It has come to my attention that there is more than one way to eat a cupcake. Two, three, even five ways, in fact. This shocking realization occurred during a recent family gathering, when I watched my relatives consume chocolate-frosted birthday cupcakes...all using different techniques.
My niece adopted a traditional method, munching her way horizontally through the cupcake, partaking of equal amounts of cake and frosting.
My nephew, on the other hand, ate all the icing first, then proceeded to attack the cake.
I have always done the reverse: I eat the cupcake from the bottom up and save the entire frosting head on a thin layer of cake for last. This method is terrific if you (like me) privilege icing above all other components, though it can be rather awkward as you have to tilt your head a bit to consume as much cake as possible from beneath the top.
My sister-in-law immediately bisected her cupcake. Then, she took the bottom half and plunked it (rough side first) on top of the icing to form a sandwich.
No one at that particular family function was uptight enough to use a knife and fork, but I have seen it done. People, you know who you are, and why you insist on such formality at a two-year-old's birthday party is beyond my comprehension.
Considering cupcakes aren't that complicated in construction, I find it rather bizarre and interesting that they should inspire so many different means of consumption. So, how do you eat your cupcake?
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