Here's to the Sweet Life

 

Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. For me, in a funny way, making New Year’s resolutions follows that definition. So before 2013 begins, embrace the past year as being exactly as it was meant to be. So what if you didn't get to accomplish what you wanted to last year!  Accept what is and get clear on what you want moving forward. Shout it to the Universe and know that every day (never mind every year) is a new slate. I say this with great optimism as I fall victim to the Repressed Resolution Makers' club.  Although I did accomplish many things this past year, there are still greater things I would like to do but in a more retrospective way; I'm talking about doing something for my soul this year.  Something that can give me a renowned sense of being alive. Something that can also have counter effects because dammit dangitt...I am far less perfect than the pope and I know I will have several hiccups and setbacks in the repreival of good intentions. Did I mention I headed up the Good Girls Gone Astray Because Someone Pissed Them Off club?   So this year, my New Year's Resolutions are taking on a new meaning...kinda sorta. So in my own sickly retrospective way, here are my 10 New Year's Revolutions Resolutions (just kidding) for my soul, always with some attached minor clause of course:

1. I resolve to love myself each and every day with all my flaws unless I’m having a bad hair day or the bags under my eyes are protruding.
2. I resolve to allow others to be themselves even if I prefer they were more like me :)
3. I resolve to see the positive aspects of every situation unless it makes me sick or throw up. 
4. I resolve to express appreciation daily unless I'm in jail.
5. I resolve to tell the inner judge to go away unless they are guilty of a fashion disgrace.
6. I resolve to forgive myself and others. This year I really mean it!
7. I resolve to spend less time reliving the past and more worrying about the future.  Hmmm...which is the lesser of two evils?
   
8. I resolve to spend as much time with Mother Nature as possible…well so long as it doesn’t cause me to sweat or freeze.
9. I resolve to shut down the computer, turn off my phone, and connect with my loved ones for quality time each and every day…unless we are making fun of people falling on YouTube. 
10. I resolve to live and let live!

Life is dense, just like Red Velvet cake  but sometimes it is  sweeter than a slice of Hummingbird cake and sometimes it takes on a different meaning when piled high with dollops of whipped cream and sometimes it looks better on the outside than it tastes but just like cake... LIFE is a variety of choices. So fellow cake enthusiasts, enjoy your choices with a nice, tall glass of something.  Do not covet anyone else's slice.  Enjoy the plethora of slices...even if you pick the one that looks better than it tastes!

Happy New Year!

 

Faith...how sweet it is!

Where does the time go? It's July already and the fact that retailers are merchandising their Christmas trees only adds to the notion that time sure does fly!   But with that being said, it is halfway through the year and I can say I have stubbornly in most ways obliged to my New Year's resolutions and then some.  Sooooo...I get this cylinder maroon thinggy majiggy in the mail the other day.  Even with no return address, I shrug my shoulders in various spasmodic poses followed by a mildly pretentious giddiness as I study it.  And then I smile.  I carefully remove the label, gently scratching away at the shreds of tape holding the seams together and then pop off the top.  And in this pretty concoction, is my latest goal...achieved.  I finally finished my degree after years of whining and making every excuse in the book to not finish.  To get there, I had to endure many late nights, mental post breakdowns and mini panic attacks that don't seem so grueling now.  Many times I wanted to throw in the towel, ignore an assignment, enter nonsense gibberish in a post whilst seeking only my word count requirement but in those moments, there was always something that steered me straight.  Perhaps it was faith.  Ah yes...that word!  Defined as a strong, unshakable belief in something, it can define almost anything; you just gotta have it and once you've tasted it, you will want to keep going back for seconds and then before you know it, it becomes this potluck thing that becomes your specialty and people always rely on you to bring it to every occasion.  Where is Laura? Will she be bringing her specialty "faith a la mode"?  "Oh, of course" they will say.  "A party just isn't a party without that dish."  (Insert a handful of applauds and deep sighs).  Well...okay so the backyard barbecue conversations are a bit much and perhaps a wee bit oh...let's say over-the-top but nonetheless, this is what plays in my head  when I think about the changes that I need to make in my life and that I have to have faith to know believe everything will work out just fine.  Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too?  Please!  Faith will quickly disseminate that phrase.  Listen to Gandhi or Mother Teresa or heck, even me (please excuse my lack of modesty while I insert myself into a sentence with those two legends).  Have faith in all you do and in the meantime Keep Calm and well you know...eat cake.

