It isn’t the cake. Not really but sort of. It is the connection and the laughter; it is the planning and the execution; it is the hands dirty and sticky. It’s the math and the sequencing; it’s the magic of the kitchen and the tidbits of conversation unrehearsed and unexpected. It’s what happens when you bake together adapting as you go along, the goal that moment when iced and plated we are ready for the picture.
This is the third Fourth of July bake off that Tali and I created. Each year a different cake but every year a patriot’s theme. The first year it was the flag and we learned that not all food colorings are created equal. So the red of our fist cake batter was more maroon and the blue more of an aqua than navy. The second year we went for the fireworks and as you cut the cake red white and blue M & M’s cascaded to the plate, an homage to the rockets red glare.
This year we called it deconstructed. We showcase the guts of the cake, with red white and blue sprinkles peeking through, the frosting an afterthought. Or another way of putting it: The truth of America in 2019 can’t be hidden under a parade of icing. Who will this country belong to? Who will this country welcome to its borders? How will this country rekindle its vision and promise for the America of many different cultures, colors, heritages and traditions? We wanted our cake to ask: What is really great about America: the confectionery coating of a puerile patriotism or the gore and guts of you and me who want an inclusive, fair and open society?
But enough of the cake and its politics, it is the experience of forming memories together – It is the love, love, love as powdered sugar coats the counter. It is Jacob doing the math and Corey doing the critique and Dani offering support, missing Sammy and Maya at camp. It is ignoring how much butter is in buttercream. It is life at its best. It is thank you to Momofuku Milk Bar for posting their recipe.
See what can happen when we share?
rabbiunplugged 
The only thing I can say is Beautiful, Fantastic, Wonderful, Lots and Lots of Love To All.
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I love this post! I hope the cake was delicious and the memories just as wonderful.
Shabbat shalom.
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Love it! Great tradition and the cake looks delish!
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It was – maybe you want to commission Tali and me to make the Bnot Mitzvah cake
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Love seeing the photos of you and your family. Love to Eileen. Enjoy your posts.
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Thank you
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As always, beautiful and meaningful! Enjoy your family!!
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Good luck on your Move and enjoy the transition
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What an uplifting post. Love that your family is there with you and Eileen. I hope the cake tastes as good as it looks.
Happy 4th to you all.
Love you!!
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Great! Love it! Tom
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very nice
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sorry I am not in Fla so I can drop for a 4th of July cake. It looks great.You all look great– you- your granddaughter and the cake!!!!
sharon Morton
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I waited to read this post until I had a quiet time to reflect upon its message which I knew would surely come. Thank you for the reminders it included – Love, Family, and our Country. My prayer this Fourth: “Let Freedom Ring.”
Love to Eileen.
Marcy
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your cake and lesson- what a great analogy!
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Making wonderful memories! Keep up the great fun! Adam and I are in Ny seeing plays. Hamilton, Fiddles, Ink and Cher! Plus we visited with relatives. All good. Adam’s family is in Europe. Going to Maya’s Bat Mitzvah in Amsterdam on Juky16.love to all!
Sent from my iPhone
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