Simplicity

 First, you need a clean surface. Simple.

I read in my Better Homes and Gardens "New Cookbook" (p. 163) how to prepare cakes. 

Grease and flour pan. Simple.

Turn pan sideways and tap out extra flour. Simple.

Pretty, huh?

The beginnings of my yellow cake batter from scratch (pg. 164). Simple.

In case you didn't know what the flour mixture is supposed to look like.

Mix the cake batter with mixer. Simple.

Leave in for designated time and stick with toothpick. Simple

Cooking them in an oven that does not cook evenly. Disastrous.

Greasing a pan that is already non-stick. Disastrous.

P.S. I don't know why this hadn't crossed my mind earlier.... :P

Leaving the crumbled cakes to cool. Simple.

Preparing to decorate the cake. Simple. And Fun!

Mixing the icing. Simple. 

I used the Creamy White Frosting found on page 185.

Piping the bags to decorate your cake. Simple.

Having fun decorating. Simple.

 

All in all, I was actually proud of myself. I made a cake from scratch with homemade icing. My shapes may have not all been the same size or close enough to each other, but I still walked away thinking I would try again. By the way if you are wondering what I did with my other cake that isn't shown finished, I used it to practice piping evenly and close together. It wasn't anything too special. My neighbors said that it tasted like a cake from the store. Which, sometimes I wonder if that's a good thing (hehe), but I'll take it. :)

Following Posts will include:

If you will notice, my ghost isn't quite centered. So, I am going to research how to better do that.

The supplies I chose and why.

How to pipe the bags.

 How to cook cakes more evenly in a rented apartment that you can't fix the oven in.

And I'm sure eventually I will make a full post of all my learning-enriched mistakes to pass on to those who are starting.