Rubik's cube cake

 

The Rubik's Cube is a 3-D puzzle invented by Ernő Rubik in the 1970s.  It was very popular in the 1980 when I learnt to solve it thanks to the tutoring of my cousin, Shami.  I was able to solve it in 4 minutes, which is not even close to the champions who solve this within seconds.  Alas I digressed in my life and since forgot some moves and can no longer solve it. Nevertheless, I made a cake that looks like my favorite puzzle that I can no longer solve.   The cake was my famous carrot walnut cake with cream cheese filling.

“If you are curious, you'll find the puzzles around you. If you are determined, you will solve them.” 

-- Erno Rubik

Covid

 

COVID ('CO'  for 'corona,' 'VI' for 'virus,' and 'D' for disease) started in 2019 and spread globally as a pandemic in 2020.  It is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Genomic analysis reveals that SARS-CoV-2 is phylogenetically associated with SARS viruses. The transmission of the virus mainly occurs through person-to-person via direct contact or droplets produced by coughing, sneezing and talking.  COVID-19 has claimed close to 75 million infected and over 1.6 million deaths worldwide.  Wow what a year it has been! Lockdown for 11-12 weeks and then careful opening of businesses with standard protocols including temperature measurements, mask on faces and constant reminder to wash hands.  Pandemic or not, washing hands when entering your house and wiping the handles of shopping carts has always been the norm for my house. 

Scientific studies (Guojun et al 2020) indicate that the pandemic situation has significantly improved air quality in different cities across the world, by reducing GHGs emission, reduction of water pollution and noise.  On the other hand our Earth must deal with increased medical waste, haphazard use and disposal of disinfectants, PPE like masks, and gloves; and burden of untreated wastes continuously endanger the environment.  Only time will tell the long term consequences. 

The lockdown was a good time for families to spend time together like never before.  It would be interesting to compile a list detailing how this year effected us. For me I mostly missed the travel.  It was amazingly difficult to cancel trips and none of them refunded the expense. I do have credit, but travel might not resume very quickly- I can only hope my credit will be good when I AM ready to use it again. 

Other than that I have been fortunate enough to work from home all year. Anything I needed was delivered to my doorstep thanks to on line shopping. However, it has been a lonely year. In an attempt to stay safe and save lives, our usual ways of seeing family, friends or just familiar faces have been put on pause.  Even after the lockdown was over and we started meeting friends and family; we have been sadly avoiding hugs and handshakes.  It is not over yet, but with the vaccine in place we do see a light at the end of the tunnel.  This too shall pass!

So I made a cake that looks like COVID virus and this was a symbolic stabbing and devouring of the virus to mark the end of this pandemic.  The cake was a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.  The receptors were made of fondant.  It is not a perfect icosehedral 

Best healing Prayer--- "Remove the harm, O Lord of mankind and heal him/her, for You are the Healer and there is no healing except Your healing, with a cure which does not leave any disease behind. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5675)

SARS-CoV-2 Virus

Viruses are a tiny beings consisting of genetic material covered with protein. They infect cells by injecting the genetic materials inside the host cells and using the host machinery to replicate.  Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belonging to the β coronavirus family is a single-stranded RNA-enveloped virus. A large number of glycosylated S proteins cover the surface of SARS-CoV-2 and bind to the host cell receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), mediating viral cell entry.  Once the virus enters the cell, the viral RNA is released, polyproteins are translated from the RNA genome, and replication and transcription of the viral RNA genome occur. Viral RNA is replicated, and structural proteins are synthesized, assembled, and packaged in the host cell, after which viral particles are released (Fig) (Huang et al 2020)

References

• Huang et al, Structural and functional properties of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: potential antivirus drug development for COVID-19, Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 2020, 41:1141–1149. 

• Guojun et al. The short-term impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on urban air pollution in China. Nature Sustainability volume, 2020, 3:1005–1011. 

Jewelry Cake

 

A jewelry cake for a jewel of a person; a lovely person who is beautiful inside out. A person who lights up the room and mesmerizes with her long narratives pertaining to her philosophies and experiences.   She is the least materialistic person ever. A doctor by profession she has selflessly donated her services to the poor, remotest villages of the Himalayan mountains.  Friendships indeed have a huge impact on happiness and the enjoyment, and fun of life.  I indeed feel blessed to have lovely friends in my life.

The jewelry is made of chocolate and dragees and sugar diamond in the center. The cake was a chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse crunch filling. The sugar crunch was divine. 

“If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you.”

– Winnie the Pooh

Bagpack cake

 

This cake is for a dear friend who, in spite of being the embodiment of style and professionalism insists on carrying this bag. Nothing wrong with that, it is indeed a very practical bag. Fashion accessories have grown to be an undeniable section of our personality. Bags are these wonderful embellishments that jazz up our look and complete the ensemble, or they can just be a practical piece of luggage to carry items of need. 

For my lovely friend's birthday, I decided to make a cake identical to her bag with a few possible items that it might contain. The bag is an almond cake with almond ricotta filling. The lipstick and makeup items are made of marzipan.  She did not want to cut it!

Squid cake

This is a cute looking squid from some video game for a 14 year old’s birthday.  I made the cake from a picture and this is how it turned out.  It was a coconut cake with whip cream filling. 

So COVID-19 is on the surge.  As the pandemic drags on, it is becoming harder and harder to follow the prevention guidelines. Distancing efforts have increased feelings of social isolation and loneliness for many people.  Human beings are social animals, so social isolation can be particularly unpleasant and can lead to very negative impact on physical and mental health.

