Which one came first? The Fig or the Cake?

The art of choosing what to eat is a beautiful and meaningful decision for all of us. Like ants to sugar, everyone one of us are attracted to cakes. It is only by great determination do we come up a choice to refuse cakes. Many of us can hardly refrain from picking up a piece of cake most of the time unless we have strong willpower and determination. The universal reason given to stop anyone from biting into a piece of cake is...

CAKES ARE UNHEALTHY!

But honestly, how unhealthy can a cake be when compared to a fig and/or the thousand and one things (chemicals, preservatives, colouring, pesticides etc included) we put into our mouth daily? If you do not have a reasonable answer to this question, you are not alone.

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The Origin of Cakes

When and how did the first cake came into use? Who ate the first cake? Who knows the origin of cake? The questions can go on.

Well, the ancient Egyptians seem to have eaten the first cake. At that time cakes were round and flat. Historical evidence says the ancient Egyptians cooked cakes on a hot stone. My understanding is the ancient cake, unlike our modern version would have looked like bread — round unleavened and flat. Everything has a humble beginning anyway...

Some History

The earth is approximately 4.5 billions years old. Life began about 3.5billion years ago. Slowly but surely, the Stone, Bronze and Iron ages came one after another. From cave-living to hunter-gathers the human species underwent evolution as with the evolution that changed the way they ate and lived.The primitive humans slowly benefited with the usage of fire and simple hunting and cooking tools of the times.

Humans began to herd cattle, do agriculture and experiment on food. Milk, eggs, fats, and grains became staple, and with that the old methods of preparing various types of bread, pastries and cakes changed over the centuries.

Bread and later, cakes must have been created and innovated with the increased and varied usage of grains. The first cakes were baked in mud stoves and stones and later with the advent of oven, modern cake-making became popular. The first cakes were simple. Honey was used to sweeten cakes. Animal fat, lard, seed oil and butter were used as oiling agent. Cakes were baked in the hot mud, stones and in fire until the oven came. Basic cake trays were initially made of wood, mud, and later metal. Natural yeast was replaced by baking powder and thus baking became easier and the cakes were lighter and airer. Now the sky is the limit for cake-makers!

Nuts and Dried Fruits

Cakes were also added with raisins, orange peel, nuts and spices to add flavour and taste. Whether sinfully tasty or otherwise, the modern cake doused in rich icing or frosting is here to stay. Believe it or not cake-making has become the most fashionable art in the globe today.

Cakes are Food for the Soul and are here to Stay Forever!

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And coming back to the question of the day: Which one came first? The fig or the Cake? Before getting into the seriousness of the questions, let us first try to understand the intimate relationship between cakes and female species of the Homo Sapiens.

Women and Cakes

With the advent of the modern ovens, female households became excited at the prospect of baking bread, cakes and pastries. New recipes were shared, written to secrecy and cherished by grandmothers, mothers and daughters. Young girls began to learn baking from their moms, and grandmothers.

Lovely Cake for the Health-conscious Girls of the 1970s

Another fashion of the early days were recipe books. Girls spent hours writing recipes by hand, cutting recipes from newspapers and magazines, and creating recipe books.

Despite being conscious of dieting and the need to be slim, sexy and attractive girls seem to be inseparable from cakes! Due to the narcissistic attraction towards their figure, weight, and beauty young women began experimenting with healthier cake versions. This is the start of the innovation of the cake industry.

A Collection of Personal Recipes Painstakingly Collected from Newspaper Cuttings, Magazines and recipes byWord of Mouth from Grandmothers, Moms and Aunts.

My Favourite was and still is the Chiffon Cake Recipe

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Oh My Oh! It is Cake Time.

In my opinion, credit must surely be given to every women for inspiring and innovating the thousands of different types of cakes all around the globe! Girls, children, young women, middle-aged women, older women, really old women - all or almost every woman I know love cakes!

