Everything you always wanted to know about cake (but were afraid to ask)

Q: Why do people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or any accomplishments with a cake? — E.P., Havertown, Pa.

A: Cakes can be traced to ancient Greece and Rome, although, back then, a cake was merely bread baked with nuts, dried fruits and sweetened with honey. The cake, being something special, was taken to the temple and offered to the gods. Scholars claim that during the Middle Ages in Germany, the sweetened bread was used to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Around the middle of the 17th century, Europeans began to create baked goods that were the precursors to modern cakes. During this time, icing made its debut. Baking cakes was difficult and time-consuming, and ingredients were expensive, making the confections available only to the wealthy. As time passed and technology improved, cakes were easier to make and more affordable but still mostly baked for special occasions.
Today, we can enjoy cake any day of the week. But the association of cake and special occasions has long been ingrained in Western culture. As to placing candles on a cake, there is no agreement on how this tradition began. Some scholars claim it goes back to the days of ancient Greece, while others believe it originated in Germany, where the candle symbolized “the light of life.”

Q: What is Jean Louisa Kelly, star of “Yes, Dear,” doing these days? — A. & J., e-mail

A: Actress and singer Jean Louisa Kelly entered the world in Worcester, Mass., on March 9, 1972. Before going off to Columbia University to study English, she had already established herself as a talented actress, appearing on Broadway and in the film “Uncle Buck” with John Candy. After graduation, Kelly starred in several TV commercials, movies and Off-Broadway productions. In the TV series “Yes, Dear,” she played the role of Kim Warner, a stay-at-home mom. She has appeared on many talk shows and made appearances on other TV series. She married James Pitaro in 1997 and has two children — a son, Sean, born in 2003 and a daughter, Josey, born in 2006. As of now, her future acting plans call for her continued involvement in Off-Broadway productions.