Not a single day goes by in Casa de Cooker where we don't hear something from the Big Sister about her birthday party. It's a source of consternation for me. She brings it up at the most inconvenient moment and hope to discuss her plans in minutiae. It makes me weak and the bloody event isn't until July.
This year's theme was declared early - before we'd actually celebrated her birthday last year. Dust off your diamantés, kids. This year is princess themed!
We all have allocated roles. The Big Sister is - of course - the Princess. I'm the Queen. My nephew has scored the role of Knight. (Bear) hands-down Daddy has scored the role of a lifetime - he'll be coming as the Dirty Weasel. I'm not exactly sure what the role entails. Luckily he has four long months in which the Big Sister can coach him in the ways of weasel.
One thing is certain though. The cake selection has been made. It was a decision that required utmost consideration. In fact, she considered the cover right off our copy of the Australian Women's Weekly Birthday Cake book. This year JC and I will be constructing the castle cake - complete with upside-down ice cream cone turrets and liquorice all-sorts flags.
I understand the allure that this cake presents to a (still four months off) five year old girl. I suspect that at one point, I too considered the cover off Mum's copy of the AWW birthday cake book.
I was greatly relieved when I spotted a reprint run a few years back - I love this book. I love the absence of fondant icing and lack of Persian fairy floss. I love that there's a slim chance that a Mum in a domestic kitchen can turn out something that remotely resembles the picture in the book. It's achievable. I also love that there are cakes in there that kids of today probably wouldn't recognise (there's no sewing machine in Casa de Cooker). I do not love the scary witch - even after all these years, that freaky fiend gives me the heebie jeebies.
Last week I received a email from AWW Editorial Coordinator Rosie Fittler. She brings great news - she's currently compiling an iPad version of the birthday cake book. I wrote about my fondness for the iconic Train Cake not long after I started this blog, so she wrote to me in the hope that my lovely readers would help her out. She's hoping to include pictures of people with the famous AWW cakes as a feature of the new digital version.
Would you like be part? Dig out your photos of you with your birthday cake (or a cake you've made from the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book) and email them to Rosie - the link to her email address is here. Please include your name, a contact number, the name of the person in the photo (if not you), your age and the year the photo was taken. Run don't walk though - she needs these pics by Saturday 23rd March.
did your Mum ever make you a cake from the AWW birthday cake book?
have your kids considered the cover off your copy?
any tips for surviving a party overseen by a five-year old princess tyrant who wields a mean sceptre?
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I love the birthday cake book and I was a little bit chuffed when Rosie wrote and asked for my help.
I'm sure my readers will be rapt with the opportunity too. x
K@DragonflyMumma says
I can't remember if I ever had a AWW cake probably did will have to have a look through my Mum's copy I'd forgotten all about the birthday book (I know how could I? lol) Good luck with the birthday party planning with the little Princess 🙂
K
#IBOT
cookerandalooker says
Thanks K! I think I'll need it!
Lisa Barton-Collins says
All my children and lots of adults have loved the cover off my copy! The scary witch is my favourite.
xx
cookerandalooker says
You're a braver woman than me Lisa - it's her eyes I don't like!
Bossymummy says
I remember drooling over this book for months before my birthday. I scored the piano one year, and the swimming pool another. My brother got the train - which he worked out was best for cake to lolly ratio 🙂 I have mums copy and the newer one - cant wait to make little mister whatever his heart desires from there 🙂
Hello from #teamIBOT
cookerandalooker says
Lolly to cake ratio - I had completely forgotten this important equation! Thanks for reminding me. You've made be laugh! 🙂
Karen says
My brothers and I had so many cakes from that book!! I recently did a post about it after I went to see a comedy show: Josh Earl vs the AWW birthday cake book, hilarious, and so many great memories!! Good luck with the castle cake!!
cookerandalooker says
Thanks Karen. I actually wrote my train cake post after seeing Josh Earl's song about it too. I'm off to read your post now. x
Annaleis from Teapots and Tractors says
We take such great pictures of our cakes now that Mum didn't when we were kids. I bit sad that you can hardly see all Mum's work in the pictures!
cookerandalooker says
We're so lucky with digital photography aren't we Annaleis?
