BISH in DREAMLAND
I want to create a scene of pure sugar fantasy, I wanna write about a fanciful cake-walk. Worry about where it goes later, or maybe just scrap it entirely? A pure escapist fantasy for Sensualists and sweet tooths alike. Afternoon Tea taken to the 50th dimension. I don’t want to think about structure, or dimensions and tone, or style. All I want to do is present my writerly ambition in some overblown grandiloquent style. Get lost in it, the fantasy. Transport myself to another dimension.
BIsh Backstory
What did I do? Whyyyy? she wailed above the fuzzy frothy sound.
Larkellen looked from Hi, in her arms, to Bish whipping up one of her frostiebishcafe. “This must be serious!” She said to a squirmy Hi.
“Larkie, you gotta help me! Hi baby, you gotta relax, deep breaths, let’s all take a few rounds of breath. “ Bish demonstrated with exaggerated inhales, exhaling gusts into her baby boy’s face. He began to laugh.
“ Baking a cake for Rox CHox’s cake walk? Wot in the entire world was I thinking?“ she spoke in an exaggerated British accent, and made a silly face at Hi. He responded by lunging into her arms.
“Don’t worry, yer fer sure gonna impress her with yer skills Aunt Bish.” Larkellen replied loyally using her now-free hands to give her a high-five.
2. Setting Intention
CAKE WALK: Cakes and confections of every kind of Roccoco imagineering. Sculptural shapes made from flour, sugar, butter. in shades and patterns only made possible by an artistic eye and an expert hand. The one Bish loved most was a stack of jagged toffee layers on top of a architectural sharp-edged brutalist slab of cake in an unnerving shade of violet-grey. EDIBLE WAR ZONE. Something about that shattered glass effect repulsed Bish but also drew her in
“So you’re the famous Bish?”
“So you’re the famous Roxy Chocsmith”
That old feeling of being an insignificant speck in the grandiose melee returned. Who am I? How did I get here? She was a fleck on the chandelier crystal looking down at the magnificent display. Roxy Chocsmith herself was standing in front of her, in her grace and splendor, with her movie star looks and flawless presentation. And then there’s Me, a spiky post-adolescent Izquierdo. How can I ever be part of this?
3. Sweet Dreams
At night I lie in bed willing myself to sleep and watching the silver-lined leaves outside my window, often times the luminecensce of the moon infuses itself into the abundance and fantasy of deep sleep and vivid dreams;
I stood outside the Chateau, Mansard roof sloping credibly, the slate shingles edged in slight iridiscence. Am I dead? Is this heaven? Had I arrived? Was this the nect plus ultra of my life’s experience. A guest and a participant in Sweet Treat Romance?
I looked down at the basket of apple shaped mini cakes, feeling insecure and exposed as I stood in front of the panoply of dessert fantasies and sweet emissions. Tables spread in sage green crushed velvet, sparkling crystal structures filled with hand-crafted confections and patisserie. Buttons of chocolate orgasm, smooth symmetrical bars of fluffy goldvanilla cakes dusted in gilt sparkles Ruby-toned tarts with glazed garnet centers banded in pate sablee that melts uncomplaining on the tongue. Meringues white and sloping like a dainty cordial glasses.
And I show up with a basket of apple cupcakes, like some refugee from a little red riding hood fairy tale. Howwwwever, my Rose gold stack heeled Mary Janes were en flique. FS!
Roxy Chocsmith just appeared: dressed like her character in the Valentine’s Day episode, the one where she goes back to the 1890’s Paris? But she is also the mother of a guy I like, she thanked me for coming, and looked at the heart shaped tin, at that point I became aware of a cohort of womeny women, lots of colorful glossy manicured nails that surround sounded like crickets. I felt awkward and less-than, but offered her the tin anyway.
“Spice cakes, topped with brown sugar cream cheese buttercream and then rolled in apple crisp.”
“Evocative” she said mysteriously, lifted one up and took a good look at it. One girl was shrieking laughter, but I can’t be sure it wasn’t me. Looks like Autumn, and I like how au natural it appears, but your brush stroke is a bit sloppy. I’m intrigued, welcome to the next platform.
I woke up still feeling dazzled by Roxy, but a little salty too, towards her.
Spice Cakes: Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup neutral flavored baking oil
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven 350F, Line cupcake pan with paper cups.
2. Whisk together flour, baking poweder, baking soda, spices, and salt in a medium sized bowl until combined.
3. In another bowl mix together butter, baking oil, and sugars in a bowl until creamy. Crack eggs one at a time and add to batter bowl, mixing after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
4. Add half of flour mixture into batter bowl, fold together until just combined. Add the vuttermilk and mix well. Add the remaining flour to the bowl fold until a thick scoopable batter results.
5. Scoop into prepared cupcake pan 2/3’s full. Bake for 25-30 minutes rotating midway.
Cream Cheese Buttercream: Brown sugar or Honey
4 oz cream cheese, room temp
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1/3 brown sugar or honey
1/4 cup powdered sugar
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whip together until light and fluffy.
Garnishes: crushed and whole apple chips, pretzel sticks