Ethan's (test) 1st Bday Cake

(This is just notes to myself, so if anyone else is reading... sorry to bore you.)

cake recipe:
BH&G p 163, changes as follows

• substituted 4 egg whites for 3 eggs
• added 10 coarsely chopped Double Stuff Oreos

frosting recipe:
BH&G p 171 (Creamy White Frosting), changes as follows

• used the prepackaged stick of butter-flavored shortening. OMG! will never go back to waiting for a tin to thaw at room temp. SO MUCH EASIER. and creamier.
• used a bit more milk than recipe called for. in total it was about 4.5 tbsp
• used 2 tsp total vanilla extract

(I was thinking about posting my test picture, but I have decided to hold out and make it a surprise.)

so... notes for the creative process:
-This frosting was really thick (aka: difficult to coat evenly.) I was too impatient to do the crumb coat, but it would have prevented it from being too thick on the vertical sides. The too-thick frosting made the black and white checkered sides sag after a few hours.
-Start the checkered patter at the top of the one where it won't be noticed that the last piece is slightly larger.
-What am I gunna do about the blue trim where the sides of the cake meet the top? It didn't look rope-like, the way I pictured it would. It's too much length to be one piece. Maybe I'll try making a fondant rope or Twislers?
-I need more red gel food coloring
-I need another big bag of M&M's for the track
-I need the edible markers for his name and the number on the car