Much of what I observe in life somehow gets a food analogy. I’m not a trained chef or a science whiz. I do however, have many years of observation and practise and it makes sense.
If I put flour, sugar, oil, orange juice, orange zest, eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, baking powder and salt into a bowl, mix it to a smooth consistency, pour it into greased baking pans and place it in a 350 degree oven… in about 20 minutes, the smells will be divine and a baked cake will done. Add some cream cheese orange frosting and I can enjoy a delicious cake. I bought the ingredients, put them together according to generally accepted baking practises and then I get to eat the cake. It makes sense.
Sadly, these days, too many people are walking around, wanting cake and thinking that they just simply deserve to eat it, whenever they like. They don’t have to earn the money to buy the ingredients, learn how to put them together etc. Basically, they don’t have to do any of the work. They just deserve the cake. We call it entitlement.
The first few times I saw it, I was confused. The confusion turned to shock, then frustration and now it just makes me sad.
This wasn’t caused by some random cosmic event. Less than stellar parenting, media pressure, technological advances to make our lives easier etc. Many educated brilliant individuals have come up with a variety of solutions. It’s up to each one of us to do our part. Some will have to teach their children differently, some will have to teach grandchildren and still others will have to try to influence adults. All of us have the opportunity to do something to counter this entitlement disaster. We can set an excellent example by the way we conduct ourselves.
Work is not an option. I see it as a choice. If I want cake, I will choose the ingredients, do the work and enjoy the cake. Pop by sometime and I’ll gladly share. If orange cake isn’t to your liking, I have a few other recipes.
Heavenly Orange Cake
2 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup canola oil
1 cup fresh orange juice
3 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
Preheat oven to 350° F. First combine dry ingredients, then add wet ingredients and beat with mixer until smooth. Divide batter between 2 greased and floured round cake pans and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. An inserted wooden toothpick should come out clean. After 10 minutes, remove from pans and cool. Frost and garnish cake.
Orange Cream Frosting
1 cup butter, softened
1 250mL pkg cream cheese, softened
1 tbsp orange zest
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
8 cups icing sugar
thin-sliced orange
Soften butter and cream cheese. In bowl, beat together softened butter and cream cheese. Add orange zest and juice until well mixed. Gradually add icing sugar and beat until smooth. Frost cake in 3 layers and top with thinly sliced orange for garnish.