Baking stories

Even though I complained about making this bread it turned out wonderful. My brother and his family came to dinner that night and they all loved it. One of my nephews told me, very frankly, that he wasn't a big fan of the soup I made but the bread was very good. I smile and shake my head. I will definitely try this one again. I was going to show a picture but it doesn't do my bread justice, so it got cut.

I had another baking adventure recently. I was asked, much to my surprise, to make the birthday cake for my nephew. Last time I was involved in cake making two years ago, it went so wrong that I smile even as I write this. It was a dragon picked by my ambitious brother. Well, things were trouble from the start but the very best part was when the head fell off. The dragon was 3-D, not just a picture. At first it leaned a little, then things started to crack. We tried to brace it with toothpicks but we ended up with a dragon that was "just sleeping". It was the best (aka most fun) cake making experience. My sister in law didn't feel the same way. She had done the cakes, very well I want to add, since then. When she requested a cake I asked "can I make a chicken?!"
There was a long pause then, "he's turning 8, Nerissa."
"So you're saying no."
"How about a snake? He likes snakes. In the shape of an 8."
She gave me a few more details then left me to figure out the rest. So, I confess that it was not my idea but I am very happy with the result:

When we brought it out the kids declared (obnoxiously/charmingly) it was a 'snake cake'. The best part? I made red velvet cake and when I cut it open it looked kind of graphic. It went over very well at an 8-year-old's birthday party.

I feel tempted to defend an the posting about baking. But I won't.