As some of you are already aware, I was not able to put in an appearance at the bridal show on the 3rd because I traveled to Chicago to do a wedding cake.  This was not just any cake, but a very special cake for two terrific people-one of whom is my cousin.  You might not know that I have approximately 40 first cousins-which do not include step cousins, etc.  I will tell you right now I would not travel to Chicago for most of them.  Some I barely know.  THIS one is amazing. 

My cousin Erinn is an actress, as is her new husband…well, he’s an actor anyway.  They are very dynamic, charismatic, and have a deep love for the finer things in life.  When she asked me to come to Chicago to make her wedding cake I was thrilled, but worried at the same time.  I would have to bake several cakes in ovens I wasn’t familiar with, take all of my supplies (Lord HELP ME if I forgot any!!) and still attend the events leading up to the wedding.  Hmmmm….I graciously accepted.  After all, this is the cousin that I spent summers with when I was a preteen and teenager, this cousin taught me it was okay to tell people how I really felt, this cousin taught me how to sneak in hotel pools, what happens when you put dishsoap in the fountain at the town square, and how to be assertive with public transportation!!  It was an honor to make her cake. 

I had SO many other things going on in December with the 5/3 Bank open houses, numerous cookie and truffle orders, a very sweet second wedding for the mother of one of my beautiful summer brides, and YES, Christmas!  In my life’s chaos I put off my final decisions for Erinn’s cake until the week before.  I consulted two of my sweetest colleagues and friends in the cake world (thanks Kathy and Laura!) and decided I should travel with the cake.  

I baked all of the layers the night before I was to travel and wrapped them between exact size cardboards.  I placed them in a box with no room to move and any nook or cranny I filled with packing peanuts.  I labeled EVERYTHING with my name, business name, phone number and “CAREFUL-WEDDING CAKE!!” and then I said a prayer.  I placed that box inside my sturdiest luggage with more packing peanuts and more labels, crossed my fingers, rubbed a rabbit’s foot, and turned around three times backwards for luck. 

I arrived at the airport WAY earlier than I normally do, anticipating a strip search by TSA.  Alas, it did not happen.  They took my bags, assured me it would be fine and sent me on my way to the terminal.  As I sat waiting for the plane to arrive from it’s prior destination, I looked down to the ground.  Then I saw it.  My bag, carefully labeled with FRAGILE stickers by airport security, UNDER a GINORMOUS red bag.  I laughed and took pictures.  Seriously…what else could I do?!  I just hoped the box inside was stronger than the red bag smooshing it. 

I arrived in Chicago about 90 minutes later and could not wait to get my bags.  I rode another 45 minutes to my mother’s house before I could look in the bag.  WOW-perfection!  The cakes were gorgeous-not a crumb out of place.  I sighed, took all of the TSA stickers off everything, and placed them in the fridge. 

The cakes were vanilla bean with a french vanilla  Bavarian cream filling (I know that doesn’t sound right but it was sinfully delicious!), my favorite red velvet with a Swiss meringue and light cream cheese filling, and double chocolate with kahlua fudge filling all wrapped in the most delightfully silky Swiss meringue buttercream that you have ever eaten.  OH MY-it was incredibly good.  So good in fact, there was not a morsel that wasn’t eaten.  There were only 65 people at the wedding and the cake fed 76.  You do the math. 

When my cousin(s! Yeah, Ryan is now my cousin too!!) cut a tiny piece to feed one another, she literally said, “OH MY GOSH THIS IS SO GOOD!”  The caterer cut it beautifully-she was extremely professional and couldn’t resist a piece of her own.  She told me it was quite possibly the best cake ever and was upset that I live so far away.  Yippee-kudos again!  I know of a few people that had more than one piece (you know who you are!) and there wasn’t a plate that had more than a crumb on it.  

I only have my snapshots of the cake so far-can’t wait to get the professional ones, so forgive my pictures.  They still show the classy design and beautiful slices.  Hopefully it gets your mouth watering for your own!  All in all, I learned a lot from traveling with the cake and would do it again the same way in a heartbeat.  Until I make enough money for the cake to have its own seat on the plane like Colette does, I will pack it.  Destination weddings, here I come!!