Explore the picture “story” below of my kid’s continuing charcoal stove (no oven) cake baking …this time around decorating with icing. And what an experience it’s been…with a MAJOR mistake caused by an oversight on my part [As I type this, they’re having to bake ANOTHER set to make up]!!
Below are a series of “ghastly” looking photos from yesterday’s activities, which ended with my discovery, AFTER asking why the cakes looked shrunken/hard, that they had added water to the butter/flour/sugar/vanilla mixture …because they felt it looked too thick!!!!
Photo 1: Argh…the icing I can understand. This was a first attempt, and we’d not really done the due diligence of studying the many downloaded pages on “how to”. But the cake seems to be “hiding” above.
Photo 2: The cup cakes in the pot mounted on the charcoal stove – African style! Without the umbrella of mushy icing in photo 1 they look awful…especially considering that the kids have been baking them (even in my absence or without my supervision for over a year)!
Photo 3: During the egg beating and initial mixing I’d been around. But later on I’d left to visit the cafe. Then I returned 2 hours later and decided to take a nap…
Photo 4: Mixing
Photo 5: Our simple charcoal stove remains in use. For those who wonder, read this PDF (click here now) to understand why we choose to NOT use an oven or other “standard” equipment.
Photo 6: A closer look at the embers…hot stuff!
Photo 7: The icing gun pack we purchased newly
Photo 8: More of the strange looking cakes with their shaky looking icing “hats” :-))
Photo 9: Closeup of one of the cakes
Photo 10: One thing you cannot accuse the kids of is lack of effort – here they’ve used the icing to spell their little brother’s English name…!
Photo 11: Now all the cakes in one photo…
Photo 12: I was desperate to get a set that looked passable…so this shot was taken of selected pink capped ones…still NOT good enough…lol!
So What Happened? Well I’d been so confident based on our many previous efforts that they’d gotten used to the recipe, having done it many times in the past.
So, upon returning from the cyber cafe, I’d gone in to take a nap.
Well, it turned out they’d forgotten the exact order in which the ingredients were to be added and mixed. As a result, things got a bit confused. By the time they brought the cakes to me, so I could take the photos it was too late.
Did you notice also the icing?
That was their first attempt at preparing/applying it, using the gun we bought.
Far from perfect. Ironically, despite the fact that we downloaded many pages of step-by-step instructions from different websites on preparing and apply icing to cakes, I failed to get them to read and follow those instructions.
Having said the above, no matter how not-so-great they look, the cakes certainly taste great…and we’ve been munching away since yesterday – including birthday boy himself!
But they’re giving it another go this afternoon (at my insistence), to make the more presentable kinds we’ve successfully made many times in the past.
It’s been a problem-solving experience in establishing best practice procedures to get consistent results in a specific activity.
Having seen the result of my poor leadership of the kids, especially in their excited states of mind, I called them together and we talked.
I noted that last September they’d made a perfect set of cakes in their grandparents’ home and asked what WENT WRONG this time around. They argued – a lot! Not so much blame or buck passing, but voicing different opinions about how things should have been done.
That was when I knew I WAS the one at fault…with all my self-proclaimed experience in training, I’d overlooked the need to put in place formal written instructions in form of a recipe, for them to follow in order to ensure the product turned out was consistently to the desired standard.
So, I played back the video (see below) I recorded with my Blackberry of their September 2014 project we did in their grandparent’s home
[Above: You hear my voice i.e. Tayo Solagbade, and that of my 11 year old son] This is an excerpt from a full length video I recorded with my Blackberry of my kids September 2014 project we did in their grandparent’s home]
We watched the stages when they were doing the mixing in which I asked in what order the ingredients were being added. By the time we were done watching, their eyes were bright with excitement, as they recalled what had been done wrong.
Not surprisingly, when I subtly suggested they go back and try making another set, they jumped at the opportunity. Luckily for us, virtually all the ingredients needed were still left over – enough to make another set of cakes. Including the icing. I left them back home, preparing to do this, to come for a meeting here, at the cafe, where I am now typing this piece.
Suffice to say THIS latest exercise has once again ended successfully, with the kids picking up valuable new knowledge and insights, as I’d hoped.
FINAL WORDS: For those who don’t still get it, here’s why I DO THESE activities with my kids, and why I TALK ABOUT it and other answers:
NB: Download and read this PDF for more elaborate details (click here now)…
1. Why I DO THIS?
It’s to empower my kids with real world relevant skills that complement whatever formal schooling they are exposed to, in a way that ensure they can hold their own ANYWHERE, without being at the mercy of others. Be it financially or physically.
Cake baking is just one of many skills I am working to ensure they acquire. Every smart thinking parent will do same for his/her kids …especially if you want to give them the best chances of success in life.
2. Why I TALK ABOUT it?
It’s because I have a God-given vision and mission to share my insights and know-how with others who may need it, so they can benefit and use to advance their own lives.
This is why I write articles explaining what I do with my kids, what works, and what does not, so they can be better informed about what to do and how.
I offer various resources, some free, others paid – such as books and even self-tutoring DVD products, like my 10 Storyfied Yoruba Proverbs for Childrenm and other Leaders DVD as well as my Best Practice Parenting book titled “Kukuru Danger” -which is based on my true life experiences as a teenager.
3. Why not just send them to a vocational school to learn? That will come for whichever one of them decides s/he is interested enough to want to get formal training. Otherwise, my key purpose is to empower them to become self-tutoring or Independent Learners…like I AM.
In other words, these exercises and coaching I am giving my kids are designed to help them develop the mental attitude to pursue self-improvement.
Just like I have done over the past 2 decades successfully teaching myself EVERY single income earning skill or knowledge I possess today as an entrepreneur,
That would make them literally unstoppable (regardless of the severity or duration of adversity that comes up) like I AM!
PS: Oh by the way, here are photos of cakes they baked back in September 2014 at their grandparent’s home (using charcoal stove and all the other trademark “local” and low to zero cost equipment…
As you can see, they even have special packaging they put them in – especially when they sell. Download and read this PDF for more elaborate details (click here now)…