Flexibility 101

One of my greatest joys has been doing cakes for other people. In fact I have only done one cake for myself--it was the birthday cake I shared with my husband. I love the look that comes over their face when they see the cake for the first time--amazement and wonder. Transporting them back to their childhood or favorite memory just for a split second. That is why I get so much enjoyment out of doing cakes.

I have had the pleasure of doing several cakes for my best friend. A birthday cake, cupcakes for her wedding shower, and most recently her baby shower. My life has changed dramatically over the course of these baked goods. The birthday cake I was still in my perfectionist stage obsessing over the perfect color purple--finally abandoning the icing and adding a decorative ribbon in the perfect hue. The cupcakes had beautiful little bunches of piped grapes to match with the theme--but I was letting go. For her shower cake-- it was all about the amazing little family that was being created. All boy. Dump trucks, baseball. A "K" for their last name, a football--their favorite sport.

It was a beautiful cake--my daughter was now in the kitchen helping me put the final touches on the two tier round cake. I turned my back--my daughter, in an effort to be efficient much like her mother attempted to place the top tier herself. Not a good idea. It hit the decks. Quelling my anger as my daughter looked me--I smiled and said--"it will be okay,--I'm not mad" as I was saying "oh shit, oh shit" inside "the shower is two hours away." The cake was dented and crushed on one side and now resembled a piece of clay on a potters wheel. I ripped off the fondant. Baby block I thought. Bingo--more fondant appliques--we got it!! My daughter came back and we were done.

Flexibility as a mom and as a baker is a good thing...