We are celebrating Jack's birthday tonight, a few days early. Steve is cooking dinner, I made the cake. Jack requested a Minas Tirith cake. In case you need a refresher, Minas Tirith is the heavily fortified capital of Gondor from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I asked for pictures…
Really?!!!! I make cakes but nothing like this. Jack is turning five but he's always been interested in extravagent cake making. I have no idea where that came from.
Chris sent me this link to show me cakes that others have made. I am once again surprised at what people think of, and how they do it. Here's an example:
Again – really?!!!! Jack requested my lemon cake with buttercream frosting which is not particularly moldable. Plus, I couldn't devote days to this. However, I kept calm and carried on.
I made one layer each at 9", 8" and 6" round. I made a foil-covered cardboard base with a back wall that is supposed to be the mountain. I got everlything out and ready. That included slicing each cake layer in half horizontally and spreading my home-made lemon curd inside. (That is a key ingredient that makes this cake taste so good.)
With the frosting made, I had to work fast because the frosting was not stiff. I used lots of toothpicks to hold various layers together. I managed to get the cake into the refrigerator without dropping it. The cold hardened the frosting and made it all more stable. I decided that the cake crumbs in the frosting were OK because it looked rougher, more rock-like. That blue bowl has extra frosting in case I need it.
After the frosting hardened I took the cake out of the refrigerator and used gray cake spray paint on it – yet another thing I didn't know existed until a few days ago. I thought I would use the sparkly sugar flakes too but they didn't show up and this cake does not need any more sugar. I made a pointy tower and various add-ons with crumpled foil…
It's official. I am really bad at this! I'm hoping that it's so bad it's good, but it may be too bad to ever be good. The cake itself should taste just fine (even though shiny gray cake looks pretty unappetizing).
Jack and Chris are going decorate it with Lego guys. I hope Jack will use his imagination and sort of see Minas Tirith. At the very least he'll know I tried and maybe that's the most important thing.
Piece O Cake Blog 
I think this was a very brave effort! It’s amazing what we will try to do for love!
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Made with love…….:-) but for us mere mortals it’s good to know there are some crafts you are not totally proficient in! ….Life was easier when they were happy with caterpillar cakes.
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I like that – a brave effort. :-).
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Just so you know – I cant arrange flowers either. I avoid centerpieces and other floral displays. Martha Stewart has nothing to fear from me unless it involves a needle and thread.
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Don’t you love being a grandparent? Its so hard to just say, “nope, ain’t gonna happen!” we always find a way….today i am making an owl costume for a 18 mo old. But when I showed her the hat this AM with the big eyes, she said “Owl”. Totally makes it worth it! And I bet Jack’s grin will too.
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Send me a slice! It sounds delicious. With the lights down low and lots of candles, who is to quibble over details.
I made a cheesecake that looked like a model of sliding tectonic plates…
Carole
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At the very least, every one will talk and REMEMBER how wonderful this cake tasted!!! I was going to invite myself – will bring prezzie – as I am within driving distance – but my mom taught me that you can’t invite yourself to others parties.
Can’t wait to tell my budding cake decorating daughter about gray spray paint for cakes…LOL.
Sweet.
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Jack did declare that it was awsome which made me very happy! And, yes, it was a really tasty cake. There were 10 of us and we managed to eat half the cake. The rest went home with them. I sort of hated to see it go but knew Id eat cake 3 times a day until it was gone and my pants didnt zip. Better that the kids have it :-).
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My son wanted a Tardis for his 7th birthday, as I wasn’t working at the time he got his wish.
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I made my friend’s 8 year old granddaughter a “Nancy Drew investigation bag”. That is all she wanted for her birthday and as a former Nancy Drew fan I couldn’t say no. Your grandson will always remember this cake.
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Now that sounds like a fun thing to put together! Too bad Elanor is not a Nancy Drew fan – at least not yet.
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You are a good Grandma. I would have laughed and called Safeway.
Elaine
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Um WOW! You worked incredibly hard on that cake and it looks way more fantastic than anything I could come up with! And that lemon curd sounds delicious…lemon cake is the only kind I ever ask for on my birthday 🙂
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