I was around 12 years old when I baked my first cake.  I thought it was time to celebrate my Barbie’s birthday and it wouldn’t be a party with out a cake.  So armed with only the memory of the ingredients my cousin had used and the procedure she had followed I baked my cake.  It came out pretty good even though I had forgotten to put in baking powder and I had decided to make it green.  Yes, the first cake I made was lime green just because I thought it would be fun for Barbie to have a green cake.  I had no idea how to make frosting at that time.  My mother was impressed… not bad for some one who made her first cake with only a memory.

I continued to make cakes for leisure but stopped the hobby once I moved to the States.  For some reason they never tasted as good as the ones I used to make in my youth.  It did not help that I have a husband who doesn’t like cakes .  Did not pick up the hobby again until Aidan’s first birthday and my rustiness was evident in my cake.  It was hard as a rock and completely inedible.  I used it to take pictures to commemorate Aidan’s birthday and then threw the entire thing in the garbage. 

Aidan’s first birthday.  I tried to make a white cake with a hazelnut frosting.  Frosting was too sweet and the cake was rock hard.

You think that would have been the end of my cake baking career but a year later I was anxious to give it another go.  This time the cake was edible even though it was way too lemony. 

Spongebob for Aidan’s second birthday.  Used Ina Garten’s lemon cake recipe for this one.  Also made a lemon curd to put in between the layers.  This cake made people pucker.

I was back in the game and I haven’t stopped since.  I enjoy baking, especially baking cakes.  And, now that we have moved to Arizona and closer William’s family, I have a larger audience who enjoys my cakes.  Most of my cakes are pretty basic.  I only attempt to make elaborate cakes for the kids birthdays.  It’s a lot of work but I am always proud of the end results.

Birthday blocks for Mark’s first.  Got this cake idea from Martha Stewart.

A monkey for Aidan’s third birthday.  Again, got the idea from Martha Stewart.

A race car for Mark’s second birthday…. yes I know the tires look deflated.

A front view of the cake.

And a rear view as well.

Mickey Mouse for Aidan’s fourth birthday.

A butterfly cake for Caitlin’s first birthday.  Got this idea from Betty Crocker Decorating Cakes and Cupcakes.

Rory the lion for Mark’s third birthday. Once again, another idea from Martha Stewart.

For Aidan’s fifth birthday I made the Lego Man.  This was William’s idea and it took a bit of work only because the first cake I made came out too soft and was falling apart as I tried to decorate it.  I ended up having to make another cake and I didn’t finish decorating it until minutes before the party.  Although it was pretty stressful I am happy with the end result.  It was an amazing looking Lego Man cake.