Recently, I have gotten a lot of orders from people who usually order from a lady who happens to be out of town this week. I got about 5 orders and this is what I have been asking for but now that I got it, its too much for me to handle. Right now its just me and my son because my husband is on deployment, so me making cakes seems to only happen at night while my son is sleep, but when he gets up, he's on full blast and I'm feeling sick because I got no sleep. And not to mention the problem with the cakes. Ever since I got these new orders, my cakes have not been coming out right. I use the cake mix extender and I leave my cakes in the oven for the right amount of time, but for some reason, the cakes are not being done. I'm using the flower nails and everything. Nothing seems to be working for me. Yesterday I made a 12 x 18 and the first time I made it, it wasn't done. I had to make it all over again. I'm wasting more of my supplies on MESS-USP than anything else. Lately, I have been making two cakes and only the second one comes out the way it is supposed to. What am I doing wrong? Even my small round cakes are coming out this way. Its starting to be frustrating to me. I remember seeing on here that somebody asked when will they have a week without doing 20 cakes. I can't even handle 6. Am I the only person who is going through this. Have any of you had bad periods of baking? But I am honestly thinking of giving up cake decorating. Please any advice would be helpful. Thanks for reading my long story!

ken, usually I either have to many or not enough cakes to do, it can be very frustrating at times. Are you testing for doneness?

I feel for you sweetie! I too have had a stretch of time where nothing was turning out right.
It can be stress related and the fact that you're tired.
It will all be OK.
I had one week where I forgot to add sugar to a cake - I discovered the error at 2 AM when it was finished! The same week, I had a wedding cake fall in my face (the day of the wedding) - I was taking 3 tiers (stacked) out from the fridge (hot day, buttercream icing) before preparing for delivery. I lost my balance and the top tier hit me in the face!
I lost my mind at that point. Nothing like a buttercream facial.

But these streaks of bad luck happen. They don't last. Get some rest and then just do one thing at a time.

Hey,bear with it and slow. We all have those days. One method I use to test for doneness because I do not like the toothpick deal is to gently press down on top of the cake if it springs back its done. You might want to consider calibrating your oven sounds like your temps are off some.

Aww hun, don't give up!! I think that we all go through periods where we feel like throwing in the towel. I have seen your cakes, and you do awesome work. Ya know, I seem to live by the rule that everything happens for a reason. I don't really have a lot of cake orders right now, but when I do I have to manage my time for my kids (3) and hubby. I got to feeling like the only time I got to decorate was at night. What I did was, if I know that I have a few orders, I bake my cakes, and if I have a time frame to work with, I split up my decorating. For an example...If I had an order due Fri.. well today is Tuesday, so I would squeeze in some time to go ahead and make any thing that could be made...flowers, decor, etc.... I would bake my cake on Wed. Go ahead and level it, crumb coat, etc. I would do my decorating on Thursday. I know this method is hard when you have many orders and a son that needs you as well. Maybe try putting yourself on a schedule. I have learned the hard way that the Lord does not put anything on us that we can't handle. Maybe just maybe, this is a testing of you patience....stick to it and don't give up!!! Just remember to take time for yourself. I mentioned the schedule thing, not to be rude...(hope I didn't sound that way)..I just mentioned it because from experience...If I can sit down and plan what I am going to do and when I am going to do it. Everytime I am running behind or putting more pressure on myself then needed...it seems like everything goes wrong...cakes not baking, icing to stiff/runny..etc. Good luck hun, and just keep your faith!!!

Big Big Hugs,
Beth

I check it with toothpicks and everything seems to be fine but thats until I flip it over on the cooling rack, and thats when I can tell that its not done. I bake the cakes at 325-350 degrees depending on size and I just feel like right now I don't have a CLUE about what I'm doing. I love making cakes and I LOVE decorating them. I feel like crying right now because I'm so frustrated. I also think its been like this since I've been substituting butter and milk for oil and water with the mixes. I think I might have to go back to oil and water. BUT I DON'T KNOW!

Ok, light the candles and sprinkle the Holy Water to dispell the VooDoo curse the out of town cake lady left behind..lol

If you're finding it hard to bake with your little boy around...

May I make a suggestion? Can you hire a baby sitter for a few hours? Someone that can come over and play with your boy to expell his excess energy..maybe even help you give him a bath or help you feed him.

At least until the other cake lady comes back to town...??!

I feel your pain, my son was ADHD, while I was trying to run my business..it was hard!

(big hugs)
DON'T GIVE UP!!!
Just take a deep breath and have a cup of tea. You're stressed out and it's completey understandable. Maybe you're trying to do too much. Five orders at once will get anyone's nerves frayed. I get a little burnt out every once in a while, too. I love decorating cakes, but it does seem more stressful and problematic when people are paying for them, doesn't it. frozen cake layer + giant bag of tater tots= equals me baking another 16-inch round layer at 11 p.m. It sucks the fun out of it, but at the same time, it's what we trained for. Dang paradoxes!!

