No Rules Log Cabin Cake

No Rules Log Cabin Cake

I stood at the kitchen counter staring at the ingredients listed on the side of the box of the all-natural gluten-free vanilla gourmet cake mix. The double layers boasted on the front of the container were separated by a mouthwatering layer of filling and its entire body was slathered in a thick layer of luxurious white icing. Instinctively my lips pursed, and I let out a short sound of cynicism. My experience with gluten-free desserts made by others was to hold a dense imitation of the ‘real’ thing between my index finger and thumb and bite into a dry attempt at a sweet. This would be my first time working with a rice free, trans-fat-free, wheat free and soy free product. I would present whatever came out of the oven to my husband and his relatives on his 75^th birthday.

I poured the powdered contents of the package into a large mixing bowl and followed the instructions. I began searching through this homeowner’s kitchen cupboards for vanilla. As professional house and pet sitters, my husband and I move from house to home as often as necessary throughout the winter months to take up residence in a secure warm place out of our small recreational vehicle. We don’t bake desserts in our travel home and tend to count on using a small amount of the homeowner’s personal stash of spices and extracts. 

House and Pet Sitting in Kelowna, BC

There were no baking products in her kitchen cupboards. What few spices she did have would contribute to dishes suited to those who enjoy hot Mexican food. I placed a chair against the counter and climbed up to search the top cupboards. They were filled with empty containers from various food outlets. The homeowners had revealed to us before they left us to care for their small log cabin and large dog that she didn’t cook. It became obvious that my search for any extract would be fruitless. 

What might jazz up a white cake other than vanilla?  My eyes spotted two large oranges in the fruit basket. Orange zest is a spectacular food additive. I was immersed into the aromatic fragrance as I scraped the colourful skin of the orange against the grater. I sprinkled the zest into the powdered mixture and squeezed orange juice into it.

Orange zest

I stirred the rest of the ingredients together and divided it between two round pans. I slid them into the hot oven. At the thirty-five-minute mark, I removed the plump golden cakes and set them on a cooling rack. When they settled I removed the beauties from their pans, spread a thin layer of cream cheese frosting mix on one surface, flopped it face down on the other and slathered the two-layered cake with the remaining frosting. My husband and his relatives enjoyed my no-rules-log-cabin birthday cake.