Food Network Challenge

Every once in awhile I will see what is happening in the world of food on TV. One of the best shows I have seen to combine the art of baking and decorating and competition is on the Food Network's show "Food Network Challenge."

The last episode I caught of this show had different teams of bakers making a cake that to them best represents a theme of Dr. Seuss. Each team was assigned a different book to work with.

The show gives the opportunity for bakers to make a name for themselves in their creativity. Many other materials besides cake and fondant (like a hard sheet for a frosting/covering) are used to create these masterpieces. Rice Krispies with marshmallow on a tube were used as the basic structure for Sam's head in the "Green Eggs and Ham" cake. A kind of sugar creation like cotton candy was used for the flower that Horton holds in his trunk in the "Horton Hears a Who" cake. The winners of the show get a nice fat check and medal besides the pride of seeing their art come together.

I found some photos from this episode that should hopefully portray that the hard work of these artists have paid off.

"Green Eggs and Ham" cake

"How The Grinch Stole Christmas" Cake

"Horton Hears A Who" cake

And the winner...
"The Cat in the Hat" cake

Now, of course, they are all winners, but I thought the last one really takes the cake...
the judges thought so too...

One Tree Hill: 5 Trees Out of 5 (beware spoilers)

I would like to start with one word that really summed up this episode for me. KABLAAM. Ok, that may not be a real word, but I thought this episode was really great. I thought it progressed so much and in just the right way that it was perfect.

Nanny Carrie is the queen of making me (and I'm sure many other fans) want to rewrite her character into the middle of a tornado in Kansas. She has finally pushed Nathan and Haley's marriage over the edge. Then again, she is not solely to blame. Nathan's avoidance of the complete truth lands him in deeper chaos with Haley. If Haley could be more home for her family, the Scott family wouldn't need Carrie. If Jamie wasn't born, Carrie wouldn't be a part of the problem of Nathan and Haley's marriage. But blame really shouldn't be put on anyone else but Carrie whose truly demented obsession with a married man with no interest has pushed the marriage into a scarier place than the last five minutes of the show which I won't spoil. I will, however, say that one basketball is the minor cause of another problem in the Scott family.

Mia's career is soaring quickly as she's offered more in the way of big names and fast tracks from Peyton's old boss. Peyton worries what's best for Mia though neither of them truly want Mia to do any kind of selling out or break up the friendship or business connection that they share. I have high hopes for the partnership between Mia and Peyton though I can't say the same for Nathan and Haley considering what they have been through this season.

Brooke tries to enjoy some time with Owen in New York to show her some of her past. Going back turns out to be a lot more complicated but overall a good thing in the end. Without Brooke's knowledge, Rachel, and old friend and employee has been crashing at Brooke's place and in terrible shape. Owen, without knowing her, knows just what to do to keep her out of more trouble. We know from when he personally drove Brooke home because she was drunk that he is a good guy who will do more than just anyone. I think that Brooke has found a good thing in Owen who will have her rethinking things like making sure she takes care of Rachel and knows how to. She seems more in touch of a former self that's a lot more loyal to her past.

Dan is up for parole. Both the Scott brothers are sure to get their point across of just who the real Dan is and who their real father was and how it wasn't Dan. Just from the speech that Lucas gave, I know that I wouldn't want Dan back in anyone's lives ever. The fact that Nathan had visited Dan put stress on the brother's relationship, but Lucas still wanted Nathan as his best man so everything was alright.

All in all, I am not cheering for the failure of the Scott families, but it has been entertaining to watch what has been going on. Lives and relationships have been changing in drastic ways to where even Jamie in this episode had become particularly negative because of everything going around. Haley's so confused she cannot handle everything or anything or anyone. I love the character of Mia, and I like everyone altogether more and more each episode.

Next week's episode proves to have the writers take bigger axes to the Scott family tree.