Is there someone that can come over and watch your son for a couple of hours? Whether you're decorating cakes or just want to take a shower and a nap? Maybe there's a Mommy's Day Out program or a respite program for military wives near you?

Good luck.
goodcakefairy

He goes to daycare twice a week right now but I try my best to use that time to rest while he's not here instead of working. Thats one reason I do the cakes at night. And he's only at daycare for 3-4 hours when he's there. Thank you all for the encouragement. I really appreciate it.

are you sure that your oven is heating correctly? Use an oven thermometer to check the tempature. Be sure to preheat your oven too. We all have bad days. Just stick in there! You can do it! Consider taking a break for a week or two to catch up on sleep and try to get a little relaxtion in too. Good luck!

Well, I can certainly understand feeling the way you do at the moment--it will get better.
If I were in your shoes, I would try a couple of things before throwing in the pastry bag.

First, I'd bake a cake just for me and my son--but not until I had purchase an oven thermometer and spent every 5 minutes of baking time checking to see if my oven was holding the temp I'd set it for.

Second, and I'll get flamed for this and it's OK, I'd stop using the cake mix extender recipe and start using enough cake mixes to make the cake(s). Leftover mix can make cupcakes or small cakes that can be eaten by family/friends or frozen for future emergencies. I used the cake mix extender recipe ONCE and found myself with a lovely cake with a very soggy middle. It's still in the freezer awaiting resurrection! I use Duncan Hines mixes, follow the guide on the INSIDE of the box that is for use with Wilton pans, and I've NEVER had a single problem. I add a box of instant pudding, bake at 325, and love the texture of the cakes.

Don't be afraid to say "No, I'm sorry I can't do a cake for you this time, but please call me for your next occasion." Better to do 3 cakes well than 6 you're unhappy with!

All the Best,
Rae

well said blakescakes

First don't give up!
second, PRE HEAT!!,get an oven thermometer and when done ck with a toothpick or something before you revove from the oven. I believe outside temp can also make a difference.
finally, I have 2 kids. what I do is put in a movie bake the cake. then go hang out with them. When I have to ck it when it's done I just go and if they freak I say I am going to get a snack or say I am going potty It doen't take much time to bake it's the decorating that takes time.
Then Put the kids to bed and then go to town.
If your son IS awake with you a decorating give him something to play with and decorate. I had 12 cakes for a halloween function that I did this weekend instead of kicking my son out and going crazy I gave him a ball of fondant a rolling pin and cookie cutter's> He thought he was the coolest. He thouught he was actually making a cake. It was too cute.
GOod luck!!!
and GOD Bless your husband. Hopefully he will behome soon!
Michelle

I think we all have our bad baking moments. I too have recently had some cakes fall coming out of the oven. I live in TX and the humidity is sometimes what gets me, so I bake a little longer that usual on those days and check with the toothpick and well as checking to see if tops spring back when lightly touched. Hang in there, you'll find your way back into the groove. I have an 8 & 5 y/o with me all the time when I bake, sometimes its my only sanity to just keep baking.

I've recently given up doing cakes for a busines because I was spending way too much time in the kitchen and not enough time with my kids...It was way too stressful for me and I didn't like the way I felt.. I always had something to do for a cake. My kids are only going to be little for a short time and I don't want to miss out becuase I was doing cakes.. I figured I could go back to it once they were older and less dependent on me. It was a tough decision, but I'm much happier and less stressed... I have one more wedding cake and I'll be done!! I'll still be doing cakes for my family and friends.

Thank you all SO MUCH for your comments. My son is 19 months and what I do when I'm mixing icing and things like that, i do give him one of my little bendable spatulas and a bowl and he pretends to be cooking. He has me taste it and everything. He's not the problem. Its finding time for him and not feeling like I'm neglecting him for a cake. I have a oven thermometer so I don't know if thats the problem. But maybe I do need to go back to STRICKLY mixes until I'm good enough to make cakes from scratch. But I will definitely consider ALL of your COMMENTS. THANK YOU FRIENDS!

Look we all get to the end of our ropes at times...we should all confess....I cannot imagine the stress NOT getting to all of us at one time or another....

Here's mine...I had decorated a 6" layer...had my offset under the cake board getting ready to lift it up...I looked away for one second and the spatula slipped up into the layer and I ended up flipping half the cake into the air. It was on the ceiling..the cabinets you name it.

The DH walked into the kitchen and found me crying with cake dropping off the ceiling onto the floor.

Re group...take a deep breath and keep on truckin....

Your son is still little, and at that age they change every day. I know you'll do what's right for you!

