Nod Over Coffee

The decorators at the Giant Eagle bakery department in my town are AWESOME, WONDERFUL and TRULY AMAZING.  We thought we would be going from bakery to bakery finding whatever would "do" for the occasion.  When they asked what we needed so many cakes for, we explained the problem.  And they said, "NO PROBLEM!  We can help you!"  As I speak, a dozen 8" round cakes are being made, decorated just the way we need them and ready to pick up by noon. WOW.  Also, we had an idea for the bridal cake that will look elegant.  We bought a beautiful silver and glass 3-tier cake stand.  To be put on the stand, we purchased a 6" shaved chocolate torte, an 8" chocolate very fancy fondant-iced cake (which had a red rose on the top, they are changing it out to blue), and a 12" very big, chocolate almond cheesecake.  Those will serve as the bridal cake and serve the head table.

The kids came up with a great way to get rid of the hideous cakes - they are going to call everyone to attention and tell them to look under their chairs.  If there is a candy cane under their seat, they must come before the head table.  When everyone is assembled, they will tell a brief version of the cake tale and "Life handed us some lemons, so we're handing out cake!"  Everyone candy-cane holder will get an ugly cake to take home. :)

They will keep the top layer of the ugly cake and freeze it for their anniversary (and look back at it and laugh, hopefully).  The rest of the cake we are going to donate to the local "free hot meals" place.  For some reason the name for it escapes me, probably because my brain is fried.  So "free hot meals place" was the best I could come up with.

We usually get birthday cakes at Giant Eagle.  The only reason we didn't order the cakes from them to begin with was that the decorators all leave at 2:30pm and my daughter works until 3pm.  We could never seem to coordinate getting there at the right times, even on the weekends, because we have had so many events going on.

I'm actually getting a moment to sip my decaf in peace.  Then it is off to pick up the bouquet and then for hair.  The guys are going to pick up the cakes and bring them to the church.  

It will be okay.  Disaster averted.  Bride and groom appeased.  Come Monday, we are writing a letter of appreciation to the bakery and giving it to the store manager.