Hatrack River Forum: Napoleon Dynamite/Baking Help (mayfly)

This is topic Napoleon Dynamite/Baking Help (mayfly) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

woohoo! My first ever mayfly! Another step in shedding the title of 'newbie'. Anyways, down to busines.

Some of you who read my angst thread my be aware of my plan to ask a girl to a Valentines Banquet Napoleon Dynamite style: Building a cake. I need help on two or three areas.

One: What exactly does the cake say in the movie? Its been a while since I've seen it and I don't have a copy.

Secondly: Should I put that or should I put something else (such as "Roses are red, violets are blue, To the Valentines Banquet, Let me take you)?

And thirdly, all you bakers out there: Any advice on how to make a cake look goooood? It's a triple chocolate hot fudge cake. Also, would storing it in a cooler in my car for the morning mess it up at all?

You have one hour. Go.

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

I like that little poem thing. I'd go with that. Its clever. I'm no help on anything else...

Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :

Dangit. Can't remember what it said. Was it this?

You might want to seriously consider investing in one of those tupperware-ish cake containers to keep it from getting messed up in travel and whatnot.

As for making it look *nice*, I am no expert, but I have made a few cakes. The toughest thing is frosting it without tearing the cake up. Putting enough frosting on the top and gently spreading it long before it has a chance to "thin" out helps. On circular layer cakes, my Momma taught me to start that way with the top, then get a big glop on the side and gently smooth that as far as it will safely go, adding glops as needed. (Well, before that, make sure the bottoms of the cake are facing each other in the middle where the filling of your choice goes.)

Putting decorations along the upper and lower edges helps make it look neater. Sometimes you can find nice decorating materials in the baking isle at the grocery store.

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

Why thank you Steve, I made it up myself. And that looks about right bev, which means that I will most likely do the poem, as my name isn't Pedro, hers isn't Summer, and hearts would prbly be a bad thing. Though if that definately is it then I might have to consider it, just to carry out the joke.

Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :

Hearts would not be out of place on a Valentine's Banquet cake. [Wink]

But as decoration rather than part of the wording. [Smile]

What if you wrote on top, "I built you a cake or something" and then had a note with the poem?

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

Well, if its not exactly what the movie said they would be, because I'm not a 'heart' kind of person and neither is she. If she thought I put the heart on there myself and not just copied it, it might freak her out a bit. Though likely she wont' remember exactly what it said either. Hey, it could be like a Peter/Petra thing! I put it on there and she thinks that its supposed to be there, and then she watches the movie and realizes that I added it and it hits her ... She hearts me too! (referring to the goodbye letter from Bean in SotG where Peter inserts I love you, if my memory serves)

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

That's a good idea

Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :

If you're doing lots of layers, I strongly suggest freezing the cake before you attempt to slice it. It won't fall apart on you that way.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

Is she a Napoleon Dynamite fan? If not, I think you should seriously reconsider the cake idea.

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

Tom, you obviously missed the other thread.

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

It's one layer (I think).

Yes, she's a huge ND fan. lol. Don't worry, I'm not that uncouth. She will think its funny, even if she doesn't agree to go.

Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :

Freezing the cake can make it tons easier to frost as well.

And make sure you both grease and flour the pans (with chocolate mixed in with the flour, since it is a chocolate cake). I can't tell you how many times I've had the cake break because it was sticking to the pan. [Frown]

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

Napoleon's note to Trish says: "There's a lot more where this came from if you go to the dance with me."

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

ah! thanks! I knew there was a note in there somewhere

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

Oh, and you'll need lots of artwork. Graft her head onto a liger body.

Posted by beverly (Member # 6246) on :

Now I feel like making a layer cake for no-good-reason. [Smile]

Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :

I was thinking that as well.

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

I don't bake. But maybe I'll go buy a giant cookie from a bakery. There must be a bakery near me somewhere. And I've always liked giant cookies more than layer cake. Mmmm, giant cookie.

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

quote:
tupperware-ish cake containers

Yeah, put some tire marks on it to prove that it passed the test.

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

Oh, Sweet Mother of Modern Talkshows!

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

Tell her you want to take her to Alaska to hunt wolverines.