Truly Delicious!

Urban legends?  Myths?  Town gossip?  Do any of these things entice you?  Would you answer differently if enticed with a piece of pie?  Of course! And that's what happened to me when I took a country drive to Hico, Texas where the town motto is “Where Everybody is Somebody!”  This quaint town seems friendly enough to discount the fallacies it has been burdened with for years. The Koffee Kup Restaurant located in the heart of the town is a popular cafe known for its world famous pies which incidentally are topped with a serious peak of meringue but also for the urban legend that the restaurant once named The Koffee Kup Kafe was a meeting ground for the infamous Ku Klux Klan. The story goes that the name created somewhat of a squawk that the owners found it necessary to change it.  People visit this cafe for several reasons. It made Texas Monthly’s list of top 40 cafes, it caught Guy Fieri's attention, and for the fascination of the town saga. Seated at the entrance table, I noticed there were names carved into the wood, undoubtedly preserved with oodles of layered lacquer.  The longer I sat, the more time my mind had to go into convulsions as I tried to further analyze the credence of the tall tell. What did these names represent? Even though I had already came up with my own spin, I finally worked up the nerve to ask the waitress.  "Oh those names...those are just names of some coffee club members that used to come in every morning; they're probably already dead since that was along time ago", she said. Posing in what I call my disbelief stance...tilting my head then squinting my eyes, I responded with this uncontrollable wit that was dying to come out even though afterward, I couldn't believe I said it!  "Hm...I bet none of those guys ever took their coffee black huh?"  I snickered.as I was trying desperately to lighten things up for my sake.  It was apparent she didn't think I was funny. "OK, stop it Laura before you get in trouble and enjoy the pie she just brought!" Ah yes...the pie!  One bite is all it took to lose interest in any ole spoof. There is certainly one thing though that I know is TRUE.  Their pecan pie was oh soooo good!  It's so easy to get carried away in our  imagination that we tend to add to or mix up the story but one thing I cannot coil is that our taste buds cannot be persuaded into believing something is not good when it is! 

Disclaimer:  To anyone who reads this and could potentially have ties with the aforementioned organization, this post was not intended to infuse the myth or to stir up any trouble. Any resemblance to names appearing here could simply be coincidental and the words contained herein are just a set of carefully laid out nouns and verbs with a few conjunctions, if you will; therefore the writer cannot be held libel for her own silly musings.  It's a simple post from a sick simple minded girl who just likes to eat pie. That's it! 

Sweet-Talkin' Resolutions

The beginning of a new year strikes us with the notion of a fresh beginning.  Perhaps last year was pretty pathetic, somewhat intolerable or a hair bit dizzy and thank the heavens that it has passed! But in the whilst of letting go, we tend to amplify our thoughts that this year will be "the year".  But "my year" cannot be it unless I  can tame my cynicism and realize that wit does not always win. And this I will certainly seek to get past. Weeks before Jan 1st, I begin to obsess over a premeditated list and as I modify it for the 23rd time, I become overwhelmed.   My list...is it too inconceivable, too uncanny, or perhaps too vain for my own good?  Can I really pull some of these things off?  So instead of fretting, I have modified my list for the 24th time. This year I am going to start small and grow BIG.   Short of an angel apprentice, I have good intentions. I really do!  So with an utmost conviction, I give you my brief list of some things I plan to gamble with in 2012:

1.  Write more...even if it means jotting down incoherent thoughts.  Thank goodness for the military     encryption protection Penzu has created.  Genius!  If only I could remember my password :(
2.  Drink more water.  Something is wrong if I can hold it for 8 hours straight.  This I vow to the organ donor organization and my kidneys will be happy too.
3.  Lay off the white powdered donuts.  Spend that weekly $5.45 to take in a matinee instead,  preferably a funny movie with low Siskel and Ebert reviews. Those guys don't like to laugh.
4.  Pay it forward.  I can so do this.
5.  Forgive. Forgive and forget...or at least don't bring it up in the middle of a fight.
6.  Talk about myself in third person so I can get a better understanding of what the heck I'm thinking. 
7.  Listen...really listen.  Listen without making faces as an implied remark or reaction.  Mother always told me my nose would stay crunched up if I didn't stop making faces!
8.  Judge no one...unless they are wearing black undies with white bottoms.
9.  Take violin lessons...real ones and leave the YouTube lessons for the more advanced.
10. Love myself more so I can love those around me.  

