It's no cakewalk . . .

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

A cakewalk originated as a dance performed by African Americans during and after the US Civil War when blacks were segregated from polite white society.  People of color were not invited to public events like parties and balls . . . but as servants they were often in attendance.  Not for the fun of course . . . they had the “pleasure” of watching white folks twist, twirl and strut doing the popular dances of those days.

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

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

And that’s how the phrase “take the cake” originated and came 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 Butter Glaze:

2 Tablespoons Butter, Melted

1/2 Teaspoon Italian Seasonings

1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 Tablespoon Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

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

While rolls are cooking, combine the melted butter, Italian seasonings, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl.

When rolls are done remove from the oven and brush with the garlic butter glaze. Serve with marinara or ranch for dipping.