Saturday, November 26, 2016

Pikachu cake




So many kids are obsessed with Pokemon….... Pikachu is a Pokemon which are fictional creatures that appear in an assortment of video games, animated television shows and movies, trading card games, and comic books licensed by a Japanese company. OK so this is all about a strange –rather absurd fantasy world.  While I am a serious supporter of creativity, lets live in the real world.   But then what is REAL?    we all live in different realities; can someone in an affluent, comfortable  town in Florida ever imagine the reality of someone in a war torn, town in Syria?

God has blessed us with "portions", different amounts so we need each other to create a balanced society. Some people have more money, some have more beauty, brains, luck, love......................This does not make one BETTER than the other, but it gives some opportunities to serve humanity. We need each other. If we were all rich like Scrooge McDuck, who would sell us food?  We need to serve each other to create a balanced society; a better/peaceful world


This tasty Pikachu is a chocolate cake with chocolate chips inside and a chocolate raspberry cream filling. 


Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Planet Earth


Here is a cake that depicts my home, my Planet Earth. The beautiful marble in the sky that is home to 7 billion humans and millions of species of biodiversity.

There is just too much negativity around us these days. Let us be human beings first with an equal chance to live our lives the way we choose, without limitations based on gender, race, religion or any other random idea. This beautiful Earth houses people from all cultures, colors and creed.  Instead of wasting our energy on fear, suspicion and hate, lets learn about each other and celebrate the distinctive colors that paint our different nations.

For a green and peaceful future let’s protect our home this planet Earth. How about something simple like turning off the faucet while brushing teeth and fixing that leaky toilet?  Lets filter and drink tap water instead of bottled water, so we dont waste all that packaging. Wash clothes in cold water when possible.


Praying for peace on Earth- my home, my Planet Earth…. a place I did not need a visa to enter---- or a passport. 



Monday, October 31, 2016

Spider cake




Wont you come into my parlor- said the spider to the fly------------


Why are people afraid of spiders? They even have a name for it “Arachnophobia”. Arachnophobia is one of the top ten phobias experienced around the world, with millions of sufferers across the globe.
So what makes spiders so terrifying? Maybe it is the threat of being bitten? Or is it the seemingly erratic movements of spiders, and their “legginess”?. Scientists who have studied this fear of spiders explain it to be a result of evolutionary selection. So Arachnophobia is an evolutionary response, since spiders, especially the venomous ones, have always been associated with infections and disease. Hence, the fear of spiders triggers a “disgust response” in many individuals. I am not sure I buy that. Personally I am not bothered by the sight of spiders. Maybe because I have never been bitten by one or felt one crawling up my arm.

Spider webs are so beautiful and amazing.  I remember tossing paper pellets on to spider webs and watching the spiders scurry towards their catch. After a few unpalatable paper pellets they did not hurry to check any more. Although walking into a spiderweb has made me act like a  karate master I like these beautiful creatures. 


This spider with a Cheshire cat grin, is an almond cake with almond buttercream filling. Enjoy an arachnid slice. 




Monday, August 22, 2016

Amethyst Geode Cake


Geode is a small cavity in rock lined with crystals or other mineral matter. Geodes grow over many thousands of years through the action of water flowing through rocks. Some geodes form in the cavities of limestone and shale. Others are found in places where gas has bubbled up through molten lava from volcanoes. When the lava cools and hardens, the bubbles leave cavities in which geodes form.

Inside the geode are many sparkling crystals that point inward. The crystals act like prisms, reflecting and refracting light to produce a dazzling display of colors. Nature is amazing, and one can never seize to marvel at the beauty around us. 

So I made a cake that looks like an amethyst geode. We can't go wrong with a design like this, there are no mistakes. It was a chocolate cake with dark chocolate ganache and chocolate mousse filling. The geode part was rock candy of different colors. 







Sunday, August 14, 2016

Princess Castle cake


This cake was for fifth birthday celebration of a lovely 5 year old princess. Thank heavens for little girls! They are precious gifts; one of the most beautiful miracles in life, one of the greatest joys we can ever know, and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine, laughter and happiness in our world. 

What with a woman running for president, all little girls can believe that possibilities are endless for them. So go for it, my little chickies.... reach for the stars--- storm the castle with your ambitions. 



The bottom layer was a chocolate cake with Chocolate ganache and chocolate mousse fillings.  The top tier was carrot nut cake.  I used Wilton's castle cake kit for the turrets, but I did cover them with fondant and gave it texture and some gold dusting. 

It was a challenge to keep the structure from falling apart since kids kept touching and poking at the cake all evening. 





Tuesday, May 24, 2016

The Hat cake

This hat signifies my life as it is at this time for I indeed wear several hats. I am a scientist by profession and also a pastry chef, a pilot and an artist. I love to create delicious and interesting confections such as this hat cake. It is a chocolate cake with raspberry chocolate ganache filling and layered with raspberry filling. Buttons are dark chocolate. If it doesent tastes beter than it looks I will eat my hat... this one!

I served this at my college reunion which was a festive event, hats off to the organizers and while we are at it, hats off to Madam Curie, Madam Tussards, Madam CJ Walker, Madam Noor Jehan, Madam Rosmerta and also to all the older graduates of my college who are no longer addressed as "Miss" but are now "M'am".

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Green Vauxhall


My grandfather had an olive green, 1949 Vauxhall.  He was a professor of physics; a very honest and disciplined patriarch of the family. No one dared disobey him. At least not openly.  This one time his two daughters-in-law went to the movies on the sly, and just as they entered the movie theater the green vauxhall showed up --- gig was up! He knew!.


This car cake is not the right year, but I made it in remembrance of a very different world.  It was for my brother's 60th birthday; a yellow cake with cannoli filling, yum.