Adventures in Cake Baking

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first. ~Ernestine Ulmer

So I have discovered a new talent.... that I don't have. Our good friends Dan and Becca invited us over for dinner, and since I've been on a baking roll lately with my nectarine cheesecake and my Famous Chocolate Strawberry Trifle, I volunteered to bring dessert. I went to Publix, but wasn't feeling any of the probably delicious already made goodies in the bakery, so I ventured into the baking aisle. Looked at the selection... and decided that, in honor of Ron leaving for the training center next week, I'd make his favorite dessert- strawberry cake! I picked up the mix and the frosting, and came home and started whipping it up. Somewhere in the middle of this effort, I realized that I don't think I've ever baked a cake before all by myself. And it has been years since I helped my mom bake one... she's no Betty Crocker either, unfortunately! (Love ya Mom!) Anyway, I chronicled my cake baking adventure in pictures... Enjoy!


First you gather all your materials...

Then you grease and flour your pans...

Combine all the ingredients...


Use your mixer if you're fancy!


But keep your eye on those buttery pans!


Busted! See the flour on his nose?

Bake in the oven, then cool cakes on a wire rack!


Start icing the cake... if you want, you can hide some presents in between the layers for a nice little surprise!


Flop the second layer onto the bottom layer (this is the hardest part!) and glob as much icing as possible on it! Top with a cherry (or a blueberry!) just like on the cartoons!

Ta Da!!

So I'm a little anxious about my contribution to Becca's nice dinner... but I had fun! Hopefully Ron will enjoy his special Bye Bye Berry Cake!

UPDATE- So on the way to Dan and Becca's, Ron says, "You messed up my cake...my favorite really is yellow cake with pink icing." Well dang, he's right. I remember! So much for trying to be sweet... it didn't stop him from eating it though...he may now have a new favorite! It actually was delicious, especially the surprise blueberry layer! Maybe I am an OK baker after all!

Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence? I think not! ~Author Unknown