So my fellow cake enthusiasts, enjoy the plethora of wishful thinking and new beginnings whether it be dusting off that ole gym membership, trading in that unreliable scale or being ninny hammered by those electronic cigarettes. If I should fail to accomplish any of these deeds perhaps this year is not "my year".  Happy New Beginnings!  Love L

  

Mama Mia!

Ever daydream of escaping to an Italian vineyard or casually taking the customary passeggiata through the streets of Sienna, Florence, Napoli or Sorrento in search of something delectable for the appetite?  Oh yeah…I’m a girl with big dreams too! Luckily, we have our very own passport to little Italy or better yet… to Nonna Tata which is equally intriguing and even more charismatic.  A quaint little diner located on Magnolia Street, right in the heart of the Fairmont district of Fort Worth, is as close to Italy as your yen can get. Once I had a fill of the never apprehensive focaccia bread blanketed in olive oil and a few glasses of red vino, this girl was ready for dessert! One of the most flirtatious desserts on the menu was the Almond Ricotta cake with lemon sauce, a combination of a rich pudding and caaaaake!  Served warm, the cream center perfectly balanced the texture of the almonds and the tartness of the lemons; can you say …Mama Mia! The delicate taste of almond and lemon compliment each other in a really wonderful way.  And since I’m a natural exaggerator, I’m going to go ahead and say it in my not-so-best Italian Ah…E’ semplicemente magnificio!”  So, get there early in the evening, enjoy the cozy ambience, exhale slowly after each sip of your favorite wine, indulge in the appetizers, get your fill of the pastas and enjoy the immortal desserts! 

Chunka Hunka Burnin' Love

So, on a savory quest to find cake, I stumbled upon the next best thing...a chocolate chunk pie! Oh, and what a fantabulous reprieve! This is just what I've been needing to help clear my cluttered mind. Every bite seemed to help me breathe deeper while every swallow helped me exhale all the worrisome thoughts.  So, it sounds a bit recognizant but ooooh, if only you knew my fellow cake enthusiasts the privies that this untamed and godforesaken groundless girl has held, you'd understand why I had eaten the huge slice of pie almost to its entirety.  Well deserved, I say...well deserved. Is it fair that this rich pie had everything to gain and nothing to lose?  This chunka hunka burnin' love of a traditional pecan pie revamped with endless seepage of caramel and coarse chocolate chunks all mantled perfectly into a delicious crust was the ultimate netherworld I tell ya.  If I compared myself to this pie, I'd say, yep, I'd have everything to gain and nothing to lose too, well...um, maybe five pounds and my dignity.  Maybe?  Nah, dignity, chignity! Sometimes,  we just have to sloooow down and enjoy the sweeter things in life and what a novel idea of mine for today.  Life is fair.  Life is sweet.  Life is cake and pie and chocolate and all it implies AND everything else that causes the serotonins to go gaga and buck wild absent some enhanced narcotic. Life makes no reservation, so go out on a limb and visit the Pie Place & Bakery in Burleson, Texas if you want   a taste of an inhaling life-changing moment.

Happy 2011 Fellow Cake Enthusiasts!

Another year has come and gone.  For the impressionable, I will not negate that I was able to commit to some of 2010’s resolutions...really.  While I didn’t make a dent in the rosin, my poor violin is still shamelessly sitting in a dark corner but on the other hand, I did manage to read some classic novels and some juicy trilogies this year while I let those fab gawd-awful trashy mags collect dust and water rings throughout.  While my self-indulgent Wednesdays have become obselete, I did manage to have a quarter-life crisis while seeping out tantrums galore.  But this is a new year and in the name of social and economic prosperity and for the safety of mankind, here are my intentions for 2011, well kinda:

1. Dulcify my life…a hard lesson has taught me that only I can make myself happy
2. Continue to throw tantrums when I see fit but realize that sometimes pouting, stomping and saying four letter words doesn't work with everyone…will have to get more creative this year!
3. Letting go of my feelings of guilt; this will put me in touch with my sociopath
4. Get lost less...thanks to Tom Tom.
5. Continue to disarm myself with that gym membership…walking and running is cheaper
6. While amidst being at war with my vices, accept that I can’t change who I am and be content with my dual personality...especially when an alibi is needed. (Grin, sigh... explosive grin).
7. Try to not wear so many "stretchy pants" out in public along with those eye soring Crocs…in socks.  If I do get caught in this faux fashion disgrace, accept the fact I may be nominated for the next contender on “What not to Wear”.  Hey, who wouldn’t want to shop in NY? Fancy Smanchy stretchy pants.
8. Continue to hoard my cake guiltlessly
9. Reinstate at least one reckless day as if I were celebrating my 50^th birthday
10. Nothing comes amiss, so I will stop trying to take leaps and bounds and instill baby steps instead.

