I've mentioned before (a couple days ago) that I am pretty far from a 'domesticated wifey.' I wasn't joking. My mom came over recently and asked for an iron. I know where the iron is so I went and got it for her.... She asked, "Well, can I borrow your ironing board??" I instantly had the whole deer-in-the-headlights look. Ummm, ironing board? I thought I had one, but I hadn't used it in the 9 months we had been in our house. So needless to say, she laid a towel down on the carpet and ironed on that. [In my defense, I have a really fab steamer that I use for my work clothes. Or, I like the toss-it-in-the-dryer technique--When they aren't coming from the dry cleaners, of course.]
There is your background; that sets up your scene. Fast forward to my aunt's birthday. I told her I would get her anything she wanted for her birthday (open mouth, insert foot). She said all she wanted was a homemade strawberry cake. Hmmmm... guess that means I'll need to go to the grocery story for milk, and eggs, and a cake pan, and a spatula, and mixing bowls, and vanilla extract.. oh geeeeez-- what am I getting myself into?!
Well guess what [SPOILER ALERT:] I DID ITTTT!!!!!! I made a strawberry cake, COMPLETELY from scratch (online recipe, of course) and it only cost me about 5 hours and a $100 trip to Target. :) Yes, $100. I never realized how bakeware-challenged my kitchen was.
(The keen eye noticed that I got carried away and bought a cupcake pan.
I just never knew when I may want to make cupcakes in the future and wanted to feel prepared.)
So here it is, true-blue documentation that an old dog can learn new tricks. Twenty six years old, and I literally had NEVER baked anything from scratch myself before. Really haven't made just a whole lot from scratch before. [What is scratch, anyway?!]
Once before, I baked, and didn't think it was just real necessary to flour the pans.
I was wrong. This time it certainly helped!
Chopped up 6384637 strawberries. Even used a straw to take the centers out.
I learned that on Pinterest. (I'm telling you, I really did my homework for this! I did not want to disappoint.)
Trial-and-error taught me that you CANNOT fill a blender to the top with strawberries and expect them to blend perfectly like ice does for a margarita. Even if you keep trying to blend it faster, it doens't work.
As a matter of fact, you can overheat a blender. I learned that too....
Strawberries have to be done is small batches.
Homemade cake batter!
BEFORE
AFTER
Since it had taken me FOREVER, Mom and Dad arrived to pick me up before I was done. Photo op.
Now that they are cool, time to ice with my homemade cream cheese icing!
[While they were cooling, I ran upstairs and took a shower. I was running pretty behind schedule...]
Si Se Puede!!!
I'm glad my aunt challenged me to do this! It was pretty damn tasty, if I do say so myself! :)
NOTE: I found the ironing board. It was folded up against the wall next to the washer. Oops!
