I think my love of strawberries may be inspired by a doll

In college I had a kick-ass summer job. I worked on short film and commercial sets in Los Angeles, assisting an art director. The hours were crazy, the driving with a Thomas Guide all over LA was crazy, but it was a crazy fun summer. I worked on the sets of Splash Mountain at Disneyland, Queen Mary, McDonalds, and a bunch of industrials and a short artsy film. On the film I was wardrobe assistant. It's all about attention to details.

But the set that stopped me short in my tracks? A studio set for Strawberry Shortcake. The doll. Oh, I grew up loving Strawberry Shortcake, and Holly Hobby. And here I was assisting on a commercial for them. It also featured her blueberry friend. But my eyes were glued to Ms. Strawberry Shortcake. Pink and fluffy and girly, without any of the sexual innuendo we see in girl's dolls today (hello, Bratz dolls? horrific!). I grew up longing for the Strawberry Shortcake dolls and accoutrements in the aisle at Sav-On Drugs. (Don't get me started on the Rainbow Family.)

I think of Ms. Strawberry Shortcake when I think of strawberry cake. And this week I made strawberry cake with strawberry frosting. Originally this began as strawberry cupcakes, but with extra batter, it turned into cupcakes and a wee cake topped with fresh strawberries. I had seen this recipe and felt the 9-year-old girl in me perk up with the thought of pink cake and frosting. I think if I had a choice of chocolate or fresh strawberry, I would always jump at fresh strawberry. So pretty...

I didn't follow the frosting recipe to a T: I thought it seemed like too much frosting, and way too much butter. So I increased the berries and decreased the butter, and it was quite good.

I had some extra hands in the kitchen to help frost, and it only seemed appropriate to be doing this with a gaggle of young girls. Lots of giggling and playing around made it more fun. And afterwards we fed a spider to my Venus Flytrap. More screaming insued. Happy strawberry summer.