Birdcage Cake

 

This birdcage cake is an orange cake with a filling of orange marmalade and cannoli cream with walnuts.   I am not at all in favor of caging birds despite the beautifully decorative birdcages available to keep birds as pets.  Maybe some birds are comfortable and even happy in these beautiful cages.  Personally, I value freedom more than anything and I wish and hope for freedom from a life of oppression for everyone in this world. Here’s to world peace. 

 “It would be my greatest sadness to see Zionists (Jews) do to Palestinian Arabs much of what Nazis did to Jews.” — Albert Einstein

Fan Cake

A handheld folding fan has been used to keep cool for thousands of years.  These fans have been depicted in Egyptian art 4000 years as well as the Chinese since the ancient times.  These folding fans have been used not only to keep cool but also as part of ceremonial and ritual purposes and as fashion accessory in many cultures of the world such as Chinese, Japanese, Burmese, Thai as well as European. In Europe these folding fans were introduced in 15th and early 16th century and later became an important fashion accessory in the social circles of Europe.  The fans are especially popular in Spain, where flamenco dancers use them as part of their act to add a sensual element to their performance.

My Mom loved these hand fans and had quite a collection. Today, the 25^th of December 2024 we got together to remember Mom with this fan cake. The cake was a plain vanilla cake with whip cream.  I made long pieces of white chocolate and put them together to look like a hand held folding fan. 

 

Lock and key cake

 

This Lock cake was almond cake with marzipan filling. Key was made of fondant. This cake was inspired by the escalating turmoil in the Middle East. Human beings are most cruel to their own species whereas animals only show aggression when in fear or hungry.  When will this end? Desperately praying for a world of peace and freedom from aggression. 

“There's a Palestine that dwells inside all of us, a Palestine that needs to be rescued: a free Palestine where all people regardless of color, religion, or race coexist; a Palestine where the meaning of the word "occupation" is only restricted to what the dictionary says rather than those plenty of meanings and connotations of death, destruction, pain, suffering, deprivation, isolation and restrictions that Israel has injected the word with.”
― Refaat Alareer, Gaza Writes Back

“If you expect the worst, you'll never be disappointed.”

― Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key

Nail Polish cake

Getting our nails done has become quite popular ritual in today’s society, especially before big events, or during summer when we all want our nails to shine.

The first nail salon dedicated to nail care was opened in 1878 in New York City. Founder Mary Cobb learned about nails in France, and then brought the concept to NY.  The idea soon caught on with big companies such as Cutex and Revlon in the early 1900s. Cutex launched its first nail product in 1911 with a product to soften the cuticles around the nail. They also created liquid nail polish in 1925 and for a while nail polish was referred as “Cutex”.

Revlon began by inventing nail polish that was made using pigments instead of dyes in 1920. By 1932 nail polishes were sold in drugstores and department stores, making it available to the masses.

Acrylic nails appeared In 1957; a dentist named Frederick Slack broke his nail at work. He ended up patching it up with aluminum foil and dental acrylic. The look of the nail was so good that he collaborated with his brother to create and then patent the acrylic nail.

Today nails are a multi-billion dollar industry and still growing thanks to social media.  Nail art of today is more than just part of grooming but has been exhibited in Museums; It is creative, glamorous, and even over the top and sometimes downright scandalous.  Our nails are a vehicle to express who we are or who we want to be.

This cake is ode to our expression of self. The bottle was a carrot cake with cream cheese filling and the lid was an almond cake.  This cake shows breathable, halal nail polish. Halal certification has become an important element in the Islamic communities of the world.  Breathable nail polish allows water to penetrate. 

Enjoy

A woman is helpless only while her nail polish is drying.

 

Teacup cake

I grew up in a place where socializing over a cup of tea was the norm.  Anytime anyone came for a visit we put the kettle on.  There are hundreds of tea flavors, but our favorite was a simple black tea steeped in a teapot.

Tea is known to contain caffeine which stimulates the central nervous system thereby making us feel alert and focused after drinking a cuppa.  Tea also contains an amino acid, “L-theanine” that promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety. L-theanine increases the levels of a neurotransmitter called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) which reduces the stress response in the brain. And when we combine theanine with caffeine in a cup of tea we experience a boost in our brain activity as well mood.

This cake was fun to make. I first made a white chocolate cup using a bowl as a mold, then I filled it with the fruit and nut cake and mascarpone cream filling. The birthday girl did not want to cut it.

So, let’s socialize with a cup of tranquility and a slice of a teacup cake!

 

Black Channel purse cake

 

Another Channel purse, the sign of elegance, luxury and status.  Personally, I believe a purse is just a pretty accessory to carry essentials.  I have no interest in radiating status and wealth by carrying a handbag with a charmed designer inscription.  A handbag can be a practical and beautiful accessory without clamorous proclaimation “Look! I am rich”.   I would rather spend on helping someone with eye surgery to regain sight. 

Nevertheless, designer handbags are indeed works of art much coveted and enjoyed by the elegant ladies of the 21^st century.  This designer handbag was a cranberry and walnut cake with whip cream filling. It was fun to make, especially the texture on the flap.  Enjoy!

 

I want to speak up and tell you that mascara and clothes don't make you cool, neither do name-brand handbags, but being a leader can.    Renee Olstead

Handbags, I don't at all like them because they occupy my hands. My hands always have to be ready in case I need to slap somebody.    Miriam Defensor Santiago

Kitchen mixer cake

 

This cake is an ode to edible art that delights all the senses. Baking is not just creation of tasty treats; it is also an experience, an art that brings joy and comfort. I find baking extremely therapeutic and a fabulous source of stress relief.  Imagine the feel of relaxed content when the house fills with the fragrance of a freshly paked pie.  

I made this mixer cake for a lovely friend who bakes fabulous cakes and confections.  The stand was supported by fondant, the top was rice crispie treats and the bowl was made of chocolate with vanilla cake and canoli filling with walnuts. Yum!

 

 

“In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips.” – Salman Rushdie