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

Don't make me take Oprah's name in vain again.

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

lol. Skillery, I don't want to overdo it. It is in no way a sure thing she will come to the dinner with me. I'm hoping to get her laughing and then switch from joking around to seriousness, because I really really do want her to come and I really really do want her to think of me as more than a friend, not just a jokester. It's a fine line.

Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :

I suppose you couldn't fit all that on a cake, could you...

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

No, its not a very big cake (I just put it in the oven). I'm going to have to rely on my mouth, which is never very reliable.

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

What do you mean it isn't reliable? You're alive, aren't you? That must mean you eat. And drink. And swallow. And talk. Don't be dissing your mouth.

Its all your self-confidence's fault. And I don't know why he seems inclined to fail you. If I were you, I'd show him who's boss.

Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :

It's talk like this that makes your mouth like that. Cheer up, you'll be great! [Big Grin]

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

That is what I was trying to say. Except I was trying to make it seem more manly, so you wouldn't feel weird.

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

See, I'm tempted to use my fingers and write out all the really cool catchy impressive things I want to say to her. But that would be wimpy, and I refuse to be a wimp in this situation. This cake is my motivation. If I can bake a cake for a girl and leave it on her doorstep, I better be able to express my feelings with my mouth. YAWP!

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

It's out of the oven! And it looks ... chocolatey and gooey. Which I guess is the look I was going for. lol. I'm still undecided on what to put on it. I'm leaning towards the poem idea, if it will fit, because there's going to be the obvious Napoleon Dynamite reference of a cake at her doorstep while I'm in the bushes, but the poem will be my own personal touch. And it's not so overtly romantic. It won't give her any preconcieved notions and will allow my mouth to either make or break me. Thanks for all ya'll's help!

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

Oy! Problemo. I got the big tubes of icing, and its a small cake. So methinks any effort to try to write anything on there, especially with my shaky hands, would result in failure. And the cake already has chocolate drizzled on it, so it might look bad anyways. So I think I'm just going to leave the cake at her doorstep with a note which reads:

Roses are red
Violets are blue
To the Valentine Banquet
Let me take you

There's plenty more where this came from if you say yes.

Or something along those lines. Any suggestions before this thread flies away?

Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :

Don't make this a mayfly, it's adorable!

Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :

Love it. Do it, be brave, be bold!

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

EDIT: To breyerchicks post

[Blushing]

really? well then, maybe I won't. [Big Grin]

. At least until I can tell ya'll how the cake tastes. [Razz]

(

four smileys in one post. lol)

Posted by Mr.Funny (Member # 4467) on :

Psh. Four? Four is nothing!

[Embarrassed]

You really gotta go with the 8-head smilie totem.

Posted by airmanfour (Member # 6111) on :

I told Lanfear to build his girl an invitation to his Winter Formal. I'm glad someone listens even if they didn't know they were.

Posted by 0range7Penguin (Member # 7337) on :

Tell us how it goes. The Dr. Strangelove love story has me on the edge of my seat. (I am not mocking I am really actually rooting for you)

P.S. I feel dumb. I have been hatracking for like a year now. What is a Mayfly?

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :

A mayfly is a thread which isn't meant to last.

They are traditionally things like "Hey Icarus! Call me!"

Or "Olivet! Check your email!"

But like all great Hatrack things, they have evolved. And now concern cake. Mmmm, cake.

Posted by 0range7Penguin (Member # 7337) on :

Thanks!
Cake...yummy.

The best cake is by far Angel Food Cake!

Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :

Good luck!

Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :

How did it go? We want to hear, is she going to go with you?

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

Patience, patience. I don't even know for sure if it will happen today, though I'll have to bake another cake if it doesn't. I have to find out what time she's done working. My plan is to ask her if she wants to play tennis and hopefully she'll say yes and I'll show up at her house 15-30 minutes before we're supposed to meet at the tennis court. If she can't play tennis ... well, I'll figure something out. Anyways, rest assured I will either update this thread or my other thread on this same topic.

Wish me luck!

Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :

Luck!

Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :

oy. Read the update on the other thread if you want. I'm not posting it twice.