I know that compared to most of the disasters listed here this isn't really up there with the worst. But, you know when you've just had one of those days.....
I'm very new to the cake world. And for that matter to using my electric oven. Never really baked in this new apartment before. Our last place had a gas stove (LOVED it). Tomorrow's my last class for wilton II so I need a cake for the basketweave. I was also supossed to make our secretary's birthday cake for tomorrow, but I fell ill yesterday and did not want to risk contaminating the cake, not to mention I felt like . Anyway, I decide after having a lot of success with the box mixes for class, practice and my DSIL's shower that it was time to expand my horizons. Well...tonight was not the night to do it. Should have listened to my 2 star day horiscope.
I decided to try the raspberry white chocolate cake. I made too much batter, but not to worry I only filled up the pans half way and used the rest for cupcakes. While they're baking I notice that the cupcakes had started to overflow, but that the drips dried up and didn't fall off. But the other cakes looked fine and they had stopped rising. So I'm not too worried. As I'm about to take out the cupcakes I notice that one of my cakes started to over flow too. Our stove doesn't vent to the outside and we have a loft style duplex where my 3 year old's room is partly open to the kitchen/living space. So I rush and wake up my DH who's fast asleep to start waving at the very sensitive fire alarm that is RIGHT OVER my stove. (I know you're thinking, why not just disconnect it temporarily-well, its a brand new building and everything is wired up electrically and there's no way to disconnect it-and when it goes off ALL of the alarms in the appartment go off even on the second level-its really a fun experience since it freaks out the kid and the dog).
So, I KNOW the minute the stove opens smoke will come out, set off the alarm and wake my son and get the dog going bezerk. Hardly any smoke is coming out so all is not lost...UNTIL both cakes start over flowing at very fast rate. Thinking that like the cupcakes the overflowing sides will slow as they start to cook but I'm wrong. Very very wrong. Now, not really knowing how deal with my electric stove, the bottom and coils are now covered with burning cake. Smoke is pouring out of all openings, my husband is frantically waving at the alarm, I'm opening the door to the hallway (my neighbors must love me filling up the building with burning cake at 11:30 at night) and the only 2 windows in the room. I give up and drag out the whole rack because I cant touch the sides of the hot cake batter or it will go through my old pot holders. My eyes are stinging, my cake is not finished, my oven is covered in soot and burnt cake and my apartment will have a lovely charred smell for the next week or so. NOT to mention that I have no cake for class tomorrow, am afraid to attempt to make bc at the rate my night is going (plus its midnight already). I work full time and rush myself and the kid home just in time to rush to class so I have no time for prep before class and maybe barely time to stop at the supermarket to find something that I can at least attempt the basketweave on. Then I thought, well maybe I can make up this class next month, but then I remembered that there will be no II class next month. *sigh* I really want to cry but am just too tired and defeated to find the energy. WHY oh WHY did I decide to try something new when everything was just fine and dandy with my boring ol' mixes????
Sorry for the long drawn out story but my DH, annoyed at being woken up, doesnt quite get it and is now fast asleep again.
Does anyone have a suggestion about how to cover up the bottom of my stove and the coils? I know that there are mats out there, but the way the coils are attached to the bottom I don't think they'll fit. Plus it won't protect the coils. And they get so hot I'm afraid anything I put on them will melt.
Thanks for sticking with me to the end!
JoAnnB Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 09, 2005
Posts: 7427
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posted:
Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:21 pm
If you are planning for the future, first, get an oven thermometer. There could be temperature problems. then, just use some foil under the pans. use a piece folded with the DULL side out, and not too much bigger than the cake pan.
as for the class, can you a styrofoam dummy? You could also just ice a small box (covered with some plastic wrap to keep it from getting soggy)
You don't really have to have a cake to practice the basket weave.
jen411 Junior Member
Joined: Jun 27, 2007
Posts: 24
Posted:
Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:45 pm
Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately, I have an oven thermometer that has seemed ok (until now). And all my other cakes rose up over the rim of the pans without overflowing out of them. I will definitely use the foil in the future! Just never imagined that it could happen.
What's the importance of having the dull side of the foil out? And by out I assume you mean in contact with the pan facing upwards?
indydebi Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 15573
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posted:
Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:45 pm
As terrible as this was for you, I am SO sorry to say that I was smiling while reading it .... it sounded just like a lot of sit-coms that I've seen! Smoke pouring out of the oven while a guy is 'waving' at the smoke detector and you pulling out the whole rack trying not to burn your hands! It's not funny and I apologize ....
I have a sensitive smoke detector, too. Throw a wet dish towel over it. Whenever I fry bacon or hamburgers, I have to do this. My older kids come over, pull the towel off of the detector and say, "Hamburgers for dinner last night, mom?" I'm forever spouting my wish for a smoke detector that can tell the difference between breakfast cooking and a real fire!
ceshell Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 05, 2006
Posts: 1835
Location: Sunny Southern California
Birthday: May 01
Posted:
Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:46 pm
Well I have no good advice (except to second JoAnnB's suggestion about just putting some tinfoil under your pans to catch future overflows) but just wanted to say UGH what a nightmare! Sorry you had to go through that! Any cake disaster sucks, but a cake disaster at 11:30 at night is really a drag.
Try a dummy - love Joann's box idea! - to give yourself a break, and hang in there!!
JoAnnB Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 09, 2005
Posts: 7427
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posted:
Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:51 pm
Jen411, the dull side would be less reflective and less likely to impact the baking temperature. Probably not a big deal, but it might be good to avoid anything else that will 'upset' your cake.
by the way, if you try to use a box or dummy be sure to fasten it securely to a board so it doesn't slide around while you work.
good luck.
kpcrash Regular Member
Joined: Jun 13, 2007
Posts: 170
Location: Beautiful Bealeton Virginia
Birthday: Dec 05
Posted:
Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:17 pm
Smoke detector? I thought that was the dinner bell
Sorry for your situation, it happens to all of us - sometimes a little humor helps.
cvigil Junior Member
Joined: Aug 12, 2007
Posts: 85
Posted:
Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:57 am
I just finished course 2 also. How about a 2 layered rice crispie treat?
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but am just too tired and defeated to find the energy. WHY oh WHY did I decide to try something new when everything was just fine and dandy with my boring ol' mixes????
