Chic and Sweet

The math behind statistics calculates the probability of two people having the same birthday in a group of only 23 at greater than 50%.  It's been several years since I actually did probability calculations in my statistics class, but I would think it safe to assume that the probability in this case would be lower when the group is smaller.  Reality doesn't mimic possibilities for sure based on my experience recently.   A dinner party with a group of only 12 guests turned out to be a double celebration.  A few days before the evening of the party I learnt that two of the guests had the same birthday!  I am not a person who believes in coincidences but this one took me by surprise.   This is the second time in my life where I have seen same birthdays in small groups of people I know.  (Needless to say it helps a great deal to remember them for sure). 

This also tells me that we have a good chance at beating the odds  even when the numbers indicate otherwise.  This is very reassuring to know especially if hope is all we have left.  So we must continue to think positively despite the lower chances of world peace, battling illnesses and  surviving the impossible.  The power of positive thinking can at times surpass all mathematical predictions unless you are trying to pass your school grades without studying...that would be termed a miracle.

I baked each of them a personal sized chocolate cake with layers of dark chocolate ganache with the hope of making them feel extra special.

Spiderman

The very first thing I wanted to do when I was approached with a request to make 30 cookies was hum the tune: "Spiderman, Spiderman... Does whatever a spider can... Spins a web any size... Catches thieves just like flies... Watch out, here comes the Spiderman!"

There is something catchy about the tune and of all the Marvel comic superheroes Spiderman is by far the most popular. And why not? Wouldn't you like to leap and swing at will from tall structures hanging by a thread and catch the bad guys? Wouldn't you like to spin a web on top of really tall buildings and use it like a hammock? I would! The cartoon series of the 60's is still creating magic on silver screens and televisions. You've got to ponder why...Is it because every one of us wants to be a superhero of some sort? To fight evil and be invincible?  When I looked deeper into the characters I realized that there was a lot to learn beyond the swinging, leaping and cool tunes.  I learnt that (i) all the alter egos of these superheroes were ordinary people struggling with various facets of everyday life (ii) when the going got tough, each of them rose to the challenge and got going (iii) it's okay to fail at times but not okay to give up (iv) doing the right thing does matter in the end and finally the most valuable lesson learnt (v) spandex rocks!  There are two questions left in my mind: 1) do our taxes cover the municipal charges for cleaning up all those spider webs this guy leaves behind?  And 2) why can't someone tell Superman that the 'under'wear is called just that for a reason and should not be worn on top of his suit...

Here's wishing the super boy a very happy birthday and hope he has a swinging party.

Smash Cake

When I announced an invitation to a baby's first birthday party, my daughter looked truly perplexed.  "How old was the baby last year if this is his first birthday?", she asked.  "Was he a Zero?" The simple question made me ponder on why the first birthday is a big deal. No one celebrates a zero ... sounds like nothing has been achieved (we know that's NOT true).  The number one is a whole different story. It holds tremendous value.  A 'first' of everything is really special.  First inventor, first place in a competition, first baby, first tooth, first steps.... and of course a first birthday. A first birthday marks a special beginning that holds the hope and wishes of many more to come.  Besides, no one wants to celebrate a zero, unless several of them come after a numero uno dressed in the color green.

Many parents are hesitant in 'wasting' a whole cake on the birthday child to play with.  Hence the discovery of the "smash cake": a small cake that the child can have and (s)mash around (gleefully).  Here's wishing one-derful Aashneel many happy returns on his special day.  May his cheeky grin continue to warm our hearts in the years to come.

Igloo

It is quite fascinating to see what captures a child's fancy.  Sometimes it is the most obvious thing and then there are those wild weird objects.  I am told that I had a fascination with red buttons when I was a kid.  Duh?  I do realize how strange this sounds but I am sure back then, I had a perfectly logical reason for hanging onto one all day and all night long.  My father used to buy them in a dozen so that when the inevitable happened it could be replaced without me ever knowing the loss.  I am glad that he humored me in what appeared to be a trivial thing.  Today when my children have imaginary friends or obsesses over something mundane, I know in my heart that it's just a phase.  So, when your child holds on to a weird object like his or her life depended on it, instead of trying to fight the battle just go with the flow.  Unbeknownst to you, you will have won the war and formed a loving bond.

Just recently I came upon a similar request.  I was asked to make an igloo cake.  That's right, an igloo.  The easy part?  It's all white, so I didn't have to task my gray cells on color combination.  The hard part?  Trying to figure out how to make an all white (non-wedding) cake look attractive and cute for a 5 year old boy.  I made a lemon cake, layered it with banana pudding inside, covered it with white butter cream fondant and then proceeded to add the following features: some royal icing snow flakes and a baby seal perched on top.  Judging by the look on the child's face, I think it was a pretty 'cool' idea after all.

Sweet Hearts

There is a notion that some things get better with age.  The top items on my list are wine, wisdom and friendship. Having grown up in different parts of the world, I have had the chance to make many friends. Some by choice and others by destiny.  In this arena I have learnt that those with whom you can just be yourself with little or no pretense are the friends that matter in the end.  Thanks to the invention of the online social networks, I recently had the opportunity to connect with and meet one such friend almost two decades later. There wasn't enough time to travel the gap of all those years in a few hours but the hugs were warm and the smiles genuine. What warmed my heart even more was meeting her little sweethearts (children) and watching them play with mine.

Cheers to the next generation kids. I hope that despite the busy lifestyles they will have they have the opportunity to make some great friends along the way. Just like aged wine, there is something intoxicating about having some 'good old friends'. With Valentine's day just around the corner I chose to celebrate our friendship with this year's treat of dark chocolate brownie hearts glazed with pink chocolate ganache.