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annie1992_gw

Ashley's Birthday Cake

16 years ago

Well, Ashley's birthday is today, but she had to work a double shift, so the ex called and asked if I wanted to come to his house and have dinner tomorrow night for Ashley's birthday. Of course, i want to do that about as badly as I want a root canal without anesthesia, but I couldn't figure out how to weasel out without hurting Ashley's feelings, so I agree to go. Then he asked me to bring the cake. OK, I'll bring the cake and I'm also bringing my Mother and Elery. I figured the ex might as well cook and clean up for a change.

I dragged out Colleen's chocolate cake recipe and baked three layers with mocha filling and frosting. I've gotten some cake transfers and I never used them before, so this seemed like a good time. I didn't realize they had white edges (which would blend into white frosting, but not chocolate), so I had to pipe frosting around the sides to cover the white edges, but it looks interesting:

some rosebuds and writing on the top, and I should have smoothed the top a bit more too, but it says what it needs to:

As always, I made a heckuva mess, why do I ALWAYS do this with the mixer and powdered sugar? I just never learn, I guess....

It took longer to clean up the kitchen than it did to decorate the cake, but the transfers are interesting. Amanda wants me to use some for her wedding cake in October, so I'm practicing. And now that I look at it critically, I have a few wrinkles too. Guess I better practice some more.

Cake,anyone?

Annie

Comments (40)

  • 16 years ago

    It came out very pretty! When I opened the thread all I could think of is I've never seen a paisley cake before! Cool!

  • 16 years ago

    Very cool! And I bet it will taste even better than it looks.

    Alexa

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  • 16 years ago

    Great job Annie! Those are the same transfers I bought for my Ashleys baby shower cakes last summer. I was going to make 6" cakes and use them as center pieces for the tables.

    I made a few but I wasn't happy with my results so ended up not using them. I still have the extras -might be time to try them again. Did you mist yours with water?

    Di

  • 16 years ago

    Very cool Annie and I bet it's will be delicious. Colleens Cake has been calling me all week but I am resisting.

    Have fun tonight ;)

  • 16 years ago

    That is such a great cake, Annie. I'm sure Ashley will love it.

  • 16 years ago

    Very pretty and unique. I've never seen those transfers before.

  • 16 years ago

    Fun cake! Happy Birthday to Ashley!

    I didn't open the chocolate cake thread on purpose, I just knew I would start craving chocolate cake. I'm a goner now!

  • 16 years ago

    Wow, you made Colleen's Cake for your daughter and I made Colleen's Cake for my son. I guess this means we're related now. ;o)

    The cake transfers are cool. I have never seen those. Yes, I had a powdered sugar and cocoa explosion in my kitchen, too.

    Happy Birthday, Ashley!

  • 16 years ago

    Wow, it's great! Happy birthday to Ashley! Did I see something on another post about her graduating? It seems like she just graduated from high school! I remember how lovely she looked in her green prom dress.

  • 16 years ago

    You did such a great job! My daughter would love a cake like that. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Jo

  • 16 years ago

    Wow, Annie, that looks terrific, and delicious.

    I'm not away of those transfers. It's been ages since I've baked a birthday cake, but you may have inspired me too!

    AM

  • 16 years ago

    Wow - that is just GORGEOUS! You really rock, Annie. Dumb And Dumber cooks? Wow.

    The turquoise paisley looks like a favorite blouse of mine from 1968 - I just love it!

  • 16 years ago

    I think you've started something with those cake transfers, Annie. Before you showed us that the only cake transfer I knew of was from the plate to my mouth.

    Good for you, being able to handle that uncomfortable social situation for the daughter's sake. Good for Elery as well.

    Hey, what's up with being assigned a double shift on your birthday? I thought you're supposed to get the day off!

    Jim

  • 16 years ago

    No, di, I didn't mist them with water, I just frosted the cake and while the frosting was still really fresh I smoothed on the transfers. I had them all cut and ready to go because I knew the buttercream would set up quickly. It was easier than I thought but as with everything, I learned what I shouldn't do next time. I guess that's the purpose of practicing first. (grin) I think I'll make a striped one for her Graduation party.

