[Ninja Baker] Homage to Homer

[Ninja Baker]

Compulsory as a child’s visit to the Good Humor truck in summer, laughter is essential for grown-ups in stressful times. So, hazardous as The Simpsons are to maintaining a semblance of adulthood, millions tune in to watch the cartoon series. (Their 500^th episode is scheduled for broadcast on 19 February 2012.)

Nibble a Ninja Baker cake pop, Giggle at The Simpsons' cartoon pop, And...Ah, life is sweet!

The Simpsons holds a particularly fond place in my heart. Besides admiring the show’s writers’ cleverness; Nancy Cartwright who plays Bart, was a UCLA classmate. She was always kind. To this day she continues with not-so-random acts of kindness such as her annual Happy House Fundraiser. The proceeds benefits the Good Choices program (which as the name suggests) steers kids in positive directions.  

The Ninja Baker's swirly frosted orange cake.

Also, I’ve had the privilege of providing Ninja Baker mini cupcakes for The Simpsons. Producers inquired about swirly frosted cupcakes I'd sent with hubby, David for a Bones production meeting. The Simpsons use the same FOX conference room for table-reads where the actors perform the whole episode in their character voices so that producers, writers and guests can see what works. David was honored to be a guest at two different Simpsons' table-reads and happily brought home proof in the form of scripts which all guests receive (without the doughnuts.)

The Simpsons creator, Matt Groening kindly signed David's copy of the script for "Treehouse of Horror XXIII."

Nancy Cartwright, who plays Bart, autographed a tongue-in-cheek "Hi, Kim, Thanks for teaching me everything I know" on her "Lisa Goes Gaga" script.

The Ninja Baker's D'Oh Doughnut Cupcakes surround an original Simpsons animation cell which David bought at FOX.

The sweet treats The Simpsons continuously provide is an opportunity to laugh at our very human selves. Homer, the king of cartoon pops and head of the Simpsons’ clan, specializes in foibles and faux pas. When “Homer Goes to College,” instead of partaking in the curriculum, he’s compelled to educate his serious classmates on the subject of “partying.”




Fun fact: Conan O’Brien who catapulted to fame from Simpsons writer to TV chat show host wrote the college episode.

I think of Homer as the Shakespearean Polonius of cartoon dads. In Hamlet you’ll remember, Polonius is a verbose foolish counselor who could win a "Hypocritical Papa of the Year" with his speech to the university bound Laertes: 

My blessing with thee!

And these few precepts in thy memory

See thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,

Nor any unproportioned thought his act.

-Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 57-59

Later, Polonius declares, "Brevity is the soul of wit."

In The Simpsons’ Homer is equally oblivious to his own hypocrisy as demonstrated in “Kamp Krusty” episode (1992), where he advises Bart: “If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it --Now quiet, they're about to announce the lottery numbers!”

Homer takes the cake for fuddy-duddy father in the oeuvres of animation writers. But, at the end of the day, his family still forgives and embraces him. Just like those who love us, overlook our warts and blemishes.

So, as homage to Homer, I created a “D’Oh Doughnut Cupcake.” (Pictured above.) To compliment the strawberry cake, I used fresh fruit in the frosting for the “doughnut” sugar cookie. While delicious, I learned that Homerish shortcuts don’t work for humans. Instead of adding sliced strawberries to the shortening and powdered sugar; next time, I’ll liquefy the fruit first. Constantly adjusting the buttercream mixture in mid-whip is nervous-making. 

The Engine 2 Diet inspired oatmeal cookies.

The oatmeal cookies I made in honor of Homer’s PC daughter, Lisa was less stressful. A recipe found in fireman, Rip Esselstyn’s Engine 2 Diet, inspired the treats. 

The firefighter turned au courant diet guru is the grandson of poet, Carl Sandburg. Penned in 1916, Chicago continues to evoke images, which strike the heart like an anvil hitting steel.

They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I

have seen your painted women under the gas lamps


luring the farm boys.

But I digress. Check out page 177 of Fireman Esselstyn’s Engine 2 Diet. Here are a few recommended Ninja Baker adjustments:

1. Use a snazzier applesauce such as one infused with apricot.
2.  Substitute date sugar for raw. (Pricier but healthier.)
3. If making mini oatmeal cookies, use currants instead of raisins. They create a better aesthetic. (Confession: Running out of currants, I also included raisins in the pictured batch.)
4.  Slather sugar-free apricot preserves in between the cookies to create oatmeal Oreos. (Highly recommended for the sweet of tooth.)

Whether you snack upon cake pops, D’Oh Doughnut Cupcakes, or oatmeal cookies, you’re guaranteed to improve your health if you laugh. So tune into The Simpsons. And if you enter their sweepstakes before February 6^th, you could find yourself eating a doughnut or two at the 500^th episode party. For more details, click here.

Wishing you the giggles whenever possible.

©David Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker


E-mail. NinjaBa...@gmail.com

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Posted By Ninja Baker to Ninja Baker at 1/26/2012 02:05:00 PM