Happy Baking on Fat Tuesday’s Eve
Mmmm, I love baking! If it wouldn’t drain any and all free time that I have with my family, I would ah-love to start a bakery. This is dream job #1. Or #2 - it depends what day it is. Today, it’s #1. Anyhow, I did some light baking during the holidays, but not enough to whet my appetite. So tonight, minus the icing, I baked Fran’s birthday cake, the Barefoot Contessa’s Coconut Cake. Her birthday isn’t until Friday, but this year her birthday falls inside Lent; as last year (me not so successfully, I lack discipline, what can I say?), we are giving up sweets for 40 days. So tomorrow, Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras we are eating Fran’s birthday cake! I’ve made it before and it was delicious. I’ll be sure to post a pic or two.
Starting on Wednesday, absolutely no sweets for 40 days. It shall definitely be difficult, but this year I am determined. (I know I shouldn’t reward myself with sweets, but it’s been my one saving grace after a day of ridiculous folks micro-managing with obscure senses of humor.) I think we best describe it as allowing ourselves fructose and lactose; all other sugar is null and void. No cookies, cakes, candies, ice cream, sodas, jellies, syrups, chocolate (deserves a category all of its own), etc. Last year, Fran made it, but I didn’t. During Lent last year, I went to Guatemala to visit our then 4 month old son. On this trip I gave myself an out; I told myself that I was allowed to try foods, sweets, within reason. I mean, it was my first time in Guatemala; to fully appreciate the food I had to be able to try the local sweets, right? Of course, right! I am food lover! So authentic Guatemalan sweets were fine to eat. No candy bars or the like. Well, I made it a week or so into our trip. Then one night, a new family arrived at the residence we were staying at. It was a fellow mama’s birthday and her partner brought chocolate cake makings, including eggs. (This I was highly impressed with! Ah, the memories of sitting around with fellow adoptive parents - it was a wonderful time.) What was a girl to do?! I had to eat a piece of cake to be social! 
From then on, I was out of the deal. I figured why hold out since I had already eaten sweets. I simply didn’t see a point in it! But this year, I must admit, I not only do it as a sacrifice, but in attempts to get back on my health bandwagon! My size 4 jeans will stay around this time!
Posted by frangela on February 4th, 2008 under Home, Food, Friends, Fun, Church, Memories
6 Responses to “Happy Baking on Fat Tuesday’s Eve”
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February 5th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Sweetie! I’m hoping to squeeze myself into a size 4 too..but I don’t believe that’s going to happen here. Even if I starved myself for 40 days
Good luck!
February 5th, 2008 at 1:00 am
:) Hahaha! Oh, Sandy! I laughed so loud, I think I heard the baby stir.
They are fitting tight, let me tell you! This is my one hope that they will fit comfortably again. I worked too hard this past year and lost about 17 pounds (actually a few more, but I gained 10 back). In my dramatics, I see myself shaking my fist in this scene from Gone With the Wind: As God as my witness, I shall never gain that weight again!
February 5th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Best of luck and willpower - sweets are a formidable opponent/friend. Be strong! And happy baking today! Also, a happy early birthday to Fran!
February 6th, 2008 at 10:26 am
No sweets for 40 days! You go girl! I could NOT imagine being able to do that. I would LOVE to think I could and even more I would LOVE to be able to accomplish that… but there isn’t any way I could. I know you will do it!! Good luck and keep up the good work!!
hugs, Jenn
MMMMM coconut cake… sounds so good my mouth is watering and my stomach is growling… literally!!
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
[…] If you don’t recall, for Lent, a forty day period, I decided to give up sugars (excluding lactose and fructose). […]
March 9th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
[…] Pili brought cakemix, eggs, and oil to Guatemala so that she could bake me a cake. But this was - and is - still the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten. […]