Q: If you check a cake and it still has batter in the middle, it may just not have had time to rise yet. Put it back in the oven for 5-10 minutes, keeping an eye on it to make sure you don't overdo it. You may still get your cake to rise. Mix in store-bought or homemade frosting, adding just enough so the mixture comes together when squeezed. Roll the mixture into balls, and then toss in coconut, sprinkles, or cocoa powder.  You can also coat the cake balls with melted chocolate and let them cool. This trick also works for a cake that's too dry. Slice a 1-layer cake in half with a large bread knife to make 2 thin sheets. Lay plastic wrap in a large mixing bowl to use as a mold, and put one layer of the cake in the bottom of the bowl. Trim off any extra cake around the top until you have a mostly even circle. Add frosting or mousse to the middle of the cake bowl you've just made, then place the other layer of cake on top.  Trim off any excess cake sticking over the edge so it all fits in the bowl. Place the cake in the refrigerator to set before turning it out on a plate. You can pour melted chocolate over the dome or smooth frosting on the round part of the dome for decoration. If just the center is sunk in, frost the cake as normal, then use it as a bowl for holding candies. Fill it with unwrapped candy, such as coated chocolate pieces, gummy bears, fruit candies, or any other candy you like. You can also fill the sunken cake with mousse or lemon curd and put frosting over the top instead. This makes a quick and easy pudding or dessert dish. Scoop softened ice cream into the sunken center of the sunken cake and smooth it out. Freeze the cake for about 30 minutes, then take it out. Add frosting across the top of the ice cream and around the edges, just as you'd normally frost a cake, to finish the ice cream cake. For a simpler topping, cover the cake in whipped cream and decorate with maraschino cherries.
A: Cook an unrisen cake that's still doughy a bit longer. Crumble the cake and mix it with frosting to make cake balls. Create a cake dome out of 2 thin sheets of cake if the cake didn't rise enough. Fill a sunken cake with candy for a festive effect. Turn a sunken cake into an ice cream cake to please the young at heart.

Q: If you’re not sleeping enough, you may be tempted to snack at night. Getting too little sleep will also leave you feeling tired and drained, which makes it harder to stay active during the day. Try to get to bed early enough every night so that you can get at least 8-10 hours of sleep.  Try to go to bed and wake up at the same times every day.  Practice good sleep hygiene by turning off bright screens at least half an hour before bed and keeping your room quiet, dark, and comfortable at night. Try establishing a relaxing bedtime routine, like doing yoga, meditating, reading, or taking a warm bath or shower before bed. Stress can sap your energy and make you want to overeat. The process of losing weight can also be stressful, so find ways to help yourself relax and unwind. Some good stress-relieving activities include:   Meditating and doing deep breathing exercises  Doing yoga Spending time with friends, family, and pets Going for walks and spending time outdoors Doing creative activities or working on hobbies Being body positive doesn’t mean that you have to be happy with everything about your body. Instead, focus on loving and respecting your body, accepting its quirks and unique features, and looking for ways to care for it.  Think of your body as a friend or loved one. Treat it kindly. Instead of focusing on achieving an “ideal” weight or body type, think in terms of what you can do to stay healthy and feeling good. Losing weight is a long process. To do it safely and effectively, you’ll need to commit to permanent lifestyle changes. For most people, it’s healthy and realistic to aim for losing 1–2 pounds (0.45–0.91 kg) per week. It’s normal for your weight loss to slow down and even stop eventually after you start a new diet and exercise routine. If this happens and you still need to lose more weight, don’t get discouraged. Ask your doctor if you can safely cut more calories or increase your physical activity level. Occasional setbacks are a normal part of the weight loss process. If you slip up and eat too much or forget to exercise for a few days, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, gently steer yourself back to your healthy routine and move on. If you’re upset with yourself because you recently gained back a couple pounds, look back at your overall weight loss since you first started instead. It’s normal and expected that you’ll have occasional ups and downs in your weight.
A:
Get at least 8-10 hours of good sleep per night. Try stress-relieving activities. Be body positive. Expect slow progress when you’re losing weight. Take it easy on yourself if you slip up.