    Dedtired, yup, we're sisters now. That's why we both make that powdered sugar mess, it's genetic and we can't help it. :-)

    CC, she just graduated from college. It's hard to believe, isn't it? I loved that green "garden fairy" dress, she still has it. Her internship isn't up until July 3, so we'll have a pool party after that to celebrate the graduation.

    Woodie, he doesn't cook, really. He's making pulled pork but he bought some big-a$$ house with an indoor pool and something like 9,000 square feet or something and he just is itching to show it off. He's found every excuse to get me to come to that house and I've ignored him entirely. Now I guess I'll have to go...

    Jo and AM, I got the transfers on-line from Global Sugar Art, they are called Luck's edible images cake transfers. They come in everythng from paisley to stripes to baby carriages to flames and camo and wood grain. Some interesting cakes indeed...

    Annie

  • 16 years ago

    That is unique as May said. I love it!

    Two things stuck:
    1. Ex's covert gloating about the house--I hope it's decorated tacky.
    2. "now that I look at it critically, I have a few wrinkles too"--don't we all so let's agree not to look critically.

  • 16 years ago

    Cake, Elery and the ex in the same room = Food Fight!
    I'm kidding. I know they get along.

    The cake looks mod! Aren't cake transfers super cool? I've only used mine on chocolate, but haven't tried them on white buttercream yet.

    Happy Birthday Ashley!


    Sol

  • 16 years ago

    Annie, Ashley's birthday cake if fabulous. I absolutely love paisley.

    Ann

  • 16 years ago

    Jim, she could have had the day off, she wanted the shifts because it was a weekend, they had a live brand and she knew she'd make good tips. I took the tiara she wore when she was "Miss White Cloud" a few years ago and she wore that so she could tell everyone it was her birthday. She's saving for a down payment on a car so she can stop driving her Dad's 1988 Lincoln TownCar. Hey, I'd drive the Lincoln, it's in perfect shape, but she calls it the "stinkin' Lincoln", LOL.

    Sol, now I feel better, if even you haven't done the cake transfers much. They're kind of neat and Amanda wants the "Words of Love" transfers on the wedding cake layers, so I gotta practice. As for Bruce and Elery, they kind of ignore each other, it's easier, I think.

    As for the house, I guess I'll see, Cathy. Maybe he has a giant velvet painting of Elvis or something. I hope. Mother will go along and she won't hesitate to tell him what's wrong with it, so THAT should be fun!

    Ann, I like paisley too, so I just couldn't resist it.

    Annie

  • 16 years ago

    Annie, that cake looks divine...I want a piece!

  • 16 years ago

    A very happy birthday to Ashley! Love that cake Annie! I've never heard of transfers either but it makes me want to make a cake and I hate to bake.

    Annie, I don't know what I hope happens at that birthday party, but whatever, I hope you get it all back on him. I'm so glad Elery and your Mother are going.

    BTW, if you go to an endodontist, you will feel absolutely no pain with a root canal. I've had several of them. Just a tip.
    Beverly

  • 16 years ago

    Want me to go find that voodoo doll as a housewarming gift?

    Congrats to Ashely for bday and graduation, and congrats to you for that incredible cake! You can 'write' with icing better than me!

  • 16 years ago

    What a cute cake! I love the paisley.

    Sally

  • 16 years ago

    Hmm-m-m-m--m-mmmm. . . .

    And here all these years I'd been thinking that that was what was SUPPOSED to happen with mixers and powdered sugar (flour, too).

    Learn something new every day on these forums. :>)

    And I thought only the bakeries in the grocery stores had access to transfers.
    Something else new learned.

    Really a nice looking cake, Annie. Ashley should be proud. I'll bet it tastes even better than it looks.

    Rusty

  • 16 years ago

    jessica, could you ship that doll immediately? I need it at 6:30 tonight. My penmanship was pretty good on this one, at least I didn't misspell anything this time and it says more than "HA" which is as far as Ashley got with Happy Birthday a few years ago.

    Beverly, I've had two root canals and they haven't hurt, but it's the "without anesthesia" thing that will be like visiting the ex's house. Cross your fingers for that velvet Elvis...

