Misery loves Cupcakes

Have a cockadoodie cupcake!

I made these toppers entirely out of gum paste this time, which I find much easier to work with than fondant. I think the colours come out brighter, too.

Photo credits: Kelly Garsha

     This cupcake series pays homage to Reiner's Misery (1990), an adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name. It's unique for featuring one of the best movie villains of all time: the role that won Kathy Bates an Oscar. The story begins as Paul, a successful novelist, drives from Colorado to Los Angeles, only to end up driving off the road in a blizzard, breaking both his legs in the process. He is rescued by his "number-one fan", a nurse named Annie, who takes him back to her isolated cabin to nurse him back to health. Lucky coincidence, right? Not so much. When Annie says she's his number-one fan, she really means it. She will stop at nothing to keep him there, and after the two have an artistic disagreement, Paul finds himself writing to survive.

Don't be fooled... This is the face of pure, deranged evil.

"I thought you were good, Paul... but you're not good. You're just another lying ol' dirty birdy."

For another excellent film adaptation of a Stephen King novel, check out my Shining Cakes.

Blair Witch S'mores

In May of 2013, an amateur 

baker disappeared in 

the woods of Ontario 

while making delicious treats for her blog.

A year later, these photos were found.

      Who doesn't love s'mores? They're the perfect treat for the beginning of the camping season. The best s'mores have a hidden dose of nostalgia sandwiched into the holy trinity of toasted marshmallow, crisp graham cracker and melted chocolate. And you'll always want some more!

Photo credits: Kelly Garsha

      The Blair Witch Project (1999) was one of the earlier entries in the now wildly popular found footage sub-genre. Three student filmmakers venture into the woods of Maryland to make a documentary about the witch who supposedly lives there. Hunger, anger, and madness soon set in as they get increasingly lost. They start to hear strange noises outside their tents at night, and then awake to find rocks, figures and bundles of sticks arranged in threatening ways, sometimes containing animal organs.

      I think your enjoyment of the film is highly dependent on your expectations coming into it, and whether or not you can convince yourself that it was actually found in the woods. I was never fooled by it, but I'm always willing to suspend my disbelief. That said, I find myself cringing more with empathy than with fear (e.g. the "map" scenes). I can only imagine how well this film must have worked on opening night in 1999, in a dark theatre full of people who were completely new to shaky-cam horror (motion sickness!) and actually believed it was real. In any case, it's an inspiring example for new filmmakers short on cash: It cost just $22,000 and made over 240 million, making it the most profitable feature film of all time.

"Mmm. Marshallows. Soft."

For more fun with marshmallows, check out Nosferatu Pfeffernüsse.