So kids...enjoy your binge diets, your stiffening will to quit bad habits and your new, shiny gym memberships.  I will be fine in 2011...as long as I am not in prison.

Disparity: "I'm A Gettin' Chocolate Wasted!"

Despite the fact that on this day, I had been feeling somewhat discouraged in both my personal and work life, I made the decision to venture out for cake as a wholly reprieve to yank me from that "oh woe is me" mood. "Get over it Laura! So, things don't always go your way, and here's a bigger shock...no matter how much you stomp and pout and argue with the facts of life, no matter how strong the abyss of disenchantments are, things will still not go your way."  It's a proven fact and it's harsh to come to the realization of it all.  But Ha! what a misconception to my know- it- all and definitely more rational alter ego...things always go my way at McKinley's bakery! You see, when it comes to cake, I can have it all and there is no negative conjunctions of ands or buts in this scenario. I am going to eat the biggest slice of butter cream chocolate cake AND enjoy the best prelude of what it will do for me BUT the after effect of getting chocolate wasted will only invoke the servitude of my renowned love for life again! The rich butter cream chocolate icing blanketing the moist chocolate cake can serve to hide the disorder of our nature....sometimes, um...well today anyway!  To thine own self be true my fellow cake enthusiasts; console your craving and keep enjoying the sweet splendor things in life. Since you can't eat hope, try cake... it will always sustain you !

Thanksgiving Havoc? Not for this girl!

As I post this, I am comfortably lounging in what I refer to as my stretchy pants (um, yep so comfortable that they require placement in italic form).  I woke up this morning feeling rather carefree.  You see, because of some current altering events in my personal life, I was able to make the choice to make this Thanksgiving stress free.  I ordered the turkey dinner with all the trimmings this year.  I apologize for the fact that I used everything that is disposable for the sake of an entire tree forest. But nonetheless, I am today grinning from ear to ear as I reminisce on the fact that last year this time, I was secretly obsessing over wanting to be Martha Stewart's apprentice. I didn't get that expensive turkey baster or  even a shoddy one for that matter.  What to do with the cranberry sauce?  Who cares!  I have failed spectacularly in my domestic capacities and it feels exceptionally wonderful!  On the other hand, however, I did take the time to pay tribute to the blessings in my life. I am completely smittened when I think about it.  And on an oddly ravishing note, I must also thankfully behold the quirky benedictions that make me who I am.  I still don't feel insecure about the compulsory arguments I feel I need to have with myself.  I still feel that the fact that my insanely clumsiness has not failed me to come to a complete fall as of this date but that fact that I secretly rehearse that tragic recovery keeps my persona open to not being afraid of falling.  I keep saying I won't wear those shoes again; call me insatiably stubborn! I am continually banking on the fact that my OCD has successfully paroled into something productive and the fact that once again this year, my being has not yet morphed into a sugar comatose.  For today I have taken that premature obituary and have shredded it into itsy bitsy pieces!  I fit right into this whimsical and fun life no matter what it places before me. So, now that my stretchy pants have conformed to me, I think room has been made for a warm piece of Apple pie.  A Happy Happy Thanksgiving to you all my fellow Cake Enthusiasts!  And remember....when life hands you lemons, make lemon pie!  

You Darn Right...I like cake!

I like cake, no mistake, but baby if you insist, I'll cut out the cake, just for your sake!  Ummm...I think not! Baby, C'mon and knock me a kiss.  I like pie, I hope to die, just get a load of this when you get high, doggone the pie! No matter what life hands you, sometimes things get better when you take the time to indulge in the sweet things it has to offer...and YES, I am totally referring to cake.  I know it's been far too long that I have posted anything.  By all means, please discard any sneers. But you see, I have been put through some painstaking tribulations that have exploded rapidly out of control and with that control harbored my love for cake venturing.  I think I'm making some progress and am ready to get back into the wonderful and exciting world of cake again.  I made the mistake of letting life's mishaps get in the way of indulging in my daily sinful intakes.  Who does that?  Don't let anything ever take you away from what you love.  After all, cake, pie, chocolate and those darn intoxicating white powdered donuts were created on the eighth day to make life sweeter.  I want cake and I want it all...who's with me?  