Annaleis from Teapots and Tractors says
We are. Now I would take 100's of photos for one birthday!
Thanks for linking up,
Annaleis - Blogs and PR Team Member
Seana Smith (@Seana_Smith) says
Hi there, we didn't have that book as kids but my sisters and I really LOVE the copies of the cookery books my Mum taught us to bake from as kids. She gave us all copies of this little book from the 1960's, a piece of childhood on every page.
cookerandalooker says
Food is such a big memory trigger Seana. The other day the smell of sweet potato boiled in salted water transported me right back to my grandparents' kitchen.
Becky from BeckyandJames.com says
Love that book and I know there are pics of my brother and myself with our AWW cakes. I have sent her your link, hopefully she knows where they are!
cookerandalooker says
My Mum is trying to dig one up too Becky. Fingers crossed!
always josefa (@always_josefa) says
what a fabulous idea! I've shared this on my FB, so hopefully lots of people can get involved! I think my mum still has a batter stained version in her kitchen xx
cookerandalooker says
Thank you!
redlandcitygirl says
Ooo I'll have to dig out a photo of the pirate cake I made for my son's 5th birthday back in 1999, it was AWESOME! 🙂
redlandcitygirl says
Done! That was fun 🙂
cookerandalooker says
Great! Thanks Janet!
Monique (@YrCheekyMonkey) says
Yes my Mum sure had this book.... and I just bit the bullet and bought it to make a cake for my daughters 1st birthday. I wish I had bought it earlier for my boys because some of the cakes in it are quite easy. However having said that I come under the category 'nailed it' for my cakes so I won't be emailing any photos through!! Cheers Monique #TUST Blogs & PR
cookerandalooker says
That's one of the things I love about the AWW books Monique - they're (for the most part) achievable.
Mez (Listen Sookie) says
As a child this was my favourite book, along with Meg and Mog! I scoured the pages daily, in the end it wore out! I remember my sister was given the Piano one year, boy was I jealous. At my Baby Shower, I was given my very own copy and I have to say, I've enjoyed more than a few naptimes flicking through it with a cuppa!
Happy to have discovered your blog through FYBF. Mez x
One of My Own says
My mum would give me the AWW birthday cake book every year and say "pick a cake". I had so many of them for birthdays growing up and loved them.
For my daughter's first birthday I made her the bunny rabbit...but I cant find the photo!
cookerandalooker says
That's exactly what my Mum did. I remember always wanting the jelly-filled pool, but I can't remember if I ever chose it.
Enid Bite'Em says
Ooooh, I had so many - I'll have to go and dig up those photos now 🙂
cookerandalooker says
Fabulous Enid! I think the world should see the kind of birthday cakes that inspire a child to being a roller-derby playing blogger!
PS. Do you 'play' roller derby? What's the verb? (I'm a nube!)
Rhonda - Silly Mummy says
I grew up in a tiny island nation where magazines were novelties flown in from countries like Aus when I was that age.
But everyone in my family (aunts and uncles included) were awesome bakers and would try and out-do each other whenever they baked. But no one was as good with fruit cakes as my Nan on my dad's side. I have not tasted anything like it since. She took her recipe to her grave. RIP my Nan.
My other Nan made the best pork and peas pie but she only made it for my uncle's birthday as a tradition. He's her only son and has 8 daughters, so I suppose she tried to make him feel special, haha.
Visiting through Blogs and PR.
cookerandalooker says
I'd entirely forgotten Meg and Mog! Glad to have discovered you too Mez - you had me laughing with Julia Robert's legs!
pip lincolne says
And a very awesome cake it is! 🙂 What could be better than an AWW cake?!