*Build-A-Bear Santa*Vanilla cake (mix) with vanilla frosting, decorated with cocoa powder glaze and brown sugar and fondant "outfit" trimmed with vanilla frosting.
Ah, Williams-Sonoma, if I could, I would set up residence inside their hallowed halls! Don't be surprised if someday you come to this site and an "Ode to Williams-Sonoma" is there to greet you on the first page. From cooking classes (permit me a shout out to the chef at my local store-Hi Jonathan!) to their multitude of whimsical baking pans (many courtesy of NordicWare)...there is nothing I love more than receiving a "Golden Ticket", or more of a bronze-ish one, to shop in this culinary wonderland.
My family is fully aware of my, a-hem, addiction, to this store, and let's just say, it's good times had by me at Christmas! Now it should be noted that I had a small stint at the Downtown Disney Build-A-Bear store after deciding it was time for a break from teaching. I wish I could say it was all that I hoped it would be, I guess it was the teacher in me that expected more from a child-centric store. So it's understandable that when W-S came out with their Build-A-Bear cake pan (there would be a link here, but alas the pan has gone by the way of the collectible-check ebay!), it wasn't one I would have run out to buy, but would more than likely ended up in my arsenal sooner or later. Sooner was an understatement!
Arriving by train this year to my parents house for the holidays, my mom could barely stand it when gifts from my cousin arrived, with the ominous words "OPEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS" pasted on one bearing my name. After an entire day of traveling, and desperately hoping for a blissful night's sleep, I promised I would open it first thing the next day. Unwrapping the small box while my mom was out, I was bewildered by the decorating kit for a Build-A-Bear baking pan I did not own.
So when my mom returned I asked her if my cousin assumed that I already owned the pan, she said she didn't think so and then we both pondered for a while. I asked her if there were any other gifts in the bag for me and she said yes, but that it didn't say "OPEN BEFORE CHRISTMAS"-we're sticklers for rules at Christmas. Knowing how well my well-meaning mother sees, I asked her to double check, and sure enough, the other package was similarly labeled. Instantly, I knew what it was.
I was touched that they would bring my past employment history and love of W-S together for an endearing gift, but was concerned over the timing. You see, I spend each Christmas season baking up a storm, dozens and dozens of cookies for family and friends, I was worried a Build-A-Bear Santa was expected to be on display for our Christmas dinner. So everything went into 5th gear and I sped toward the finish line in the hopes of getting around to this cake.
Additional pressure lurked because I knew that his little girl, who had received her first Build-A-Bear (courtesy of moi) within days of her birth, would now be old enough to notice if it wasn't there adorning our "Kids Table". Never mind the fact that she was the true reason we could continue calling it the "Kids Table" being that it was now filled with 30-year olds-I had to represent for the toddler set.
In my haste, I wrongly assumed that the decorating kit was full of pre-cut fondant "clothing" ready to be assembled on the completed cake like a puzzle. Note to by beloved Williams-Sonoma....you might want to think about that for next time! Not being at my own place with all my fantastic fondant and decorating tools I was forced to use the same rolling pin that mom uses to bash enormous bags of ice from the supermarket and store bought icing tips. YIKES! Let's just say, thank goodness our family wasn't expected at the house until 3 p.m. Christmas day because I finished the cake at around 1:30. With no major limbs lost in the assembly (not counting the separating legs and a cracked tail), I'd say this was a successful cake!
Even after all that stress and strain....he sure was cute...don't ya think?
Man, they're good, Build-A-Bear got me again!
Perhaps I'll make him a leprechaun for St. Patty's Day?
Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Baking!
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