Christmas Cake 2012

What's a particularly important holiday for you?

For some of my Indian friends, it's beautiful Diwali, the Festival of Lights.  For others, it's Ramadan or Rosh Hashanah or a day of national and cultural importance, like Chuseok for us Koreans or the Chinese New Year or the Fourth of July for the good ol' U.S. of A.

I consider Easter my favorite, but Christmas comes a close second. Although lately I've been disappointed by how Christmas is characterized these days by the words that accompany it, like "present" or "tree" or "dinner" or "sale." Christmas is about Christ. That shouldn't be jeopardized by any parade or a giant sale at Macy's.

So, as special of an occasion this was, I wanted to bake a cake to match it.

I tried my hand at a two-tiered cake for the first time. I was being impulsive and stubborn and overly ambitious and waaaaay in over my head. AND I didn't give myself enough time to practice and study beforehand. Typical, stupid me. 

Long story short, my cake turned out barely all right, but I learned the hard way that cake projects should not be underestimated. For example, you don't mess with the top layer after it's been set and secured. You just don't, because it will make the cake lopsided. Also, planning means sitting your butt down and drawing the dang thing out and figuring out batter amounts, frosting type, jam, etc. Not going with it. Not for Christmas, nuh-uh.

Thank God the cake tasted delicious, otherwise I would've been devastated.

I don't want to read "That looks fine to me" comments here. I'm too embarrassed to post a side pic of Jesus's birthday cake this year. Please let's agree to trust me on this one.

Many apologies for the lack of detailed picture-by-picture instructions on how to make Swiss meringue buttercream and how to stack a two-tiered cake. I promise next year's cake will be wonderful. I also guarantee you many more cake projects in 2013.

Despite everything, though, it's a great day. Jesus, I'm glad you came to us. I'm flawed in small and big ways, yet you remain as perfect as ever.

Merry, merry Christmas indeed.