| The party's just hours a way. You have all the | | | | a risk. |
| decorations up. The seating is all arranged. You have | | | | Same rule applies here. You may just want to go |
| the games all figured out. And your best friend has | | | | with an iced filling, since not everyone likes fruit, |
| just showed up with a big bouquet of birthday | | | | lemon, Bavarian cream or rum flavorings. |
| balloons. | | | | Now here's an important choice. There's the |
| As the guests arrive, they marvel at the work you | | | | traditional shortening or lard based frostings - those |
| went through. They all have a great time and wait | | | | are the ultra sweet frostings that most |
| anxiously as you blow the candles out on the cake. | | | | supermarkets serve up. You can also go for a |
| As the last strains of "Happy Birthday to You" come | | | | whipped cream frosting... less sweet but you need to |
| to an end, you blow them all out in a single shot and | | | | make sure the leftovers are refrigerated. And if you |
| it's time to cut the cake. | | | | want an artistic cake, there's always marzipan. Go |
| And then it happens. As each guest gets a slice of | | | | with your favorite here - everyone else can just live |
| cake, their faces begin to contort into a variety of | | | | with it. |
| shapes. They put their fork down and move onto | | | | If you have a lot of guests, sheet cakes are the |
| the ice cream. And you know by their expressions | | | | way to go. You can go with a multi-tiered cake as |
| what is wrong. It's "The Great Cake Mistake." | | | | well, but they cost a bit more. If you're on a budget, |
| While you may be excited about the presents and | | | | go to a warehouse club (if you're a member). They |
| good times with friends, guests at a party look | | | | have great cakes for a lot less dough.If you're doing |
| forward to really good cake. And if you don't deliver, | | | | a theme party, get the cake themed as well. Most |
| your birthday will be one of those they talk about | | | | supermarkets offer themed cakes these days and |
| for years to come at other parties: "Remember | | | | many will at least add a photo to the birthday cake |
| so-and-so's party?" "Oh yeah, the one with that | | | | using scanner technology. |
| absolutely horrible cake. Who could forget?" | | | | Theme. |
| Here are a few tips to make sure your birthday cake | | | | Quantity? More is better. If the cake is a great cake, |
| is the talk of the town: | | | | you'll want to have it on your birthday and for |
| This is not the time to become self-indulgent. If you | | | | several days later. After all, you only get a birthday |
| love banana cake with pineapple filling, get it some | | | | once a year, so enjoy it! |
| other time. Cake should not be too exotic - and | | | | Shape. |
| there's always a chance you'll hit upon someone's | | | | Icing. |
| food allergies if you stray too far from vanilla, | | | | Filling. |
| chocolate, marble or yellow. Even carrot cake can be | | | | Flavor. |