Who’s in the kitchen

BBQ’s, picnics, going to the beach, swimming in your backyard or attending baseball games, there are so many things to love about summer. Everything, that is, except for shopping for a new bathing suit. I can hear the collective groan as all you women read this article. There’s an actual study from Flinder’s University in Australia, that found “that trying on swimsuits makes women feel anxious and depressed.”  You think??????

I love those articles in the magazines that tell us how to find the perfect suit. My fave is when they suggest you accessorize, with a chunky necklace or dangling earrings. I think a deep-sea mask and flippers would do the trick a lot better. Who’d be concentrating on your flaws then? I do believe there is no such thing as a perfect swimsuit unless you happen to be a bathing suit model. Wonder what they wear on casual Fridays.....

Come on, you all know what I’m talking about....the fear in your heart, lump in your throat, dreaded swimsuit shopping expedition. First we weed through the tiny two piece bikini’s (which I wouldn’t even have fit into in first grade) then pass the section that has the skirt added to the bottom of the suit along with some ruffles that our grandmothers would vote down as too frumpy. Finally we find the trusty one-piece version. Staying away from the shiny metallic, neon or cut out versions, I always try on the size or two larger than I think I need. This way if it fits, I’m done and I can save on future therapy sessions.

I’d like to know who designs those fitting rooms? Or shall I call it “the torture chamber”?  You’d think at this point someone would have thought to have dim lighting and those circus mirrors that make everyone appear tall and thin. They do want to sell the bathing suits, don’t they?  Hey, a fitting room is bad on a good day, so imagine when you’re trying on a bathing suit; you’re still pale and missed the last month on the stair master. They should offer mixed drinks, you know, just to take the edge off. And for heaven’s sake, get rid of the 20-year-old size 0 sales girl that thinks everything you try is “stunning.”

The good news is that swimming helps reduce stress and burns about 650 calories an hour. So get into the pool, with your “perfect” suit and enjoy yourself!

And for those of you who would rather not venture out in a bathing suit, dive into this cake.

Swimming pool cake

n 2 ten inch round cake layers of your choice filled with any filling you desire

n 2 eight ounce containers of non-dairy whipped cream, whipped

n 1 ten ounce container Wilton’s piping gel

Blue food coloring

n 6 small “life saver” looking kosher jelly snack candies (I usually buy them Pesach time and save them) If you can’t find them, buy sugar covered gummy like candies that are higher and just cut the bottom off, and then cut a hole in the center so that the “baby” can fit into the “lifesaver tube”

n 6 small plastic babies (usually found in the cake decorating section in stores like Michael’s, or on line

n 4 .81 ounce Laffy Taffy sticks in different flavors (for the lounge chairs)

n 2 tropical drink umbrella picks

n 1/4 Lieber’s cinnamon graham cracker for the diving board (they are perforated)

n 12 thin stick pretzels for the ladder (I added extra for breakage)

n 6 ounces chocolate coating (or choc chips) to coat ladder

n Silver dust (can be purchased at Michael’s) to coat the chocolate on the ladder (optional)

n 1 gum ball (beach ball) edible pen to draw lines on the ball (optional)

n 16 ounce box of dark brown sugar

n 2 flat sour belts in multi color for the towels

n 1 box long, very thin, plain bread sticks for the gate around the pool

Directions:

Leaving 1 inch for the border of the cake cut out the center about 1/2 inch for the water in the pool. Cover the entire cake with a thin coating of the whipped cream. Apply brown sugar to the 1 inch top portion of the cake for the dirt/ground around the pool, and around the sides of the cake all the way down to the bottom. Next color half the container of piping gel till you get the desired blue of pool water. Fill in the “water” into the cut out area of the pool. Place a dab of melted chocolate on the back of the cracker and attach to the “dirt” as the diving board. Place three babies into the tubes, place one more near the diving board. Cut three half inch pieces from each laffy taffy, press together, alternating colors for back and bottom of each float; they should stick by just pressing together. Place a baby on each float and stick an umbrella in each one. Place three tubes on the dirt on one side of the pool and then place two sour belts as towels on another side. Color in the lines on the gumball and place it in the “pool.” Hopefully no one will notice the “beach ball” is three times the size of the babies. Lastly, put a small amount of whip cream on each bread stick and place them around the perimeter of the cake and tie a ribbon around it until you are ready to serve the cake.

   Make sure to give those guests, who look too good in their bathing suits extra pieces!

Judy can be reached at judy.soiree@gmail.com