Lando is our deaf handyman / gardener who takes wonderful care of our home and garden every week.
Lando only became deaf as an adult and has adapted to being deaf as if he was born that way. He reads lips perfectly and we are still in the stop start throws (when time allows) of learning sign together. We have created a few of our own signs to better communicate with each other for the days when my Afrikaans and his English aren’t quite on the same page.
Lando asked if I would bake his daughter a birthday cake for her second birthday. He said he didn’t want those little things that I like making (cupcakes), he wanted one big cake. So not knowing which cake recipe would be best as I make all of them into cupcakes, I decided to use the one I converted last which was the dairy free recipe, you know, my new favourite recipe. I made a double portion and was thrilled with the result even though I probably turned the cakes out a wee bit soon and left a morsel of the centre of the cake at the bottom of the baking tin. Oops.
Only problem I had was when it came to the icing – I wanted princess pink for this little 2 year old but alas it kinda came out orangeish which did not sit well with my OCD issues but time did not allow to remake the icing plus there was barely any time to ice the cake before it had to get whisked off to the birthday girl. I wonder if it is because my food colouring is getting old?
No matter, all’s well that ends well and the cake was a hit!
The Complete Book 
Looks pretty girl pink to me!
You are very kind Mimi, thank you so much! Have a lovely day. 🙂
LOL “not those little things that you like making”
Welcome and thanks for stopping by. Have a lovely day. 🙂
This is such a great cake for a little girl’s birthday, Mandy. I’m sure the Little Princess loved every morsel.
I do believe the cake was a hit – yippee! Have a super day John. 🙂 xo
So sweet of you Mandy to made a cake for his little girl. All sparkly and pink just like a little princess would like it.
I would have been happier had the icing been a better shade though Bam – although I am sure it was only me worrying about that. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
So pretty!
Thanks Lizzy! Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
I’m sure Lando’s little girl loved her pretty cake, speaking of birthdays, are you baking special cupcakes for your birthday this week?
I was thinking of a few cupcakes – can’t not have cup cakes! xoxoxo
That’s so lovely of you to make a cake for your gardener’s daughter. I didn’t notice the colour until you pointed it out. I’m sure the two-year old would never have minded the shade of pink – it looks gorgeous and I’m sure it was more than she could have imagined. xx
I’m sure she was the talk of the village with the sparkles on the cake – such a lovely feeling to do something like this. Have a super day Charlie. 🙂 xo
What an amazing gift! I can sign the South African version of the alphabet 🙂
Awesome Tandy – I keep forgetting what the letters are because we don’t practice often enough! Have an lovely day. 🙂 xo
That’s very sweet of you! The cake looks gorgeous with girly pink icing.
Thanks Angie! Hope you are having a happy week. 🙂 xo
I can see why the cake was a hit. It would suit my princess well too. Lovely job Mandy and so sweet of you.
What a lovely compliment Kristy, thank you so much! Have a super day. 🙂 xo
I’m sure Lando’s daughter absolutely loved this cake! It still looks beautiful and pink to me!
You are very kind Caroline, thank you so much! Hope you have been keeping well. 🙂 xo
Mandy, it certainly looks pink to me! And very pretty and girly too! It must be interesting to learn to sign together when you’re already speaking in different languages! 🙂
Thanks Celia! Thankfully with “gestures” they are universal. When we learn a new one, I use the English and Afrikaans words. I must say though we have been quite slack the last while as there have been so many other things taking precedence. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
You are such a sweetheart to do this for his daughter & it sure looks pink on my computer. I love the little flowers (or would you call them something else?). I’m guessing that she love the cake & it was very special to her.
Cracks me up that he specified “not those little things you make”…BIG!
That’s really awesome that you’re learning sign language – always good to know.
I reckon we could call them flowers Diane, I’m not that good with icing so I like your compliment :-D, thank you! I also had to have a chuckle when he said not the little ones. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
Excellent – I wasn’t sure if there was some fancy cake decorating name for those flowers but I thought you did a fantastic job. You can do my cakes anytime since that is not something I’m very good at.
You have me thinking Diane – I’m sure there are fancy names for all the different icing shapes – but I like flowers – works perfectly well. What a fabulous compliment, thank you, I would be honoured to decorate your cakes for you. Now if we just lived a little closer to each other. Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
Pretty, sweet–my pretty Sweet! 😀
Aaw, thanks Kathryn! You are such a sweetie too! Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
Pink or not you’re so sweet to make it for the little princess 🙂
Thanks very much Raymund! Have a lovely day. 🙂 xo
I’ve not been getting your subscriptions. I shall subscribe again. Love the PRETTY IN PINK cake. I’d LOVE to take a cupcake/cake decorating class!
Xxxx LOVE. xxxx
Oh no! I wonder why you aren’t getting my post notifications – seems I am not getting yours either any more! I have also resubscribed! Hope this doesn’t happen again! Have a beautiful day friend and so good to be in contact again. 🙂 xo
i’m begging you too share how yo made that happen…
preety pinky icing….
Hi Dedy, I just added a few drops at a time of food colouring to my icing until I got more or less the shade I was looking for. 🙂
This looks amazing. I love the color and I love that it’s dairy free :). Love it
Thanks so much Kay! Have a beautiful day. 🙂 xo
Your cake looks pink on my computer. Love all the little pearls on the icing.
I’m so pleased it looks better than I had though Norma. The pearls are one of my favourites – so pretty on cakes. Have a super day. 🙂 xo
Lnado’s little girl is a luck little princess and you are very kind. Hope your birthday was superb, Mands xxx
I wish I had remembered to ask Lando to take a picture for me on his phone – oh well, I’m sure he will want me to make another cake next year.
I had a beautiful birthday thanks Cindy – Pete was home which made it special – he is usually away on business.
Have a beautiful weekend. 🙂 xo
Really nice to have a closer baking friends around. Around me there’s no on e who would make a cake for birthdays etc…. She must be so happy to see this gorgeous pink cake!!
It was lovely to be able to make the cake for her Nami. 🙂 xo