More on voodoo baking

So here's a rundown of my voodoo cakes since their beginning back in March of 2006. The original was Philip Seymour Hoffman as Capote. Please keep in mind that I do not draw. This was all on a whim and done with a knife and small metal skewers because I'm too cheap to buy proper utensils. I've learned some things along the way though. It's called gel food coloring. I make my icing from scratch and love the recipe. So, when I started making these cakes and needed strong color, I wound up ruing the taste or consistency when I had to add so much liquid food coloring which was the only kind I had ever known. Luckily I found a pretty extensive cake decorating store not too far from where I live and quickly experienced the beauty of powder and gel food colorings.

My second was Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin in 'The Last King of Scotland'. I had not seen this movie before the baking, but loved Forrest as Ghost Dog and figured he had to be good. Also, I just liked him better than the other nominees. ALSO, his picture would be the most interesting on cake. Once I saw the movie I adored it. If you haven't, please do. It's a little rough, but worth it.

In March of 2007 I made a cake in order to cinch a win for the Florida Gators and Ohio State University in the March Madness games being played that night. Both did. I still didn't win the office pool though that year.

I have also given the Celtics their 2008 championship as well as the Red Sox their 2007 World Series.

In March of 2008 I went out to see 'There Will Be Blood' on the day of the Oscars. It was FANTASTIC. I made a Plainview cake that night and have watched that winning performance many, many times!!!!

I made sure that Hillary won on Super Tuesday. And I made sure Barack won the country. I need to do these for something like money. I know Heath is a lock, but the minute that movie came out I knew he would make for the perfect cake. He's such a messy Joker. Just like my technique! So, I'll do him and then maybe move on to stock ticker symbols.



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What the CHE??? - voodoo cakes explained

I REALLY don't care about the Oscars, but a few years ago I was attending an Oscar party and decided to make a cake with my Oscar winner choice drawn on in icing. It has become a tradition and turned into a hobby I like to call voodoo cake baking. Other than the Oscars, I've used this power with sporting events and the presidential election (see previous post). I am currently 0 for 6. I did have one loss I am not counting because it was a screw up with the recipe and not my voodoo. Actually, it was quite crazy. I had made it for a couple of March Madness games last year. My rule is that you don't cut open and eat the cake until the winner is clear. So, as I'm watching the games and watching the two teams lose, I'm wondering what went wrong?? Once the games ended I cut open the cake and find that it's completely INEDIBLE!! I had noticed while it was baking that it didn't rise as high as it usually does, but didn't think it was going to be so bad I couldn't eat it! Amazing. Anyway, my original plan for this year was to make a Joker cake - not only was Heath fabulous in this role, but what a fabulous cake it would make! THEN I saw 'Che' at a premier this past December. Not only is Benicio Del Toro my favorite actor, but he's playing Che Guevara! The story was great. The film was beautiful. Benicio was impeccable!! Yet, no Oscar nomination!!!!! THIS is why I don't care about Oscars. How do you ignore a movie this brilliant? Because it isn't the standard 1.5 hours long? Because it's actual ART and not b.s. Hollywood movie dumbed down for a mass audience? Oh, I'm sorry, you had to read some subtitles. And concentrate on something for more than 15 minutes. And actually LEARN something. I apologize for the rant, but it made me quite angry that I won't be able to portray Che in icing this year. If you haven't seen this movie I recommend you do so immediately!