Despicable Me!

It's been a while I know but you see, I have a confession to make...I haven't ventured out for anything enticing worth blogging about.  Lately, the defeat of life's daunting activities itself have kept me from enjoying the things I look forward to doing, i.e...cake hunting! At times, I've gone through my day, whether it’s at work or at home and I vicariosly convince myself that today will be the day I venture out. With my list in hand of places to visit, despicably so, I'm suddenly dragging my senses to the cafeteria.  Now mind you, I must also confess in an odd and very pertubed sort of way, that I find myself excitedly making a push to the desserts dome. And so undescribably, I take only moments to decide which cake to get.  So who cares if I pick Tuesday's cake and today is Thursday! So who cares if the cake is dry, who cares if it has raisins, who cares if it's so tasteless that I eat only the icing, and who cares if it's pre-packaged and delivered by some third party vendor! Obviously, in my out-of-mind rut...I don't! I have succumbed to just that!  I need to get out of this schtick.

So just as I stooped to the lowest level...day old carrot cake, yep, from the cafeteria again, my mood had been suddenly lifted. A rich and succulent chocolate brownie cupcake from Central Market made its way to me by way of a wonderful friend.  The picture alone describes the thousand delicious words I would normally get carried away with. One bite and I felt like I was rehabilitated. This is possibly just the diversion I needed. It allows for the possibility that I might just be that girl again. I don’t know, on some Tuesday in August at some unspecified point in the history of the world, I will be heading out again, crossing off my list of tasty venues. I want to get back on track and eat REAL cake. Enough of the sadly staged sattire, forget desperate times calling for desperate measures...forget cafeteria cake! In lieu of the real thing, I'll opt for the packaged white-powdered donuts from the gift shop as a plan for my grand scheme instead!

Sweet Vacation

On Florida’s north panhandle, or better known as the “forgotten coast", exists a quaint dining café known as That Place Off 98 located in historic Apalachicola…dare you say that three times without snickering about the fact you might have said something else. Besides the fun-to-say name, this place serves up the best Key Lime Pie that side of the Gulf coast.  Naturally, it tastes like they used fresh key limes. I would expect nothing less in the Sunshine state. Beautifully embodied into the sweet and grainy graham cracker crust, was all the goodness of the perfect combination of tart and sweet custard where itzy bitzy flecks of small green zest might be detected here and there if you had microscopic vision. This treat made the fervent, scorching heat dissipate for some moments at a time. After lunch, we strolled down to Apalachicola Chocolate Company, where beautifully adorned truffles laid in all its glory behind some old glassed domes. On one end of this new found heaven, was the Italian gelato. After sampling the lemon flavor, I opted for a full size. The owner left to get more cups down the street. He’d only been perfecting his homemade gelato for the past three years and on this day, obviously the perfection ceased: He ran out of cups! Owner and chocolate master maker, George Stritikus, both charming and an avid story teller, proceeded to tell me about the commencement of this wonderful journey. I listened in awe as I’d take a bite of my lemon gelato and in between sample a few truffles as he insisted and had to prove he uses only fine chocolate. And undeniably so, I agreed…no catch-penny chocolate here! The Hazelnut Aporn and the Grand Mariner truffles were nothing less than high class. My peripheral vision caught sight of the Pecan Bourban and the Kahlua Cacao but my thirsty palate yearned for another bite of the refreshing gelato. He continued his story about hiring a group of samplers in an effort to perfect his chocolate recipes. Should they mention the chocolate was perfect, he'd seek out new samplers!  Where was I ten years ago? I'd of made the perfect sampler, "Eewww, George, this is awful, please start all over and bring me another!" George was a kind man, not only because he allowed me to have my fill of samples but because his love for chocolate reflected everything he put into his recipes. He gave me his recipe for gelato: water, milk, and fresh fruit. Seemed much too simple to believe, even for me. There are a few missing ingredients that cannot be imitated nor duplicated. I insist he makes it with a lot of passion and a pinch of love.  Even in the "forgotten coast", there are a splendid number of things that will always be remembered! 

