The Cupcake is a Metaphor for Life

This is episode 3 in the cupcake vs. macaroon no-contest contest. As previously posted, Amanda McClements, in her Metrocurean Food Blog, asserted the macaroon is in a trend war to become the next cupcake. Be Brave, Lose the Beige has launched a campaign to demonstrate the cupcake is superior on many levels to the macaroon. The initial salvo in this campaign focused on the macaroon’s lack of substance compared to the complexity of the cupcake. The second described how the top of the cupcake is a venue for fun; a platform for play and exercising our creative spirits. (No such opportunity exists on any part of the macaroon)

Difference number 3: The Cupcake is a Metaphor for Life

Cupcakes are a metaphor for living a balanced life. It is the ultimate “Golden Ratio”. Two-thirds of the cupcake is the flour filled foundation. The substance of this tasty treat. The remaining third is the part we long for- the creamy smooth buttercream or chocolate satin frosting. Cupcakes are the perfect proportion -2/3 substance, 1/3 whimsey. Our lives should emulate this kind of balance.

Two-thirds of our time is generally spent in a responsibility mode. We work or attend school; parent our children and tend to aging parents; nourish ourselves and families; spend endless hours in the car; and, fulfill our altruistic obligations on boards and committees. Those activities comprise the “cake” part of our busy lives and are often quite delicious and satisfying. We love our kids; our careers help define us, we have a sense of meaning and purpose in the world.

It’s the one-third, however, we often long for- the icing on the cake, the delicious, and, on occasion even, decadent part. It’s the giggling with girlfriends part. It’s the romantic get away part. It’s the bike ride on a breezy, sunlit day. It’s the sweet spot.

Perhaps for some, the ratio becomes a little imbalanced. There are those who might lean toward the 50/50 ratio which could be reflected in their waistlines and wallets if they are overindulging and/or underperforming. Still others opt for the 90/10 ratio, substituting seriousness for sweetness, adopting the all work and no play model.

Thus, the cupcake is the ultimate symbol of the Golden Ratio for our lives. With changing medical and technological advances, we could live a long time. Finding the proper balance and proportion is essential to a well lived life. Can that be said of the macaroon? I think not.

Cast your vote in this campaign in the comment section below. Thanks!

Saga of the Cupcake vs. Macaroon No-Contest Contest

This post continues the saga of the cupcake vs. macaroon no-contest contest. As noted in a previous post, NPR (my favorite news source) featured an article called “Move over Cupcake: Make room for the Macaroon”. The article sites a post by Amanda McClements on her Metrocurean Food Blog saying the macaroon is in a trend war to become the next cupcake.

Be Brave, Lose the Beige has embarked upon a crusade to refute this contention. This series of posts will demonstrate differences between the clearly superior cupcake and the macaroon. As you will recall, the previous post focused upon the macaroon’s lack of substance compared to the complexity of the cupcake.

Difference number two: The cupcake is a venue for fun!. Can this be said of the lowly macaroon? I think the macaroon speaks for itself. Have you ever seen one transformed into a vegetable garden or even a pumpkin patch? I think not. But yes, I have seen cupcakes created in such configurations. Stay tuned for part 3 of the continuing saga of the Cupcake vs. Macaroon No-Contest Contest. (See image below of clay cupcake version of the Mad Hatter)

P.S. Please cast your vote in this contest in the comment section. Thanks!

The Cupcake vs. Macaroon No-Contest Contest

Listening to my beloved All things Considered I heard a story that made me pull off the road to listen (as is often the case with NPR stories). The title of the story was “Move over Cupcake: Make room for the Macaroon”. The article sites a post by Amanda McClements on her Metrocurean Food Blog saying the macaroon is in a trend war to become the next cupcake. “It was the jell-o mold in the ‘70s, frozen yogurt in the ‘80s, and “cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes” in the previous decade. Foodies predict the macaroon is this decade’s defining treat”.

Now really?! Macaroon versus cupcake? No contest. The macaroon should be relegated to the status of the jell-o mold and frozen yogurt. Who cares about either of those “desserts”, if you can even refer to them as dessert. This post represents my first salvo in the cupcake vs. macaroon skirmishes.  In this series, I will attempt to define (objectively of course) the obvious differences between the cupcake and the macaroon:

Difference Number one- The macaroon has no substance. It’s like biting into air. Because, let’s say it together, it has NO flour. The cupcake, on the other hand, is full of substance and flour. A review of the ingredients in the two items illustrates my point:

Macaroon: egg whites, sugar, coconut.  Cupcake: flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, eggs (whole egg), butter or shortening, milk, vanilla or chocolate, water.

The cupcake is obviously a more complex creation than the macaroon, thus more interesting and substantial. Stay tuned for part two of the cupcake vs. the macaroon contest….