    Rusty, I always tell myself AFTER the mess that if I draped a kitchen towel around the bowl that wouldn't happen. Of course, I remember after I'm enveloped in a cloud of powdered sugar. And I didn't know about cake transfers either until I started shopping for gumpaste flowers for Amanda's wedding cake. Amazing what you can buy on line.

    Shush, Jessica.

    Annie

  • 16 years ago

    Annie, Lots of good wishes for Ashley to have a really happy dinner with all the people she loves.

    To that end, because it'll probably make her happy while getting his goat, the trick is to be underwhelmed, oh so politely. If you're very polite and don't say anything, the itches will start. When he asks what you think of the starter mansion, and you politely reply in an ever so slightly bored tone, "Very nice," he'll have absolutely nothing to argue with, bounce off of or gloat over. If he demands a follow up, say, pleasantly, "I hope you're happy here." He'll know perfectly well what that means but what can he make of it? Can you imagine him getting any sympathy when he tries to repeat the insult to his friends?

  • 16 years ago

    Lovely cake! Happy birthday Ashley.

    If there's anything more satisfying than seeing your ex down-and-out, it's having him dance around trying to impress you while you couldn't give a crap. But just the same, I'm hoping for a velvet Elvis, parquet floors, and particleboard cabinets. And a massive leak in the pool.

  • 16 years ago

    I have been too busy to go online lately. Poked my head in GW this morning and saw your cake. Couldn't resist to post a reply. Wow Annie! What lovely cake! I am sure you will all enjoy the food. Your cake will be the center piece. Hope everyone will play nice and that Ashley (and everyone else) will have a great time. Happy birthday, Ashley!

    Al

  • 16 years ago

    I hope for a velvet Elvis on him and worse Annie! Well on second though I don't know much worse than a velvet Elvis. Only problem, you have to be careful because of the girls.

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks, everyone. We will all play nice, because that's what I always do. when he says something about the house I will say what I always say when he remarks about his "castle", that I'm glad his girlfriend has to clean it instead of me.

    He can have his big house, and more power to him. At least I don't have to put up with him, and the bimbo that he moved in with has already been replaced with a younger bimbo (who actually seems OK, although I'm feeling sorry for her already).

    It turns out that him dumping me for the bimbo was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

    Annie

  • 16 years ago

    Happy Birthday Ashley!

    Annie, the cake looks wonderful - you did a great job. I know everyone will enjoy it and I wish I had a piece.

    Lee

  • 16 years ago

    wow, VERY nice - I'm impressed! I never heard of cake transfers...coool!

  • 16 years ago

    It's beautiful, I also did not know about cake transfers.....

  • 16 years ago

    Annie, you are a superwoman and Ashley's cake is unique and wonderful! I just have to add my two cents that you had to scrimp and save pennies to get Ashley through college while the ex has enough money to buy a McMansion! It would make me very happy if you could rub his face in the cake!! Although you're right if it wasn't for Bruce's leaving, you'd have never had true happiness with Elery!

  • 16 years ago

    Happy Birthday Ashley! That cake looks super! Love the transfers. Never heard of them before.

  • 16 years ago

    I've never heard of transfers either, but that is a beautiful cake. You did a great job.
    Tell Ashley, happy birthday!!

  • 16 years ago

    That is a beautiful cake!
    Anyone order cake transfers yet? They're on my list!

  • 16 years ago

    . . . I'm lovin' the paisley, and it looks so yummy :)

    I know they ship gumpaste flowers, but I honestly can NOT imagine how they make it without breaking apart . . . have you seen all the cool cutters GSA has?!?
    . . . and it's reeeaaallly fun :) . . .

  • 16 years ago

    Ellen, you're right, I've scrimped and saved and counted pennies so Ashley didn't have a bunch of student loans, and I don't mind it a bit, it was worth every minute. So, I'll stay here in my little house with the 30 year old carpeting and Bruce can have his big, brand new, very empty house. I think I'm just a whole lot happier here than he is there.

    And the cake was yummy.

    Annie

  • 16 years ago

    And don't think for a moment that Ashley doesn't appreciate you! So tell us about the evening. Was it as awkward as it sounded?

  • 16 years ago

    Annie the cake is [was] so pretty. You did a great job with the transfers, especially for the first time. A hint for you and Di is if you mist, mist the cake insteadking/msg0623463521068.html">
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