting but I kept feeling that the cakes didn't taste very good. I am kind of jerk about this detail. So much bad cake. It is like so much bad sex. It ruins a good time.

[todayiamadaisy]

Well, yes. I was lucky enough to have a mother who could make a good cake from a recipe of her own choosing, but there are poor children who had to suffer an inferior cake, even though it was shaped amusingly. Such deprivation.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Poor children.
Tsk.
Might as well beat them with sticks. Hee.