It's no cakewalk . . .

Cakewalk . . . a word that has come to mean something thatis easy to do.   As in . . . getting myhubby to try a new beer is a cakewalk . . . see NBT.

A cakewalk originated as a dance performed by African Americansduring and after the US Civil War when blacks were segregated from polite whitesociety.  People of color were notinvited to public events like parties and balls . . . but as servants they wereoften in attendance.  Not for the fun ofcourse . . . they had the “pleasure” of watching white folks twist, twirl and strutdoing the popular dances of those days.

The cakewalk became not only a popular dance but a form ofentertainment among the black people of that era.  It started as a form of satire to mimic the movesthat whites displayed during their Minuets and Waltzes. 

It eventually became a competition between couples to seewho could cakewalk the most gracefully or extravagantly.  Perhaps as a further extension of the joke, thispromenade was often done in a circle with a cake in the middle.   Whichever couple had the most style or flamboyancein their struts got to take home the cake.

And that’s how the phrase “take the cake” originated andcame to mean to take the prize.

The funny thing is that the cakewalk was further popularized by the white performers of Vaudeville in the next century.  So . . . the cakewalk was a dance done by black people to mock the white people who did it to make fun of the black people . . . in essence they were only goofing on themselves.  

Pepperoni String Cheese Roll Ups

1 (8 Ounce) Package Refrigerated Crescent Roll Dough

4 Cheese Sticks,Halved

1 (3.5 Ounce)Package Sliced Pepperoni

Garlic ButterGlaze:

2 TablespoonsButter, Melted

1/2 TeaspoonItalian Seasonings

1/4 TeaspoonGarlic Powder

1 TablespoonGrated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to350 degrees.

Take each triangleof crescent roll dough and place about 6 pepperoni on the bottom of thetriangle. Place half of a cheese stick on top and roll up. Place seam side downon a cookie sheet and bake for 10-14 minutes or until golden brown.

While rolls arecooking, combine the melted butter, Italian seasonings, garlic powder andParmesan cheese in a small bowl.

When rolls aredone remove from the oven and brush with the garlic butter glaze. Serve withmarinara or ranch for dipping.