Senseless Sensation

Lately, gluttony and lack of self control seem to compromise my usual good sense as evidenced of course by my recent incidental golf cart fiasco. The result of some futile greens terrain ride…a torn ligament to the groin, beautiful hues of purple and brown bruises, the unbearable use of those gawd awful crutches, the halt of bearing cute summer heels and then that slightly awkward limp followed thereafter. Minus the pain, the lack of supermom duties, the act of kindness imposed by strangers, the ‘free cookies for your booboo’ at a restaurant, the unwarranted offers to clean your house, the unsolicited frowns by strangers as they wonder what happened, and the best part…the guilt that indulges one so much that he feels the need to feed me a strawberry shortcake sundae every other night, well, isn’t so bad after all! In due time, everything heals. Until then, I decided to take the pity in strife and why not act upon another senseless act. A temporary clogged artery? Indulge in something deep fried? Eh, what did I have to lose?

So, the latest episode of senseless decisions occurred when I made my weekly venture to Yucatan Taco Stand. Having made it through nearly their whole dessert menu, the only thing left to try was the Deep Fried Cheesecake.

This fabulous gastrointestinal atrocity was served warm, the mushy cheesecake filling wrapped inside a flaky crust generously immersed in cinnamon sugar was just what I needed to make me feel better. Served upright side to side and adorned with a flowered mound of whipped topping then drizzled with alternating chocolate syrup in lattice form, made for a very delightful presentation.

I’ve heard deep fry batter clogs the memory; must be some merit to that…it was so good and enthralling that I had almost forgotten to swallow! So, go ahead and get lost in some crassly act every now and then; it can be a really good thing! 

Rhapsody on Fire

Creme Brulee has always been a dessert that I swoon over but the savoire faire of indulging in White Chocolate Creme Brulee makes me swoon beyond belief.  Perhaps it's the anticipation of cracking through the sugar-glazed crust or perhaps it's the bundle of alluring richness that seems to coexist so perfectly with the creamy, smooth custard engaged with white chocolate just beneath. Exasperatingly so, could it be the variety of berries that embodied this perfect and well behaved dessert?  Eating Creme Brulee is so seductively enchanting; there is nothing more simplistic that can tantalize your senses and taste buds.  The French call it burnt creme, I call it rhapsody on fire! Now, I don't want to fall into the black hole of romanticizing food but I must...where I would ramble on and on about how this delightful dessert makes me daydream about being a Parisian woman, sitting outside of a cozy bistro, discussing the perfect pairing of food and fine wine while my perfectly silk scarf tangles into my perfectly fitted suit as my perfectly manicured hands unravel it just so and in the midst of this, I suddenly get the urge for a perfectly slim cigarette as I inhale and release a perfectly lined puff...aagh...cough, cough!  Ok, let's strike the cigarette scene.  So, nonetheless, I got a bit carried away but this fancy treat is the superiority of all custards; it's svelte and chic! Now back to reality.. Excusez-moi as I repose my messy hair that, if I were French, would be the next sought after do. As much as I like to make believe I'm a ravishing french woman, it's nice to know that I can get carried and swooned away just miles away at Yucatan Taco Stand. Au revoir cake enthusiasts, until we meet again.

Pucker Up Baby!

When I think of lemons, oodles of things come to mind…a taste of Summer, freshly-squeezed lemonade immersed in reams of pulp, lemon pound cake, a homemade lemon spritz to rejuvenate those dithery winter hair strands, a bag of lemon drops you can savor on for hours and then of course, those irresistibly zesty lemon bars! I had been craving them for weeks and finally found some reputable ones at Carshon’s Deli. As I’m about to describe them, the thought alone makes my mouth water, my eyes bulge and my lips pucker…simultaneously and kinda, sorta like in kissey face stance…um okay, well, not really! Aside from the animated facial expressions they provoke, the appeal of lemon bars is easy to understand… really. When well made, the buttery, crisp yet crumbly shortbread crust and the intensely tart lemon-curd filling are everything beyond enchanting. Enamored and coated with snowy white powdered sugar perfectly adds to the pleasant combination of tart, sweet and tangy; my mouth was happy and my tongue…delirious! So addictive are these citrusy cuties that I indulged in several at one time. When life hands you lemons, ummmm, well, let someone else make lemon bars and sit back and enjoy what is tart and swanky. So, pucker up baby…LIFE is zestfully delicious!

