Nolan's 5th Birthday

Although Nolan doesn't actually turn five until tomorrow, we celebrated last night at Mark & Shannon's.  For some bizarre reason, I thought it would be a great idea to bake Nolan a cake. 

Now, curiosity has led me down many paths.  When I see something, I often think, "Hey - I could do that!"  I think that is how I became a guitar player, singer and songwriter, a photographer, a sign language interpreter, a half-assed marathon runner, and a science major.  It's also the hey, I could do that curiosity that designed my websites, recorded CDs, decorated slum apartments, and exposed my hidden talent of touching my tongue to my nose.

So, naturally, while watching episodes of Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes, you know what I was thinking: I CAN DO THAT!  Nolan and I sat down with my laptop and did a Google image search of fun cupcakes based on a Toy Story theme.  He saw cupcakes that were made to look like the alien toys.  After Nolan went home, I kept looking at what else was out there for cake ideas - not just cupcakes. 

After searching for recipes for buttercream frosting and fondant, I made up my grocery list, grabbed Grandpa, and off we went to the store.

The List
3 Bags of Confectioner's Sugar
Clear vanilla extract
EGGS
Milk

Butter
Food Coloring

Variety of Candy Bars

Gloves
Excedrin (For Grandpa)
Bananas (For Grandpa)
Halls Cough Drops (For Grandpa)
Cake Mix (Yeah, I cheated!)

It was 4:53 PM on Friday night when I began the cake process.  Here is the recipe I followed for the fondant, but I do not recommend it:  Rolled Buttercream Fondant  It has GREAT reviews, but I used an extra pound of sugar to try and ease the grease, but it did not help at all.  Next time, I'll try either the marshmallow fondant or the one that calls for gelatin. 

I baked the cakes first using Betty Crocker's cake.  Thanks, Betty.  I used two mini bread loaf pans for the bed, and then two circle pans for the base.  While the cakes were baking I made the fondant.  Meanwhile, Grandpa wanted a fish fry.  He told me to just go to the IGA deli.  So, I took a break and went for his fish fry.  I came home and put his fish on a plate with his sides. 

As he was eating, Grandpa asked, "Did you get this from IGA?" 

"No," I said.  "I went to Culver's because I didn't want to go into the store!  I'm COVERED in powdered sugar!" 

And, it was right back to business!  In order for the fondant to stick to the cake, I read I was supposed to put a layer of frosting on the cake.  Here's the recipe I used for the frosting: Buttercream Frosting

The food coloring process was a challenge because it didn't want to soak in with all of the grease.  The best tip I found: WEAR GLOVES!  I bought a 30 pack of gloves specifically for cooking.  Had I not used them, I would have some bizarre looking hands for a while.

To reach the vibrant red color, I used an entire bottle of red food coloring.  

I found neon food coloring and mixed the neon blue with the regular blue coloring.

The bed is cake covered in fondant.  

The pillows are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups cut into squares and covered with white fondant.  

I did the same thing with the Etch-a-Sketch.

To make a headboard, I stacked Rolo's using toothpicks to hold them in place. 

The top is a Reese's candy bar.

All of the round balls around the cake are fondant, too!  I ate WAY TOO MANY of those.

The big green blobs are supposed to be the aliens.  They were the last things I put together and was running out of steam.  (That happens after spending 10 hours on a cake, I guess.)  Nothing fancy was done with those.  They are cupcakes that I made in a big muffin pan.  I just used the neon green food coloring in the buttercream frosting.

The finished product:

Here are some pictures of the party:

YEE-HAW!

"Lotso can't go on the bed because he's a bad guy!"

The sugar high has left the building!

And, the sugar high is back!

Five already.  Unbelievable!

Maddie!

Aunt Kathy!!

Uncle Lyle!

Shannon & Kiki

Nolan and Great-Grandpa Larry

And that's what Gunner thinks of this present!

No comment!

Jada!  So cute!!

Everyone wants to be a cowboy!

Has anyone seen my shoe??