| Graduation cakes were a great part of the | | | | baked a couple of cakes as a trial on a small scale to |
| celebrations when my sister and I graduated. Indeed | | | | ensure the cake had a nice taste. Then I baked the |
| my mother reminded me that she always baked a | | | | cake ready for the party. I frosted the cake with |
| cake for special occasions rather than buy one. She | | | | white frosting which did require two layers to hide |
| believed that making the cake herself was very | | | | the chocolate color. The hardest part was creating |
| rewarding. The cake provided a special moment | | | | the decorations. I drew a number of designs on |
| when everyone could gather and congratulate the | | | | paper before I was ready to decorate the cake. I |
| graduate. The speeches could be delivered after the | | | | wanted the decorations to reflect the graduation and |
| cake was cut. Also everyone could enjoy a piece of | | | | the graduate's personality. My son Jamie is pretty |
| cake. When I remembered how exciting it is to have | | | | quiet and very hard working. However he comes |
| a graduation cake I decided to make one. I was | | | | alive when he is on the ski slopes. I find it almost |
| concerned about my ability to make a cake but | | | | unbelievable how passionate he is about skiing. His |
| decided to try my best. The alternative of using a | | | | room, a spare room and the garage are filled with |
| cake mix was quite appealing. However I followed | | | | skiing equipment and pictures. I decided to decorate |
| my mother's advice and decided to bake a fresh | | | | the cake with an image of graduation, like a scroll, |
| cake. | | | | and images of skiing. I also added a message of |
| The first thing I did was some research on the | | | | congratulations. The message, written in gold frosting, |
| internet. I wanted to find graduation cakes with | | | | was "Congratulations Jamie" placed in the middle of |
| decorations that looked good to give me some | | | | the cake. In one corner I placed a small scroll, in |
| presentation ideas. I also wanted to find a recipe that | | | | another corner I placed a small pair of skis and lastly |
| I thought would taste good. There are lots of | | | | I placed a small pair of ski poles in a third corner. The |
| websites with great cakes. Some of those websites | | | | scroll, skis and ski poles were made with colored |
| have detailed instructions. After looking through many | | | | fondant. They were tricky to make and took some |
| cake recipes I decided to make a basic chocolate | | | | practice to perfect. The final touch was candles. |
| cake which is the graduate's favorite. I decided the | | | | When the cake was presented we turned out the |
| cake decorations would reflect both graduation and | | | | lights and cheered the graduate. He made a wish |
| the graduate. | | | | which I hope comes true. I made a short speech to |
| The cake recipe I used was a fairly standard one | | | | welcome our guests and congratulate Jamie. |
| that you can find in any decent family baking book. I | | | | I feel strongly that graduation cakes can add a |
| adjusted the recipe to take account of the number | | | | special touch to any graduation party. |
| of guests. The chocolate cake was easy to bake. I | | | | |