Fancy Cake

Back when we had TV, we loved to watch "Ace of Cakes" and various cake challenges on The Food Network. The problem is that kids start to think that they should get those kinds of cakes for their birthdays. They think they are do-able. It is a scary moment when I have to ask my children what sort of cake they would like for their birthday this year. Next month is the big birthday month, so the time is upon me.

Now, I actually enjoy making amateur fancy cakes and so does my mom. We have both impressed party goers with the cakes that matched the party theme just so, my mom and I. But we have our limits.

My mom offered to make Basia's cake again this year (she was the talent behind the fire truck cake and the space shuttle cake of recent years). Neither of my kids will be having a themed party this year because they both opted to go to theme parks (Wet and Wild for one and Western Playland for the other) instead of parties with friends. For that reason, I had not even given the cakes a bit of thought.

A couple days ago, I braved the question with Basia. I told her that Grandmother would like to make her cake, and I asked her what kind of cake she thought she wanted. She replied, "Chocolate." I said that that was great, but wondered what shape of cake she wanted. "Oh," she said. "I guess a square." I asked her if she was sure that she didn't want anything fancier. She thought for a moment and decided that she does want something fancier. "A rectangle."

I think my mom will be able to handle this year's request!