One other thing, if you bake your cakes at the peak times during the day when people will be making their even meals etc., you will not be getting consistent electricity, if your oven is electric. So this may be a factor. I try not to bake between 5-7:30 Pm or brunch times on a weekend etc.
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

I say to you don't give up use an oven thermometer and when you open and close the oven door be sure not to slam it or close it hard it irregulates your oven throws the temp. off.
About trying other things to your cake try it days before just to make sure it will turn out fine.
I was reading a post about adding coffee creamer and so much responded that it turned out great but for me 2 sank in the middle even used the heating strip no good like a member said just add extra pudding mix. GOOD LUCK

Just a thought, but if your son is jumping around in the kitchen, or you're walking with hard footsteps, it can throw the oven off. I don't know if that's the case or not, but maybe..I have a 2 year old and a 9 month old that can walk and they both wind up jumping on the floor, sometimes leading to a sunken cake.
I also agree that you shouldn't bake between 530-7pm. I live on a military base and have noticed that when I cook dinner at the same time as eeryone else (around 6) my dishes take approx. 4 minutes longer than normal!
I have the 2 little ones, so I can give you some suggestions as far as entertainment. I remember that age all too well, and am fast approaching on it again! For my 2 year old, I give her a cookbook, some spoons and a mixing bowl, and ask her questions about what she's making and such. I even bought a play kitchen! That was the best investment of my LIFE! Both the girls play with it while I'm baking too! I also have set-aside time for each of my girls, including the baby, to play by themselves in their rooms. I prefer for them to use their imagination rather than watching TV, (I do let my 2 yo watch tv, however) and they've become accustomed to it. They're rooms are safety proof completely, and it's truely been a blessing for me!
I also can relate with the deployment thing. My DH is ADAF and it's tough to try to get this stuff done when they're gone!! Hang in there!

PM me if ya want any other activity suggestions!!

Robyn

Please don't give up. My personal opinion is, since you're feeling a bit over whelmed, just use box cake mixes, follow the recipe on the box for this week, and experiement when you just have one cake to do. I hope you feel better soon.

Denise

I only use Duncan Hines cake mix, I check doneness in the center with toothpick. I normally try to decorate at night when my babies are sleeping too. Ocassionally when my hubby doesn't have an evening class, then he entertains the children for me. I give them mommy time throughout the day and the evening hours are tv time and time for mommy to do her work so that she doesn't have to leave home to work again. It works for me, of course I have my off days when nothing goes as scheduled, I'm all rushed and the kids just won't leave me alone long enought to wipe my bottom, let alone the thought of letting mommy have enough time to decorate a cake. But those are all moments that I'll cherish when they get older. I usually try to ask for their suggestions on things that aren't crutial to the cake and let them feel like they are really helping me out by throwing away my egg shells and getting the butter out of the fridge for me. Pray hard and go where your heart leads you in this.

I also agree to the suggestion don't be afraid to say no. Limit yourself to say 3 cakes a week. If anyone tries to book up after that amount , apologise but tell them you 're already fully booked for that week. you're sure they'll understand that you can't afford to produce inferior work by rushing to do extra. You'll be pleased to help next time if they can book a bit earlier. A lot of brides ect. realise if they want a good cake they have to book well in advance as the best decorators do get booked up early

Ken,

I empathize with you completely! I had to take time off with my husband's last deployment because I felt like a horrible Mom to my three kids. I turned down & referred out several good clients by telling them that I was on holiday with the munchkins. After two weeks...we were getting on each others nerves. lol Here is what we decided to do together.

I bought a few baseball caps that are strictly for the kitchen (silly kids refuse to wear hairnets ;o) )& we bought aprons & painted the kids favorite things on them. I would pop cakes in the oven while I was making meals or when they would nap, & then that way I was mutli-tasking. The kids would help with icings, cookies, and simple things like that. I always make large batches of icing on Sundays for the entire week. Even if I don't have an order, I will probably have one by the end of the week. While I am letting crumb coats set up or cakes cool etc. me & the kids would play a game or with toys, whatever they decided. This way I got out of the kitchen & they felt like Mommy was still alive! lol

Definitely take the short time when your son is at daycare to rest or clean. Just relax. One thing I have found is that I hate the toothpick test. I use a meat thermometer (never used on meat & $3 at walmart) to test my cakes. I can test all the way through to the bottom & it doesn't hurt anything. I have had very few come out not done since I use this. Except fo rmy pesking carrot cakes. hehe

Feel free to PM me anytime. Deployments are rough enough without stressing over too many cake orders or if you have them perfect.

BellaRosa

Thank you BellaRosa,

That is a good idea to make icing on sunday. That was a big problem this week. Most of the orders were last minute orders and for some reason I just didn't turn down any of them. But I learned my lesson. I had to make icing for lets say a 12 x 18 for tuesday and that day, I got a call for a 11 x 15 cake the next day. That was driving me crazy. But I'm doing a lot better now. I'm taking it one cake at a time. I was too busy worrying about all the cakes for the week. I've made 3 cakes since I wrote in to you all about me wanting to give up, and those have turned out perfect. The only thing that I'm having a problem with now are hard corners on my sheet cakes. For some reason I can't get them the way they are supposed to be. But I really do appreciate all the comments. Thank you to ALL OF MY FRIENDS!