Oh, That Warm and Fuzzy Feelin'

You don't have to wait for those beautiful earthy colors to seap through to make you believe you're in Autumn bliss once you've had Pecan Pie cake from Chadra Mezza Grill.  The layers of vanilla, brown sugar and everything that mimics pecan pie brought a warm yet chilled delight to my every being.  Surprisingly though, this audicious dessert was infused with something carousing, something with a bit of hoopla and giddiness...something along the line of RUM!  Now, by any means do I consider myself a 'light-weight' if you will, but after several invigorating bites, I was feeling kinda fuddled, a bit boozy, maybe a wee pie-eyed, pixilated and overall, just feelin' kinda Scottish.  Had I eaten the entire slice, I'd have transpired into a half-seas-over sailor! The wince of liquor permeated into the filling and the butter-scotch tasting topping transpired my dipso senses.  But really, come to think of it, this cake will not give you an instant admission to an AA meeting; my mellow-after-state could be partially blamed for the couple of Kahlua cupcakes enjoyed only hours prior.  Everybody should believe in something -- I believe I'll have another drink slice!

Old Fashionedly Sweet

I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind. Not sophisticated; I'm the sweet and simple kind just like old-fashioned Banana pudding should be! City Pig BBQ in Fort Worth, Texas guarantees their pudding to taste just like momma's!  Well, ladies and gents, let me say...momma would be proud!  The sanctity here is that it is old-fashioned at its best.  Forget the hoity toity type custard that uses those fancy Lady Finger biscuits in place of wafers; why, frankly that's gawd-awfully appalling and just plain rubbish! Ah...and please dissect the ones made out of that instant pudding box...ugh! This banana pudding was the real deal with a dollop of southern charm.  The luscious custard mingling with banana slices infused with vanilla, sweet milk and mushy wafers underneath a crown of fluffy-browned meringue took me back to visions of a Southern belle sitting beneath a fragrant Magnolia tree, fanning herself precociously pretending to faint ever so lightly until some gentleman aided in keeping her glucose level steady by offering her a sweet treat.  "Why  yessir", I would I mean, she would say.  "I do believe another helping of that pudding will suit me just fine."  The tease of a small serving left me yearning for a few more bites.  Lesson learned. I am reminded that next time I shall act helpless and confused when it's to my advantage; never let them know how clever and capable I really am...and then I shall get that good ole fashioned fix!

The ultimate countdown to Glory!

Day 1 It’s the official kick off to Lent and about the worst day ever for me! Temptation surrounds me.

Day 2 Relieved Day One has come and gone but in theory, slowly staring at my own demise.

Day 3 My glucose level is dropping and I’m feeling slightly faint.

Day 4 What’s a girl to do to get away from cake?

Day 5 Still alive and kicking with an ‘mmph’ of hostility

Day 6 It’s George Washington’s Birthday. If he was still alive, we’d be sharing cake right now. RIP Georgey.

Day 7 A full sacrificial week and I don’t feel any better. I’m really grumpy now.

Day 8 What in heaven’s name will I eat now to offset my glucose imbalance?

Day 9 Discovered I can eat Ice cream…lots of it!

Day 10 Had caramelized pecans as a distraction from the floury fusions…thank you friend.

Day 11 Embarked upon a birthday celebration surrounded by a giant cake and cute little cupcakes; accidently got icing on finger but restrained from licking it off with said tongue...ugh!

Day 12 Large tub of homemade sopapillas placed in front of me; resisted by eating an abundance of tamales instead.

Day 13 Monday blues…really could use a whole cake right about now; deterred from watching Cake Boss tonight!

Day 14 Finding myself more and more difficult to live with. Fighting my own internal war.

Day 15 Daydreaming of a German chocolate cake; looking forward to cake celebration...oh yeah!

Day 16 Really? Do those around me who never bake, want to start now…seriously? Yearning for that As Seen on TV Perfect Brownie cake pan.

Day 17 Pouted excessively for several minutes when kids asked for donuts!

Day 18 Stared in the mirror for a minute…my tummy appears more slimming.

Day 19 Stared in the mirror for two minutes …yesterday was a misconception…bulging belly still exists.

Day 20 Thinking of consuming one of those superficial energy drinks for a much-needed sugar rush.

Day 21 Aaggghhhh! About to lose my mind! Can anyone hear me?

Day 22 Please accept my apologies for yesterday’s outburst. I’m better today.

