Not a Baker...

[AbbeyLove]

Ok guys, I need a favor. Im throwing my sister a bridal shower the weekend of september 13th and my cousin who is actually hosting the shower wants me to bake a cake. I know im an experienced chef but when it comes to having a steady hand and an eye for exact measurement; the necessities for succesful baking; I am seriously lacking
. I am looking for a recipe with technique tips included to make a beautiful, but simple cake to feed about 25 women. Id like to keep it light, too - maybe something involving angel food cake? Or fresh fruit? Let me know what you can offer me. Thanks!!!

[karuna]

hi , i bake my own cakes for occassions. i do it all the time, but still get nervous, each time i have to bake.i made a fresh fruit gatuex for my husbands bday. chk out the recipe here
http://myluvforfood.blogspot.com/2008/04/praline-and-fresh-fruit-ga...
hope this helps

[Mark Boxshus - "Boscoe The Cookie Doctor"]

I could recommend a few that include fruit, are simple and very attractive. They have been listed here under my blog. The Blueberry Comfort Cake is simple and pretty. For something that women particularly enjoy, my Geraldine is a favorite that incorporates cranberry, orange zest, strawberry glaze and almond icing. It's also very pretty. For something that is rich, decadent and only requires a small piece, try the Chocolate Idiot Cake. It's a crowd pleaser all the time.

[Kat Curlee]

Hi Abbey,
I am not an experienced chef, however, my grandmother made this FABULOUS springish angel food cake recipe that was absolutely wonderful. She used a box-mix of Angel Food cake. Add 1 teaspoon of almond extract, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and the required water. Mix as the box notes. Bake and then after the cake cools, divide the cake into 3 sections. Mix together 1 canister of Cool Whip, 1 package of instant vanilla pudding and 1 can of crushed pineapple. Lather the sections of the cake and keep layering cake, topping, cake, topping, cake, topping. Then top with strawberries, or any berries to make it vibrant.

It was always such a wonderful recipe and everyone LOVED it everytime she made it!

Let me know if you have any further questions!
Katherine Curlee
[e-mail]

[MaryBeth]

I just had a simple and fabulous cake over the holiday weekend. It was a store bought angel food cake split horizontally across the center. separate the two pieces and make a small trench in the bottom half. Use prepared vanilla pudding and mix in drained crushed pineapple, fill the trench with the pudding mixture and place the top section back on to the bottom section. Use cool whip as a frosting for the cake and then place blueberries all around the cake. It was very good and all of the ladies loved it because it was easy, yummy and light.

[Lori]

I have the Very Berry Pound Cake but you could substitute the pound cake for angel food.

http://mywoodenspoon.com/2008/08/24/very-berry-pound-cake/

[AbbeyLove]

You guys are incredible! Thank you so much for the speedy replies and delicious suggestions.

[chilicat]

Hey Abby, I have a WONDERFUL light cake recipe on my Weight Watchers Blog, Strawberry Swirl Cake ( http://paperalaarte.typepad.com/but_weight_i_can_eat_it/2008/04/sun... ) it is REALLY good and low in fat but high in flavor. In fact I use the frosting recipe for many regular recipes :)

[Kiriel]

I think that making a cake mix would be a bit of a disappointment for something as special as a bridal shower, and that Angel food cake might be a bit over challenging for someone without the baking gene (so to speak). Maybe my random fruit loaf would be good; it is a very forgiving recipe so if you don't measure perfectly it will still be delicious:

http://thepapillonpantry.blogspot.com/2007/11/random-fruit-loaf.html (note, my recipes are metric!)

You could make this in a ring tin instead of a loaf if you like: as a handy life hint I recommend to any newbie cake baker to use a ring tin, because it prevents tricky things like cakes sinking, or not cooking in the middle.

[Kiriel]

Another option might be a pineapple upside down cake: very pretty, quite easy and delicious!
I have a recipe at home, but I am not there at the moment, but with a short rummage I found the below recipe which looks pretty good:

http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000231pineapple_upside_down_c...

and Epicurious (always a useful site!) has a few different recipes, of which this one sounded particularly lush:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/PINEAPPLE-UPSIDE-DOWN-...

[Mrs.W]

Hi, AbbeyLove,

This probably isn't the kind of reply that you're looking for, but I have made one particular cake many times to rave reviews--and the recipe is on epicurious.com. It's a chocolate merlot cake, and it's a real hit with adults. I've used various red wines for the cake, I've accidentally used bread flour--and I always make it in a bundt pan and omit the wine jelly in the recipe. I've served it a number of ways, too. With a berry coulis, the center piled high with fresh berries, the center filled with unwrapped Lindt truffles (yum!), usually dusted with confectioners' sugar, and with a creme anglaise (worth the extra work). It's delicious no matter what you do.

[Jill McKeever]

Abbey, I completely agree with you.
Our GCC family ROCKS!

[MaryBeth]

When do we get to find out what king of a wonderful cake you decided to make for the party this weekend? I'm sure whatever you choose it will be wonderful and you will all have a great time.