NOT. I can’t make it myself as I am no chef, but I will spend good money lot to BUY a “homemade” cake. But I really really wanted cake, so in the spirit of Pillsbury and semi-homemade cooking, I “baked” a cake from the box.

photographs by justeatsmart

Suffice it to say that pink, at least strawberry pink from a box, is not a natural color for a cake. Natural colors are yellow, white, and brown, not hot pink. I was strangely attracted to it, though – so unnaturally bright and pink – and it smelled so very…strawberry. This overwhelming essence of strawberry will probably linger in my apartment until Thursday. Ok, maybe Wednesday. The funny thing is, even real strawberries don’t smell this strongly of strawberries.

To redeem my culinary self, I made the frosting. Canned frosting is way too sticky-sweet and way too artificial. Of course, I did just bake a cake the color of nuclear waste from a Barbie power plant, so I’m not quite sure what my real reasoning is. Nonetheless, cream cheese frosting would save me from guilt about *ahem* the box.

Here’s a good recipe for the frosting:

Cream Cheese Frosting
One 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
4 tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted (after measuring)

1. In mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.
2. Gradually mix in confectioner’s sugar. 2 c is a guideline; use more or less to get desired consistency for frosting.