Chanel Purse Cake

 

Chanel is an iconic French luxury fashion house celebrated for its high fashion. It was founded in 1910 by "Coco" Chanel in Paris with revolutionary "comfortable" yet elegant fashion that liberated women from restrictive corsets. This Chanel handbag cake features the signature double-C turn-lock, double flap design, interwoven leather-and-chain strap, and diamond quilting. A high-end purse is much more than a functional storage accessory—it serves as a vehicle for expression of confidence and self empowerment. 

This edible representative of fashion was an almond cake with chocolate ganache filling. Yum. 

A girl should be two things- Classy and fabulous---- Coco Chanel. 

I dont care what you think of me, I dont think of you at all--- Coco Chanel.

Drum Cake

 

A drum cake for my musically inclined brother.  There was a time when drums served as tools for long distance communication, announcing events, and passing down history and cultural identity.  Maybe this mode of communication still exists.  

This was a vanilla cake with walnuts and craisins and a raspberry filling. May this drum cake herald peace on Earth.   

 

"The drum without a drummer is silent." — African Proverb 

(Meaning: Tools and potential are useless without effort and engagement).

 

Another purse cake

 

The purse cake represents a fascinating amalgam of culinary art and fashion and has gained popularity as a "statement" piece that acts as a conversation starter at events. I made this as a fun gift for a lovely aunt’s 83^rd birthday where it was more an edible centerpiece than dessert.  It is not an edible knockoff of any brand.

 

While we enjoy our lovely parties let’s not forget the less fortunate in this world, especially those living in war-torn areas. While we wish and pray for harmony, global peace is currently at its lowest level in recent history.  WORLD---PLEASE STOP FIGHTING. 

Peach cake

 

A peach cake for a peach of a Mom on her birthday- she would have been 100 today. Peach was her favorite fruit.  The cake did not taste peachy at all; it was a simple vanilla cake with raspberry filling.  Yum!  Peaches are packed with vitamin A, E and C, carotenoids and other antioxidants that support skin, immunity, and eye health.  Peaches originated in China and there are over 2000 varieties of this fruit.  What a delicious gift for mankind!

"Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education." – Mark Twain 

Cooking pot cake

Cooking up a storm with a cooking pot cake with meatballs in red curry. The cake shell was white chocolate and inside that was an almond cake with almond cannoli filling. The meatballs were Ferrero Rocher chocolate. the red sauce was red chocolate ganache. Yum. Underneath the cake some fairy lights simulate cooking fire. 

As we savor the delicious cake let us not forget those less fortunate and hungry in this world.  God has distributed His bounty unevenly so we need each other. Here's to hope for a better world where man does not let his brother starve. 

"You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. This is how prayer works." - Pope Francis 

 

Amazon Package cake

Online shopping has changed the face of purchasing considerably especially since the COVID confinement of 2020-2022. The convenience allows 24/7 shopping, with a huge selection, convenient delivery and then there are customer reviews and easy returns.  But then the pleasure of touching and smelling the product is lacking. The personal touch and immediate gratification is missing. Amazon.com shopping is so convenient and downright addictive, nevertheless Shopping at malls will not become obsolete; we still need the social aspects of shopping in malls. 

This is a carrot cake with cream cheese filling shaped like an Amazon package. Several people grabbed it like a box in an attempt to open it- It was pretty smudged by the time it was cut. Finally we had to place a sign of "Cake---do not touch" in front of it. 

"Ecommerce isn't the cherry on the cake, it's the new cake" Jean Paul Ago

I have a whole system down for returning online shopping: a tape gun, a printer for return labels. That has replaced traditional window shopping in my life, as I've gotten busier.

Mindy Kaling

 

Coke cake

This coca Cola bottle cake was fun to make. I took a coke bottle and cut it, then lined it with chocolate and then filled with pistachio cake with kunefe/pistachio layer and pistachio flavored cream. 

Pistachio kunefe flavor is becoming quite popular since the viral trend of the Dubai Chocolate bar.  Kunefe adds an interesting texture; not as crispy as rice crispies, but somewhat chewy. Yum.


