Big, Fat, Greek Cake

Not many people can say they have been married to the same person for 50 years.  But if they have, congratulations!  I know my parents would have been married that long, but my mom passed shortly after their 25 wedding anniversary.  My dad is married again to a wonderful lady and says he's going for the next 25 years.  I hope so!  What a great life and a blessed man to "marry up" twice in a lifetime.  Not that my dad isn't a great catch...... but those of you who know him, know he's gotten very lucky in the woman department!

 Anyway, I was hired to "gift" a cake to a family in town that has been married for 50 years.  The cake turned out great and is very pretty, but was a bit much for the recipient and his wife.  I am not sure if most of it ended up in a dumpster on Walnut Street somewhere, but I hope they were able to share some of it with someone. 

I did learn a very important lesson while making this cake.  No matter how much time you put into the cake, or how important, rich or well-known that person is.....it's just a cake, right?  One cake isn't any more important than another.  The words to teach me this lesson came out of the mouth of babes.

After a stressful day and a confusing delivery of the big, fat, Greek cake, I was questioning my desire to be a cake designer.  I love to bake. I love testing new recipes.  I enjoy knowing some people hold the opinion, if Tammy made it, it's probably pretty good.  I like bringing joy and "special-ness" to the occasion even if I am not always there to see it.  But with the joy comes alot of work, fear, calories, and some sleepless nights......maybe I should just go back to teaching?  The career I have always wanted to do the most the least.  (My own saying from college after choosing teaching as a major.)

My son Jacob's birthday party was the same weekend of the Greek cake.  He kept asking me if I was going to work on the Captain Rex cake.  When are you getting to Captain Rex?  I assured him I would, but told him I was nervous if I'd be able to carve it correctly and make it look right.  Well, late Friday afternoon, Captain Rex was finished.  I completed him minutes before Jacob walked in the door from school. 

He walked in and saw the cake.  With a wide-eyed expression and a completely sincere heart, he said, "Ahhh, I knew you could do it!"  From his heart to my heart, it was confirmed.... I was doing the right thing!

The Captain Rex birthday cake wasn't just a cake to him. 

The most important cakes are for my very own family!