A Unique Birthday Cake
Just because one is out camping is no excuse for not having a birthday cake to eat on one’s birthday. This one is not from scratch but here’s how we made one on our camping trip for the birthday girl. The key is to make sure you bring along the ingredients. Before leaving home we pack oil, crack eggs into a big jug and of course the boxed cake mix. Everything goes into the bowl and we mix away.
The other essential is a SPIDER.
A SPIDER? That’s what I said when DH told me to buy one before a camping trip many, many years ago. It is a cast iron pot with these funny little legs on the bottom. The legs, well, you’ll see what their purpose is soon.
The SPIDER gets greased quite well, and heavily. We don’t want this cake to stick when it is finished. Then the batter is poured in:
Now comes the tricky part, the non-scientific part, the ‘I-hope-and-pray’ part. A few coals are placed in a circle:
Too many and the cake will burn. Too few and the cake will be wet on the bottom. The SPIDER is placed over these coals and more are placed on top.
Now you know why the SPIDER has little legs; so it sits just above the coals.
The lid has a lip so the coals stay on the lid and do NOT fall in when it is lifted off. Now, we must wait and wait and wait. And wonder, are the coals heating the cake batter evenly? Is it burning in one spot? Oh, what is going on inside that pot?
Patience.
Finally we can lift the lid and see our cake!
It may not be the prettiest cake, but it sure tastes great. Just ask SK, he ate a piece in one bite.
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September 16th, 2007 @ 10:46 am
I swear! You are making me WANT to try camping. And I never have before. That just looks like so much fun! Delicious, too! All your posts lately have been so interesting.
I keep wondering how you are able to post out there… Or are you home now? Don’t tell me they have wireless internet for campgrounds now, too!? :-&
September 16th, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
glad you are enjoying the posts. We were out there in early August, and no, no wireless. Not even cell phone coverage. I never posted them before cause of taking care of my Dad.
September 16th, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Okay, that picture of the spider? I was looking for a live spider — then I read on. Then I asked my husband if he knew what a spider was. He did. I live under a rock!
The cake looks delish. Wish I could get my crew to go camping!
September 20th, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
I just learned how to make bread using a pressure cooker. I tried it with a pound cake too and it worked although the consistency wasn’t exactly the same as it normally is. I haven’t tried it with brownies or plain cake yet.
Put about 1/4 inch of water in the pressure cooker and then place your baking pan on upside down forks to keep the bottom of the cake pan from touching the top of the water. I used a small round glass container that fits inside the pressure cooker.
Heat the pressure cooker until it’s going off full force, reduce heat to low for 20 minutes and then the cake or bread is done. Perfectly done. Takes half the time of conventional oven and you don’t have to mess with wrapping things up with aluminimum foil and coals.
September 21st, 2007 @ 1:50 am
My friend bakes extraordinarily well with a spider, and she brings it every time we camp together. We can always count on excellent desserts. One year, my son’s birthday fell during a camping trip; she made cake and I made coffee can ice cream. What a blast!
August 3rd, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
That’s cool! I have always gone without cake when camping. I am actually on vacation in Florida and can’t wait to get back in the kitchen. Happy Birthday!