I was scheduled to make a cake for one of my friend's stepson's this weekend, she pays me and LOVES my cakes. Well, as luck would have it, I got sick yesterday with strep throat. I don't dare bake or cook for anyone. I feel so bad! She e-mailed me and told me to get better, but she mentioned that they didn't have a cake OR a present now 
. I don't know if I should have my talented 9 year old attempt to make the cake or if I should just let it go. I'm still very ill and I don't dare go in the kitchen. What do you guys think?
Well I would just let yourself rest and get better. I am sure they will understand. They can run by the store and buy and cake and a gift in a jiffy.
I wouldn't worry about it, being sick is horrible and also feeling guilty doesn't make you feel any better Most people just react right away and of course she is disappointed but if she's your friend of course she will understand. And yes lots of cakes you can buy at the store in a minute 
Take care, hope you will feel better soon!!
Lara
Strep throat, esp this time of year, actually isn't terribly contagious especially if you, like Doug said, wear a face mask and wash your hands alot. I highly doubt you could pass it on. Its even common for one kid to get it in a family and nobody else to get it.
I think the biggest question is are you feeling UP to making the cake? If not, then rest! If you think you can, just take precautions and go ahead and make it. I know if I had a customer depending on it (especially as mine pay ahead) I would probably just take all the precautions and go ahead the best I could.
Depending on how badly you feel (physically) you can do what Doug suggested or you can rest and recuperate. But then again, it's always easy to pop into a bakery and get a regular birthday cake and gifts are not too difficult. It's even acceptable to do an IOU.
Go by how you feel. And get better soon.
Things happen!! Personally if I were you I would not make the cake. Strep throat is nothing to take lightly. Maybe there will be another special event that the step son may have that you could make a cake for. I.e. swim competition, scouts, etc. Just a thought.
If you're feeling alright enough to get the job done, wear a face mask and go in the kitchen and sanitize everything! Wash your hands and arms like a doctor would and wear gloves.... make sure you wash down again before you return to the kitchen to remove from oven because once baked if a germ gets there ya can't get rid of it lol if the germs get in before baking, baking will kill them off
I know how you feel about disappointing your friends and I too would do anything to make sure it didn't happen.... but if you aren't feeling up to it and don't think you can get it done the way you want it done... then don't do it... but it's Friday and if you can't wait... and feel up to it... I'd go ahead and clean up and sanitize everything and get to work
My question is why don't they have a present??? Unless the cake was the present???? Anyway, I have had strep throat recently, and the last thing I wanted to do was bake and decorate a cake... take care of yourself & make him an "unbirthday" cake when you feel better!
I agree with JoMarie, don't take strep lightly. Strep is one of those illnesses where you can feel fine one minute and then slam, it will knock you flat on your back! When I was in college I was diagnosed with strep on a Friday morning. That afternoon I was feeling fine and drove to a friend's for the weekend (2 hour drive). I remember the drive and about the first half hour of the visit, and that's it! My friend said I was basically out of it the whole time. I don't even remember the drive back to school!
Anyway, it's more important for you to rest and be healthy. Her stepson will not be scarred for life and she has time to get a gift and cake for him. Chalk it up to a business decision to refrain from food prep while you are ill.
Kathi
Strep was the favorite disease of one of my kids .... doctor always said once you're on the medication 24 hours, then you are no longer contageous.
But I agree ..... it's crappy to try to work when you feel crappy. If they can't understand that you're sick, they are inconsiderate people.
It's funny how I don't remember having strep as a kid, but I had it about six years ago and then again four years ago and it was horrible. But once I was on the antibiotic for a day, I was back to normal. So as bad as it was when I came down with it and then went to the doctor's, it was "all better" after a day on meds.
Yes I forgot to mention that part about the meds.. whenever my daughter got strep during school, I'd take her to the doctor, he'd send us home with a prescription and say she could go to school the next day. So go get yourself some meds and feel better 
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