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!

Beautiful Disaster

Have you made the gadabout journey to Central Market's bakery in Fort Worth, Texas? I fear I will undoubtedly go into a deep sugar comatose should I dare to do so. Fortunately, every now and then, sweet gestures such as this will be delivered to me as in the case of this too-cute-to-eat slice of heaven or as the bakers there dubbed as "Three Sisters". This treat manifested itself in resemblence to a Neapolitan ice cream sandwich. Inhale, Aaaaah....deep, deep sigh ,finally, after an exhaustive staring session. You see, this cake was too pretty to unravel but when the burden of such anguish met its demise, O what an exquisite relief to my yearning palate! The white cake was beautifully adorned with layers of Raspberry preserves, vanilla and chocolate creams sitting atop a Chambord-soaked dark chocolate cake and enrobed in a rich and succulent chocolate ganache. Are your eyes rolling in the back of your head yet? Perpetually both rich in texture and taste, a sugar hangover could reasonably be expected and after the last bite...completely achieved! Fear not the rapture of a pretty cake, my unsuspecting cake hoarders; go ahead... unravel its existence and enjoy the result of a beautiful disaster.

Seeing is Believing

Eating carrots may not give you seamless 20/20 vision but eating carrot cake, I daresay, will have you seeing many other things. Now, I have no medical doctrine but I do dibble dabble in the arts of pastry and that alone makes me an expert in advising that the benefits of eating carrot cake far outnumber the benefits of not doing so. As I mentioned before, I don't typically eat anything that's not beneficial to my health. Aside from the crucial nutrients of Vitamin A and rich beta carotene, this treat was just what the doctor ordered. In Waxahachie, Texas, exists a place, 1879 Chisholm Grill, where you too can find that benefiting ailment. Can you visualize with me my fellow cake gurus...a Caramel Carrot cake? Ah...pure insanity! I so concur! Don't strain. You don't have to see it to believe it because I'm gonna alleviate any preliminary angst you might be having right about now. So, visualize this...alternating layers of caramel and cream cheese icing with hints of brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, walnuts and those perfectly shredded carrot pieces, the texture dense yet moist with an extreme undefined yearning for another forkful. Can you taste it? I hope so but if you can't, newbie Cake Enthusiast out of hiding and avid blog follower, 'Gaudy lady', can too attest to the splendid chance encounter. Seeing is believing but tasting...clearly a more delightful disposition.