I decided this weekend that I will not be making a cake for myself for my birthday this year. This is a break in a very long tradition. People have always freaked out that I make my own cake and my standard response is, "I know what I like."
But I am caked out.
I have made 22 cakes so far in 2010 and the last 3 have been carrot cake, which is by far the most labor intensive and costly. I have somehow convinced everyone I know that making cakes is my favorite thing in the world and it isn't. Baking a cake is a gesture of love, a gift to the celebrant, that I feel is being taken advantage of because I do not make myself say, "no." I like to think that people have no idea how much time and money these cakes cost me. I hope it isn't naive when I tell myself that they just really like my cake and they aren't thinking, hey, Angela will make a cake and that will save me $50!
That would mean they are making me pay the $50 they weren't willing to pay.
That would make me very sad.
I really enjoy making a tasty product and it feeds my ego like nothing else when people gush about how tender/tasty/decadent/etc. one of my cakes is. I come from a long line of women who say I love you by feeding and it is extraordinarily flattering to be sought out to bake for a special occasion.
But...
I am Caked Out.
