Many years ago my younger sister asked for, and received, an Easy-Bake Oven for Christmas. She was delighted when Santa came through, but for the rest of us in the family it meant pretending that her concoctions were the most amazing feats of culinary art ever produced. Still today, this sister is my only relative who possesses the skill to bake, one I never acquired.

But, as I have learned, you don’t need the ability to produce art to appreciate the talent of those who can. Fast forward to the 2017 Cake Show, organized and presented by the Friends of the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library. This Cake Show and competition was a serious affair with over 30 entries and an esteemed panel of judges.

Not having attended a cake show, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But as I walked through the library foyer and saw the works of art, crafted by those who love to bake, I was impressed by the artistry and creativity that was on display.

These were not your typical boxed mix, add eggs and water, pour in a pan and bake for 32 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean variety cakes.

These cakes were architectural-built in all manner of height and width, decorated with not only fondant and frosting, but also beads, glitter and lace. Some included designs with flowers and butterflies, others with barnyard animals and even a castle in a storybook.

For the competition portion of the event, entries were divided into categories for Home Baker and Professional, but it was obvious to me all the cakes had been meticulously constructed by those who use baking as a way to express creativity, and want to share these creations with the world. Combining the Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration with the Cake Show added the element of state pride to the mix.

To the show participants and Kathy Younes and other Friends of the Library volunteers, I would like to say well done. To Paul’s Pastry I would like to say thanks for donating the extraordinary Mississippi themed cake to share.  To those of you who didn’t attend this year’s event, you don’t want to miss the next one. If you would like to see photos of the cakes visit the Picayune Item Facebook page.