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Sugar-free, 50%wheat, 100% gluten-free, 0% fat, egg-free, preservative-free, colouring-free, paleo cake, organic cake, simple cake, rich cake, secret cake, fruit cake, nut cake, marble cake ... you name it. All sorts of cakes get invented daily in the name of art, hobby, health, taste and beauty. And back to the title question. Which came first? The fig or the cake? I personally think that God created figs and the grains for cake-making mainly with the females in mind!

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By the way, gentlemen please be assured that I am not denying the fact that men too eat cakes. There are many famous chefs worldwide who have dedicated their life to cake-making as well. No offence meant!

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Now Everyone can Bake

To many cultures out of the Western world, the baking experience became slightly cheaper with the introduction of hydrogenated oils aka margarine. In the seventies and beyond, anyone outside Europe could afford to bake! Margarine was cheaper than butter. Every girl who loved cooking and baking was crazy collecting recipes and was a proud owner of a recipe book or two!

A 1988 Cake using Margarine

Two more 1980s Recipe-based Margarine Cakes using Blueberries and Chocolate

Margarine-based Marble Cake and Rainbow Cake

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The popular saying: 'Girls are like sugar and Candy' certainly deserves credit.

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During those times when I was a little girl no one spoke of being fat, obese or diabetic. Sweeteners for cakes were simply wholesome honey, palm sugar, gula Melaka, and good-old molasses.

Real yeast was used and everyone in the family enjoyed the cake of the day baked by the darling of the household. Cake batter was usually hand-beaten and baked in simple Dutch Ovens. Lured by the heavenly smell of the cake, neighbours and friends would self-invite for tea!

All-time Favourite - Raisin Cake

Special Day Cake - Walnut Cake

Festive Special - Dark Fruit and Nut Cake

Those were the times when people had manual work to do in the farms, rubber/coffee estates, orchards, furniture shops and other menial jobs. People drove less, walked and cycled more. Fresh air was everywhere. Outdoor activities, sports and recreation were the way of life then. I now recall my grandmother's popular words during family gatherings: 'My kids can digest even a horse!'

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Despite the changes in the way of life over centuries the cake is here to stay forever.

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Here are some untold health benefit of eating cakes.

1. Eating a piece of cake can be beneficial for the health conscious! Just bite into a piece before your workout to get the best of the exercise benefits to your body. The cake will provide you with protein and calcium for your workout. My choice is a yummy slice of banana cake. Think also of other fruit cakes. For example, orange cake, pineapple cake, apple cake, papaya cake... hey the cake world is ever innovative!

*All sorts of Fruits can be incorporated into Cake-making for a Healthier Version

2. Cakes are an excellent source of energy. Just imagine biting into a thick slice of cake after an extremely stressful day at work. Add a cup of hot coffee with the cake for sake of the yesteryears.

* Go for Diet Cake and Sugar-free Black Coffee to keep up with your Life and Style

3. The milk and egg in cakes provide protein, calcium and energy.

4. The carbohydrate in cakes help give energy, and is food for the brain and body.

5. Nuts and fruit in cakes provide excellent plant-based protein and fiber for the body. Beautiful and tasty non-egg fruits cakes come in varieties for vegetarians and vegans as well.

6. Eating cakes, in my personal experience, provides a joy equal to eating a special treat. Remember everyday is a new day and is special in its own way. Thus, giving yourself a treat once in a while is still a wonderful way to reward yourself! Anyway, you do not need a reason to enjoy a piece of cake.

* Whey Protein Diet Cake and Healthy no added Sugar Multi-fruit Chocolate Cake

7. If diet is in your mind don't worry. You can still go for the numerous diet version cakes. Think of fat free, low /no added sugar version of carrot cake, nut cake, mini cake and God-knows what cake will be invented tomorrow. As a dieter you have the right to find the perfect cake for your needs.... just ask Saint Google to show the location to the nearest bakery where you dream diet-cake sits waiting for you!

An even healthier way is by taking time to bake a cake suited for your life and style! Remember beautiful people can also bake cakes!

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And for the good people out there who feel that cakes are unhealthy, below are some points to ponder before you dump cakes out of your life forever...

❤ Every one should avoid cakes.

* An old person must not eat cakes. ❤💗

* Cakes must be banned for diabetics.