Day 23 What has this world come to? Please stop sending me virtual cakes! Really annoyed by others’ joy of cake eating.

Day 24 Sporting my new patent leather shoes….cake? What’s that?

Day 25 Short-lived distraction…love my shoes but love cake even more!

Day 26 My skin is blotchy…need the sugar-infused ingredients to help rejuvenate the glow.

Day 27 Live and learn…will convert to a Baptist next year. Just kidding Mom :)

Day 28 Too much ice cream has revealed possible lactose intolerance.

Day 29 It’s St. Patty’s Day…almost stole a green cupcake to save for later! Someone pinch me.

Day 30 Anonymous blog reader posted nasty comment. Do they really think I’m whiney? Delete, delete, delete! Take that! If you don’t like cake, get off my site.

Day 31 Anonymous blog reader commented back with apology…will consider slice of cake as peace-offering.

Day 32 Decided to filter comments that do not contain the word “love”.

Day 33 Imagined myself baking all day Easter…I’m really delirious now.

Day 34 Why oh why must I feel this way?

Day 35 Thinking about cabana boys to occupy my mind

Day 36 Realized cabana boys are non-existent in my neck of the woods.

Day 37 Contemplating starting own Yada Yada Cake Abstinence group…eh!

Day 38 Patience is the greatest virtue but I can’t wait!

Day 39 Upset Ricky Martin proclaimed homosexuality. I really need cake now!

Day 40 Inhaled an entire bag of Jet-Puffed marshmallows…what a sick-o, psycho…same thing!

Day 41 Forty days have passed but newer Catholicism beliefs give way to an extra seven days…ugh!

Day 42 Let the countdown begin!

Day 43 My salivary glands are in full mode now

Day 44 Commencement of Operation ‘It’s all About Me”

Day 45 Oh yeah…heading toward divine intervention!

Day 46 Excitement overload. One-too-many glasses of Chardonnay made the night go by really fast!

Day 47 Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Halleluuuuuuuuuujah! A cake enthusiast’s lottery to be had! I’m jubilantly grinning from ear to ear. Pineapple Upside Down gorged with a sip of coffee set the day for the upcoming cake ventures!

What an experience this has been! To live without eating cake and anything floury, buttery and utterly sweet for forty-seven long days and even longer nights was extreme for a cake enthusiast as myself. My terrible mood swings evidenced that one cannot live on love alone and certainly should never , ever attempt to do so again! Do not deny yourself the sweeter things in life. It's great to be zealous over cake again. Never again will I abandon you my fellow cake enthusiasts! I'm baaaaack!

Gone Bananas!

I find myself growing more progressively hysterical than ever thanks to the Banana Upside Down cake I sampled at Lili's Bistro in Fort Worth, Texas. My expression made no attempt to disguise the inevitable. It was a many-splendored thing...a congregation of baked banana slices coupled with pieces of shredding banana "mush" and a mixture of rich caramel and deep brown sugar with itty bitty pieces of walnuts. This densely moist cake was served warm with a heaping side of whipped cream and topped off with a beautiful fuchsia-colored orchid. It was definitely palate pleasing but a bit pricey, perhaps it was the ornate flower. Licking the stems and outer edge of the petals, I took the delicate flower, placed it just so behind my ear and enjoyed my cake! Every bite added a daylong supply of contentment. A supply that I will soon be needing on reserve for this is pre-Lent day and soon cake will be non-existent. What? I know. I've literally gone bananas!

Cha Ching Baby!

If wealth was measured in terms of cake consumption, I'd be an instant billionaire! But given the fact that my economic status falls a tad bit short of making that folly Forbe's list, I will settle for admiring the riches that can only be consumed. Although this pretentious dessert looks like a billion bucks, it won't break the bank nor will you feel obliged to keep up with the Joneses. All you need is a little dough (punt purposely intended). This upscale charm was infused with happiness, a dash of giddiness and embossed in a deeply rich chocolate ganache with endless filling of mascarpone cheese within each layer and finally chocolate dotted and dusted with edible gold. Devastatingly delicious, each rich bite full bankrupted every last ounce of dignity I had. Wappa, Wappa, Woo! Oh yeah...Cha Ching baby! Central Market in Fort Worth, Texas has once again hit the jackpot with their signature Opera cake. So, join me my fellow cake enthusiasts in stimulating the economy...one bite at a time!