A piece of cake! Easier than shopping for gown

It was time to purchase a gown for my son Jeremy’s wedding. I went to Saks, Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdales, Lord and Taylor and Bergdorf Goodman. I checked almost every evening gown I could find online. My friend Ellen Finkelstein volunteered to take me to what seemed like every possible boutique and bridal salon in New Jersey, New York, and Monsey. She was beyond generous.

I tried on mermaid, ballroom, evening, sheath, A-line and trumpet style gowns — the latter, in my opinion, should be kept in the band section and not on my body (hey, I’m a realist!). I tried on gowns made of tulle, charmeuse, taffeta, organza, Chantilly lace and satin. Some were adorned with, bugle beads, sequins, pearls or rhinestones.

I squeezed myself — or shall I say I say the saleswomen squeezed me — into and out of more gowns than I care to remember.

When I walked into my first boutique with Ellen, she pointed to a gown and said “you must try that on.”

“Ellen,” I replied, “the gown is white, sleeveless, a size 0, and looks like it was made for a 6 foot model. Have you lost your mind?” She explained that these were samples and would be custom made to order.

 So there I was in the fitting room, holding my breath, as Ellen tried so very hard to close the side zipper. All I could think of was, would I have to pay for the gown, when it bursts at all seams.

The zipper refused to budge past my waist so I had to imagine how it would look if the zipper made it all the way up. Crazy thing is, I loved the gown. It was elegant and simple, with bronze appliqués in the front at the bottom and on the small train on the back. It was supposed to be just a tiny fish tail in the back but because the gown was made for someone at least nine inches taller than me it was a train. But I loved it. I pictured it without all the seams bursting, in a champagne color and the correct length. The saleswomen said no problem, she would have the owner call me and discuss. That night I received a call from the owner/designer. That particular gown was made in Portugal but could be made here. The appliqués came from France, but he would try to match them and the work would be done with his seamstress, I told him I would get back to him … never.

I felt as if I was in a SNL skit half the time. One of my favorites went like this: “I like that blue gown, does it come in champagne or blush?” I asked. “Yes it does,” she replied. It was a size 12 strapless and navy, yet I saw the possibilities. She used clothes pins to tighten it to my size and explained how they could add a sleeve. I looked at Ellen and we both agreed this could be the gown. The seamstress took my measurements and the owner started to write the order. She confirmed that I wanted the blush/nude, at which point, I asked to see a sample of the material. “We don’t have one,” she said.

“How about a photo of the color, a photo of the gown in the color … anything,” I pleaded. No, no and a final no. I then asked if the color was a true blush nude or was it peachy looking, did they have a sample of the sequins in the correct color. She assured me although she never saw the color it would be just fine. Ellen and I looked at each other again; back to the drawing board.

 I began to feel like goldilocks impersonating the conquistador Ponce de Leon in his quest for the fountain of youth. Like goldilocks I discovered many beautiful fountains but each was the wrong color, too low cut, too see-through, too expensive, too hot too cold, too… You get the picture.

If only shopping for a gown was as easy as making this bridal cake!

Ingredients:

11/2 cups dark unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cups sugar

3 cups flour

11/2 cups non dairy creamer

11/2 cups boiling water

21/4 tsp baking powder

21/4 tsp baking soda

3 eggs

3/4 canola oil

11/2 tsp vanilla extract 

 Decorations:

Non dairy whipping cream 32 ounces whipped

Small piece of white tulle for veil

Pearl hat pin or two plain pins

Artificial little bunch of white flower

Wilton doll pick

Plastic pastry bag to pipe out whipped cream for the gown

All items can be purchased in Michael’s

 Directions for cake:

 Place all dry ingredients in bowl of mixer, then add non dairy creamer, eggs, vanilla and oil beating well after each addition. Lastly add the boiling water slowly and on low speed, beat till smooth, mixture will be a bit loose. Pour into two 10” round pans that have been lined parchment paper and is spayed with Pam. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes or until pick comes out of center clean. Cool completely before assembly

Assembly:

Use any mixing bowl with a flat bottom that starts wider on top and tapers on the bottom. Line the bowl with Saran Wrap making sure there is extra so that it comes an inch higher than the pan. That will make it easier to lift out. Take a piece of cake from the first pan (not the whole cake, just enough to line bottom)and press onto bottom of bowl. Top with some whipped cream and place another layer of cake (again, just enough to make a thin layer to cover whipped cream, continue till the last layer of cake is on top. Each layer will be sloppy and pieced together, thats fine. You will probably have some left over cake … enjoy it.

Wrap top and freeze:

When ready to decorate take the cake out of bowl by lifting the top of the clear wrap. Place upside down on a platter and cover with a thin layer of whipped cream. Stick bridal doll pick in the top center. Take your decorating bag fitted with a tip of your choice, I used Ateco #115 u can use the Wilton leaf tip, as well Starting at top of cake where the brides waist is pipe lines straight down lines continue all around till bottom of the gown is formed. You can do the same for the top or just smear it on to form the top of the gown if it’s easier. Attach the veil to the dolls head with a hat pin or a straight pin and put the flowers in her hand.

It’s much easier than it sounds. Email me, judy@soiree@gmail.com, with any questions.