So I was out on the ride on mower finally able to cut down the lawn seeing as it isn't raining and my 8yr old runs out waving his arms. I get the mower off and he's jumping around all excited going on about winning and I need to go to the fair for a photo. I thank him and tell him I'll be done soon and go back to finish mowing.

Come inside, find the number that called and ring them back. The poor old man that answered the phone said it's something about the decorated cake entry I did and I am to come in and get a photo for advertising the fair next year. Didn't mention anything about winning, I won 1st place last year and wasn't called in for a photo so I am wondering what this is all about?!?

Guess I'll find out tonight, I am super curious lol

Will update later tonight after I get back!!

Here's the original thread

~~~~~~ UPDATE ~~~~~~

I got second place for chocolate cake and a best in show ribbon for the "decoration". My decorated sugar cookies with royal ice placed 1st bough. Super happy with everything as I really wanted to get a best in show ribbon this year!!

I usually get totally normal orders, 2 weeks ago though I got an unusual one lol

It's a baby shower order due tomorrow for a guy, pretty sure it's a surprise. They wanted a cartoon shaped sperm cake, which I am in the process of putting together. They also wanted cupcakes with a little sperm on each one.

Cupcakes are made and iced, just waiting on these little guys to set up so I can take them off the wax paper and put on to each cupcake.

Cake decorating, always something different to do hahahaha

Today I’ll be talking about “loss leaders”

Definition:

loss-lead·er – a product sold at a loss to attract customers.

Bread and milk are generally loss leaders, also cakes.

Before I get into it I'll just say - I am not against bakery store workers as they are just doing their job. I am against the mass production of a product designed to last way longer than it should .... with that said .......

You go into “chain” grocery store because you know the cakes are cheap. The stores price them this way, they know you will come in for the cheaper cake – because you are “saving money”.

While you are in the store, you look around get the rest of your party supplies. Before you know it, you see a few items that aren’t on your list and you add them to your cart. You then walk around some more, find more things and add them to your cart.

Before you know it, the cheap $20 cake you went into get has blown into over $100 of extra things NOT on your list. You may have got the “cheaper cake” but now you have spent more money and done some serious impulse shopping.

Stores do this because they know they will hook you, just giving them more money to add to the multi millions they have already.

The other reason they are so cheap is they are mass produced - as you see from the photo they come in bulk in boxes. All cooked off site at a factory by machines then once done are frozen. Seeing as they are done in bulk they can make, freeze and store them for as long as they want to. I haven known bakery staff that have had cakes in a store for up to a year before they are taken out and decorated in the bakery section. Then you take into account the ones they do take out, decorate and have on display for sale in the open cold storage. If they aren't bought that day, they can sit there for up to 2 weeks before they are put on clearance for sale.

Next time you are in a store, check out the sell by date on a cake and then look at the MASSIVE list of ingredients - all you can't pronounce and all things to make it stay fresh - haha "fresh" longer.

Don't even get me started on the "buttercream" that is used to frost them with - that will be a post for another day!

If I didn’t make cakes or felt like not making a cake for a celebration we were having, I would go to a small business before I would go to a chain store. If you have a tight budget consider making your own cake before getting it from a store, you should generally have oil, butter and eggs at home already just pick up a box mix or 2 and give it a try!!

At the end of the day an order with a small business, could be the difference in signing up for little league or helping a family pay a bill. I know that is what it like for me when I do orders.

Sometimes hubby wants something sweet to take to work, a snack that is super easy is box cake mix cookies. Super easy to make.

1 box of cake mix of your choice 2 eggs 1/2 a cup of vegetable oil * chocolate chips or nuts are optional

Mix all ingredients in a bowl Form into balls and place on sheet tray Cook at 350F (175C for my Aussies) for 4-10 minutes and TADA, soft cookies!!

I made some a few weeks back (choc & vanilla with choc chips) for hubby to take to work. The massive tray lasted about 20 mins before they were all gone & everyone raved about them haha