 

Strawberry shaped cake

Strawberries have been used as symbols of love, purity, and even the Virgin Mary, as well as a symbol for romantic gestures. This “strawberry” shaped cake does not allude to any of this.  Strawberry is a beautiful, delicious and nutritious fruit.  I just wanted to make a cake that looks like this luscious fruit.   It was an almond cake with almond cannoli filling.

Today I focus on hope; to invent it, to insist on it. Hope and aspiration for an end to conflict and violence. While we wait for what happens next in this world let’s hope for peace and justice. Perhaps hope comes with faith in the inherent balance of the universe and/or faith in the Almighty. May tomorrow’s sun bring a dawn of peace on this blue marble, Amen.

 

 

Shoebox cake

 

Shoes are essential footwear to cushion and protect feet, however, in this day and age they have evolved into a much complex psycho social phenomenon. Shoes can boost confidence, make an impression of personality and status,  protect feet, and even deliver the little extra support we might need to win a race.  Shoes seriously influence fashion and individual expression and also our outlook.  Beautiful heels can change the whole appearance, alas! with age I can no longer wear heels, so I must content with flats for comfort.

This cake is in the form of a designer shoebox. The cake was a pistachio cake with ricotta icing. The sides of the box and shoes were made of white chocolate.  Yum!

A woman with good shoes is never ugly.” - Coco Chanel

Rubab Cake

 

The rubab, a stringed instrument,  is the national musical instrument of Afghanistan. It has a deep sound that is very soothing. My brother has one and he loves to play it. I made this cake for his 70^th birthday.  We love to celebrate birthdays although getting older is no achievement. Ageing gracefully and joyfully are the most popular, but  I believe ageing thankfully is the key. There is so much to be thankful for. Today I am thankful for my brother who turned 70 with a smile. 

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

 

Red Hat Cake

First record of a hat is in a painting in a cave at Lussac-les-Chateaux in Central France and it dates some 15.000 BC.  Hats have been worn as a symbol of status, as protection from cold and sun, for safety and also for identification. 

I love the colorful hats that Queen Elizabeth II used to wear, so perfectly matched with her outfits. Over her 70-year reign, she established the hat as a symbol of sophisticated elegance.  She was a legend; the epitome of charm, grace, dignity, honor, wisdom, strength, compassion and humour. She managed to live in quiet dignity above all the noise.

I would have liked to have met her and perhaps present her with this hat cake. It is a walnut-craisin cake with cannoli filling.  Rest in peace your majesty! This cake is for you. 

 

Candy cascade cake

 

Have a Cuppa Candy

Americans are known for their food indulgence and obesity, however, it turns out that less than 2 percent of all calories in the American diet come from candy.  So candy is not the culprit for obesity but tooth decay is definitely caused by sweets.   Sugar in candy interacts with specific bacteria in mouth, producing enamel-demineralizing acids. These acids strip essential minerals from tooth enamel. Once the enamel is weakened, teeth are much susceptible to cavities, followed by pain, sensitivity, tooth decay, and eventually tooth loss if left untreated. Nevertheless, candy remains a universal symbol of sweetness and joy. 

Did you know that M&Ms were originally created for soldiers in World War II? The hard candy shell was designed to prevent the chocolate inside from melting in high temperatures. This made them an ideal snack for soldiers on the battlefield.

This was an almond cake with marzipan filling. A cascade of M&Ms into a cup of caramel. Enjoy!

"Getting a sugar rush, one candy at a time."

Shirt tie cake

 

Shirt tie cake for my brother’s birthday.  It was a plain vanilla cake with chocolate ganache icing.

"Dressing well is a form of good manners." - Tom Ford 

My brother is pretty suave and well dressed in a traditional and rather old fashioned, British style.  He wears these three piece suits accessorized with pocket watch. He refuses to wear comfortable jeans and sweats so popular in this day and age.  I think this dress shirt reflects his personality quite well.

"A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life." - Oscar Wilde