I recently completed one of my life goals: to make a wedding cake. Last month I received a call from an American woman who I had met a few times before. She told me that she was getting married in October and that everyone told her I make beautiful cakes. I knew what was coming next.... I waited with baited breath while she formed the words..."I was wondering if you would make my wedding cake?" I had to supress my excitement and explain that I was very flattered, but I told her the truth that while I enjoy making cakes, I have never made a wedding cake before. She listened while I explained that my only "professional" cake decorating experience was a part time job at Dairy Queen during high school. She was still interested, so I told her I would enjoy the challenge and we agreed she would send me more details and I would let her know if I thought that I could do it. She sent me a picture of the cake she liked that afternoon and I began researching recipes and how to make the actual structure so that it wouldn't fall over.
Obviously I agreed to do it, and now I know why wedding cakes cost so much money! That week I spent over 20 hours working on the cake. But I was pleased with the finished product. Three tiers, meringue roses and all from scratch. If I am allowed to brag, not too bad for a first try!
While making the cake took a lot of time, by far the scariest part came when it was time to deliver the cake. We didn’t have a box big enough to fit the cake so I used a George Forman grill box placed on its side with the top cut off to transport the cake. I had to do a little doctoring so that it would fit the cake but it was sturdy enough in the end (The cake weighed about 25 pounds). All the websites I read said that putting the cake together first and then transporting it was the best option. I agreed seeing as I didn’t know how much time we would have at the location and that way I could do the bulk of the decorating before hand. However, I didn’t not take into account that NO road in China is flat! I have never been more nervous in my life. I sat next to the cake in the back seat of my bosses car, my heart jumping with every bump we went over. Of course the 6 mile drive was prolonged by the very slow speed we drove so as the minimize the danger. I have never been more pleased to arrive at a location in my life! That car ride took about 45 minutes but about 3 years off my life.
Now that it is all done, I can say it was a good expereince. However let just say I will happy to stick with cupcakes for the next few months…..
Obviously I agreed to do it, and now I know why wedding cakes cost so much money! That week I spent over 20 hours working on the cake. But I was pleased with the finished product. Three tiers, meringue roses and all from scratch. If I am allowed to brag, not too bad for a first try!
While making the cake took a lot of time, by far the scariest part came when it was time to deliver the cake. We didn’t have a box big enough to fit the cake so I used a George Forman grill box placed on its side with the top cut off to transport the cake. I had to do a little doctoring so that it would fit the cake but it was sturdy enough in the end (The cake weighed about 25 pounds). All the websites I read said that putting the cake together first and then transporting it was the best option. I agreed seeing as I didn’t know how much time we would have at the location and that way I could do the bulk of the decorating before hand. However, I didn’t not take into account that NO road in China is flat! I have never been more nervous in my life. I sat next to the cake in the back seat of my bosses car, my heart jumping with every bump we went over. Of course the 6 mile drive was prolonged by the very slow speed we drove so as the minimize the danger. I have never been more pleased to arrive at a location in my life! That car ride took about 45 minutes but about 3 years off my life.
Now that it is all done, I can say it was a good expereince. However let just say I will happy to stick with cupcakes for the next few months…..
PS The red chinese character on the side of the cake is called "double happiness" It is a special character only used at weddings in China.
1 comment:
Lisa--that is one amazing cake. You are a singularly talented and impressive young lady!
(My heart's still with chocolate-mandarin orange, however...)
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