eek. this will be fun.

[grasswire]

So Monday's a family member's birthday. There will be ten of us, assorted ages, for dinner. My oven won't go above 300 degrees. The kitchen is tiny, too.

Hmmmm.

I'm thinking about a top of the stove pot roast, perhaps.

But no birthday cake? And I don't want to buy one.

[pscot]

1. Order a quarter of a sheet cake

from QFC. They'll even write Happy Birthday on it.

[grasswire]

2. I don't want to buy a cake.

Good thought, though. Simple.

[pscot]

3. Nobody wants to buy a cake

But sometimes.....Just sayin'.

[The empressof all]

6. If you have to have the cake Costco makes a fabulous sheet cake

The white cake with the cheesecake filling and ButterCream frosting is our favorite

[elleng]

4. Cupcakes

[The empressof all]

5. Make an Ice Cream Cake

Layer crushed cookies (I use Oreos or Vienna Fingers because the filling adds something), Ice Cream and ganache or caramel sauce. My daughter gets this for her birthday every year at her request! Ginger Snaps, Lemon Curd and Vanilla Ice Cream is my favorite. My Husband likes Oreos, Coffee Ice Cream, and Wet Nuts.

I usually do it in a Spring form pan and cover the entire thing with a thin ganache glaze to resemble a cake.

[pengillian101]

7. I just don't understand.

Remember that old joke?

But really, are you just looking for a main course, or something for desert besides a cake?

[Phentex]

8. Make a crockpot cake!

I think the stovetop roast is a good idea. Or you could make a lasagne where all you are doing is heating through.

You can serve the cake right out of the crockpot.

[Warpy]

10. Putting birthday candles on one of those is problematic

Maybe a big taper jammed in the middle, a nod to Sandra Lee's infamous Kwaanza cake?

[Phentex]

15. You had to go there, didn't you?

None of us will ever forget that cake! :silly:

[Warpy]

9. You have two options if you absolutely must have cake

1. Borrow a neighbor's oven. Make sure you save that neighbor a piece of cake.

2. Just buy the damn cake and don't offer apologies for it. Yes, your cake would have been better but when you don't have the proper tools, you simply can't produce one.

People who come to your house for dinner are coming for the company first and the food second. It took me a long time to get that. Once I did, I relaxed a lot and my dinner parties were actually fun. If you have to feed them a store cake on top of an expertly cooked dinner, who the hell cares?

[ginnyinWI]

11. Can one of those family members bring the cake?

You could offer to make the frosting and finish it up once it gets to your house.

[Tesha]

12. There are lots of ways around this...

and there are tons of no-bake options
tiramisu and trifle
or buy a pound cake or an angle food cake and use it as the base for lots of wonderful things!
or icebox cakes made with cookies and whipped cream ...

and I usually roast pork at 300 - it makes for a juicy treat - just adjust the time

[hippywife]

13. I think you could still do the cake, E.

I wouldn't want a store bought cake, either. They are usually just awful. Just modify the time for the lower temp and keep an eye on it maybe? Or do a fancy brownie of some kind, topped with something luscious or swirled with caramel or something.

Tesh is on to something with a tiramisu or a trifle, too. I know you can pull off something special, woman...you got the talent and the passion.



I have faith in you. :hug:

[yellerpup]

14. I found this recipe for steamed cake in my Thai cookbook.

STEAMED COCONUT CAKE WITH LIME AND GINGER SYRUP

2 large eggs, separated
pinch of salt
1/2 C. superfine sugar
5 Tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
5 Tbsp. coconut milk
1-1/4 C. self-rising flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 Tbsp. shredded coconut
4 Tbsp candied ginger syrup
2 Tbs. lime juice

To Decorate:
3 pieces candied ginger
curls of grated fresh coconut

Method:

1. Cut an 11 inch round of nonstick paper and press into 7 inch steamer basket to line it.
2. Whisk egg whites with salt until stiff. Gradually whisk in the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking hard after each addition until the mixture stands in stiff peaks.
3. Whisk in the yolks, then quickly stir in the butter and coconut milk. Sift the flour and baking powder over the mixture, then fold in lightly and evenly with large metal spoon. Fold in coconut.
4. Spoon the mixture into the lined steamer basket and tuck the spare paper over the top. Place the basket over boiling water, cover and steam for 30 minutes.
5. Turn out the cake onto a plate, remove the paper and cool slightly. Mix together the ginger and lime juice and spoon over the cake.
6. Cut into squares and decorate with diced, preserved candied ginger and curls of coconut.

You could probably frost and decorate this any way you want after it is cooled. I've never made it myself, but have promised myself that I will when it's too hot to turn on the oven next summer. Good luck!

[Applepie]

16. Bake your cake

I don't think it will hurt to bake your cake at 300. It will take longer but will be better than store bought.

[Applepie]

17. Recipe

http://www.monkeysee.com/play/487-chocolate-cake-fill-cake-pans

[Vinca]

18. Here's an idea for a 300 degree cake -

http://www.recipezaar.com/Sinfully-Rich-Almost-Flourless-Chocolate-Cake-90682

[grasswire]

19. thanks for all the ideas

Such good thinkers!

So I ended up making a concoction that's in the fridge. Chocolate wafers crushed in the bottom of a springform pan. Then Martha Stewart's lemon mousse (which we have always adored). Then more chocolate wafers crushed and I will top with whipped cream and zest when I plate it.

I decided to make the entree, boeuf bourgouignonne, tonight. It will reheat beautifully. I want to play with the kids; I don't want to spend the family time cooking!

And by the way, if you are having a gathering and want a fun game to play, I highly recommend Hasbro's Bop-It game. I gave two of them away at Christmas and they have been the biggest hit in many moons. And they are back-ordered, Hasbro tells me. They sold out and have had to ramp up production. $19.95 for the basic. It's a hand-held game that you pass from one person to another and it talks to you to order you to do a certain sequence of things. Very fun.

[Phentex]

20. I love lemon mousse!

I should have that for MY birthday!

Thanks for the game tip. We are big game night people (before all the commericals hyping it). I'm a little worried that my teens still enjoy game night but they do!

[The empressof all]

21. Oh God BoP It!

That thing held me captitive for about a year. Every time I sat down to watch TV (in the days before Tivo) I played with it during commercials. One of the most annoying and addictive toys my daughter ever had. I'm gonna have to ask her where it is...

[grasswire]

23. you know they make advanced models, too

...costing up to $200. BoP It Extreme. You can see them on the Hasbro web site. Hehehe.

[Sentath]

24. I had a keychain version

I ended up stomping it into fragments and burning them.

I have a problem with a machine telling me to do the impossible.

[hippywife]

25. I knew you'd come up with something lovely.

I hope you all have a lovely evening. :hug:

[Paper Roses]

22. Just a little comment, Is your stove electric? If so,

can you access the users manual on the manufacturers web site? On many electric stoves, there is a way to calibrate oven temperatures. If you can find out the info, I understand it is a relatively simple job.