‘Too Much Trouble to Even Attempt’ Bake Oven

I’m not sure who invented the so called “Easy Bake Oven.”  Betty Crocker, maybe?  I don’t really care, although I must say that if the toy makers who did invent it, continue to put it on the market, they must change the name to suit it more appropriately.  If anything, to warn mothers.  It seems to have become some sort of rite of passage for every girl to have at least owned an Easy Bake Oven.  I remember mine; although I don’t remember my mother helping me bake with it.  I’m sure she must have.  The directions are way too complicated for any five-year-old to follow.   I also remember all of my friends having their own Easy Bake Oven.  McCanless has hers thanks to Aunt Kate this past Christmas.  Although it has morphed into a more modern looking machine, it is still the same plastic box that only holds one pan at a time which must be shoved in and out with the yellow “Easy Bake Oven Wand.”   No real working buttons.  No door.  I vow here and now to buy every one of Kate’s children their very own Easy Bake Oven. I just hope it doesn’t get fancy and “Easy” by that point.

It isn’t so much the mess that ripping open packets of powdered frosting and batter make, or even the dozens of tiny bowls, miniture spoons, or doll sized spatulas required that are hindersome.  What really  bothers me is that after spending three hours measuring “1/4 teaspoons” and drops, and shoving cake pans into the side of the oven with that double sided hook arm “wand,” and prying cakes and cookies off of tin with bent spatulas, you get two quarter sized cookies and one pancake size cake.   Not even enough to share.  Although, McCanless always finds a way to cut and serve her very own “homemade” baked treats to all of us.  Very “Five Loaves and Two Fishes” reminiscent. Last night, I had a piece of cake no bigger than a crouton.  Hardly worth the effort put into helping her make that crouton sized piece of cake.  I will say, however, even though we bake together often in our “big people” sized kitchen, there is something special about pulling out that Easy Bake Oven with all of its miniature paraphernalia that is just different from whipping up an adult sized batch of brownies or cupcakes.

I have never taken the time to photograph McCanless with her Oven in all of her glory, party because I’m trying to keep Mary Clare away from the burning light bulb and decorating goodies located ever so conveniently for her on the playroom table.  Mary Clare will have her own turn one day.  Maybe her very own Easy Bake Oven.

I guess I should photograph McCanless with her treasured Oven and her fresh baked minuscule goodies.  Someday she may be doing the same with her little girl and I can assure her that yes, I did help her with her “Too Much Trouble to Even Attempt” Bake Oven.   So, I guess all and all, it is worth the trouble.

Remember this?  I googled and found this image, which is exactly like the Easy Bake Oven I had as a child.  Circa 1982.

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