Complacence is dangerous at this time, but it appears like nothing can keep us from celebrating Thanksgiving and getting together with friends and family.  We are experiencing pandemic fatigue. In-spite of news of vaccines I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel just yet.  This sounds pessimistic but this strange year has imbued a rather toxic uncertainty in us. 

This too shall pass----- 

 

Lipstick cake

 

During the great depression of the United States in the 1930s, Mr Leonard Lauder, of The Estee Lauder group, first proposed the theory of “lipstick effect”.  This theory stipulates that when facing an economic crisis, consumers can not spend a lot of money, but wearing lipstick will increase their confidence, enthusiasm and excitement.  In my opinion wearing lipstick can help us overcome ANY crisis. 

In serious cases of depression or anxiety, no one would suggest that beauty is an acceptable replacement for professional help or medical treatment. Nevertheless, dedicating a little time to ourselves and our body each day can help make us feel a little happier, a little more at peace, and a little less afraid and more in control.  That red lipstick can certainly initiate a jolt of confidence but make sure you wear a smile with that lipstick. 

This birthday cake was for a lovely friend who is a skilled makeup artist.   “The best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural.”― Calvin Klein.  She specializes in painting that “natural” look.  

Each section of the cake was a different flavor; the bottom was carrot cake with cream cheese filling, the long tube was almond cake with almond cannoli filling and the red part was a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling.  Enjoy!

“If you’re sad, add more lipstick and attack.”  ― Coco Chanel

Coffee mug cake

Its an edible coffee mug - a cake for my dear friend's 92nd birthday. She is an inspiration and a role model- God bless.  She drinks her morning coffee in a huge mug that she insists must be filled to the brim.  So I made a tumbler that is even larger.  It is an almond cake with intense almond filling.  The "tea" was caramel spread on top. 

In spite of the COVID-imposed social distancing a few of her friends and family gathered to celebrate. Her daughter cut generous pieces of the cake to distribute among the neighbors who were respectfully distancing for her protection.  Love you loads my friend, I hope to make a fabulous cake for you again next year in-shaa-Allah (God willing). 

So COVID-19 a subject of fear and fascination is still a threat,  in fact surges in the number of cases are being reported all over the world.  It has been over six months of social distancing and masks and no hand shakes.  Social contacts can buffer the negative effects of stress so this quarantine fatigue is leading to serious depression and uncertainty. While we will never go back to pre-COVID state we all crave for some sort of normalcy--- a new, post COVID normalcy. This historical experience is shared by all who live through the year 2020; but will it end once 2020 is over?  Perhaps not, but it WILL be behind us eventually.  Here's to a new, post COVID era of heightened consideration for each other, more compassion, better health- Amen. 

Absolem on a toadstool- cake

Absolem is a really cute, hookah smoking caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland.  This cake was not for a Mad Hatter tea party, but for a post COVID-19, "enchanted forest" theme party.  We are not quite "post" COVID-19 yet, but the infection is lower in intensity, in some parts of the world.   It has been a strange year, indeed. Who knew that washing hands would be the novel new trend? Money is passed around many hands yet we don't disinfect it perhaps we should iron our dollar bills.

Humans are social beings so this "social distancing" has been the cause of serious physical and psychological effects on the quarantined. Some are responding by involving in domesticity of baking cakes, reading books and taking long baths, nevertheless the strain of isolation begins to fray even the most optimistic.  We miss the smiles (now hidden behind a mask) hugs (no longer allowed) the familiar energies of other humans we are so used to. 

Perhaps the worse is over?  No one really knows.   There is really no prescience of a vaccine  so far and the threat of a serious resurgence still looms like a dark cloud.  But life has to go on so my friends had a backyard party with "enchanted forest" theme.  Absolem on this cake watched us socialize for the first time in 6 months. 

So after the party everyone gargled with salt water and some inhaled steam as an added precaution. 

This too shall pass- In-shaa-Allah (God Willing)

September 2020

Rikshaw cake

Colorful, bold and ornate art and poetry on trucks has become a sign of  cultural expression of Pakistan. In Pakistan, in the 1920s Bedford trucks imported from England were fitted with large wooden prows on top of the truck bed. Known as a taj, or crown, the ornate prow was also accompanied by decorative bumpers and wood paneling along the cabin. In the late 1940s, when trucks began long-haul journeys to deliver goods, each company designed a logo so that illiterate people would understand who owned the truck. Over time, these logos became increasingly ornate; the more flamboyant the design, the better for business.  In addition, humorous statements and poetry add to the exclusivity of the designs.  

"Truck art" has been adopted by auto rickshaws of Pakistan.  This rickshaw cake was fun to make, especially the final painting of "truck art".  It was a coconut cake with whip cream filling. 

Pineapple

This was a cake for a Hawaiian theme birthday party.  It did not seem much of a challenge, but it was fun to decorate. It was a vanilla bean cake with pineapple filling. 

In this day of pandemic and quarantines it was refreshing to do something creative. I could really not make interesting cakes during quarantine since there was no party to share the cakes at. I delivered this cake on the second day of unlock in NY. 

We all have had a tough 11 odd weeks of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I was not happy about canceling my travel plans, but I am thankful I was in my home with all facilities of comfort. My lovely friends played quarantine games and socialized through on-line party rooms where everyone talked and no-one heard. Then there was a lovely Facebook group "View from my window" where people from around the world posted pictures of their views--- along with some news tidbits about themselves leading to some major cathartic posts. Much thankful for all these 21st century gadgets. Also MUCH MUCH thankful for health and safety of myself and my friends and family.  

The world is a different place now; I believe life has changed for us and the new norms will be different.  perhaps better? We shall see.

May God protect us from harm in all shape and form, Ameen.