A slice of life

One of my earliest taste memories and the 35th anniversary of The Cake Bible

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I hope you had a good weekend!

On Friday, I opened my mail to find the 35^th anniversary edition of The Cake Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum, which published earlier this month.

Inside it said, “For dear Sally”. Rose has known me since I was a little girl.

When the original edition came out in 1988, my parents, Lou and Lisa (still married at the time), were doing PR for its launch. 1988 was also the first of two years during which I underwent chemotherapy for childhood leukemia.

I was about to turn four. My dad, not knowing how many birthdays I would have, told me I could pick any cake from the book; he would make it for me. I turned straight to the pink octagonal one with intricate lattice siding made of piped frosting.

It was delicate.

It was pink.

It had a rose on top!

Need I say more?

Later, Rose informed my dad that her legendary editor, Maria Guarnaschelli, had allowed her to put one recipe in the book that was so difficult that nobody was ever actually supposed to attempt to make it.

Well folks, she shouldn’t have made it so darn pretty! Of course that’s the one I picked.

My dad, being the project guy that he is, turned a little editorial caution into challenge accepted.

He spent A WEEK constructing this cake. And let me tell you, it turned out perfect.

Candles lit and birthday song sung, I took my first bite of that picture-perfect pink masterpiece.

Then I spit it out.

Sorry dad--this four-year-old palette did not like the taste of whatever liquor flavor scented that cake sponge.

My dad was a great sport though, and to this day, it is a memory we all look back on with a lot of love.

To take a trip down memory lane, head on over to my IG.

***Not So Secret Agent Side Note: The new edition does not have the Rose Trellis recipe in it. Maria Guarnaschelli was right, which should be shocking to no one. And big props to Cassie Jones, who’s legendary in her own right, and who has guided Rose in carrying forward the beloved classics in the new edition, along with the added new recipes and photos!***

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I have birthdays on my mind since next month is my big 4-0. To think that, when I was a kid, my parents didn’t know if they would see me turn five… now here I am about to turn 40 with a five-year-old kid of my own.

I am so damn lucky.

To celebrate, I am hosting a virtual birthday party for my readers. It is going to be on November 21^st from 1-2pm ET. You will get Zoom info next month. In the meantime, save the date!

If you (or someone you know!) has been thinking about writing a cookbook, please share this newsletter so they can get on the list too!

Your Not So Secret Agent,

~Sally~