This is always an interesting type of cake to make because it reflects on the birthday celebrant’s wide-ranging interests. I mean, who even knew that Bnei Akiva put out a joke book? It must focus on how their hikes consist of dropping you off in the middle of the highway and suggesting you find your way back to camp on your own. Funny, right?

And what on earth is Banach algebra? Well, in mathematics, especially functional analysis, a Banach algebra, named after Stefan Banach, is an associative algebra A over the real or complex numbers (or over a non-Archimedean complete normed field) that at the same time is also a Banach space, i.e. a normed space and complete in the metric induced by the norm. Ah, right. So if that’s the case, then Nonarchimedean Banach algebra is self-explanatory.

The Complete Works of G & S clearly refers to Gilbert and Sullivan, the 19^th century British writers of 14 comic operas. Develop Your Own Photos – well, apparently people used to do that.

And finally, Robert’s Rules of Order is the “most widely used manual of parliamentary procedure in the United States. It governs the meetings of a diverse range of organizations—including church groups, county commissions, homeowners associations, non-profit associations, professional societies, school boards, and trade unions—that have adopted it as their parliamentary authority.” (Wikipedia)

These all turned into quite hefty tomes when appearing in cake form, somehow without my really intending them to. I always like to sink my teeth into a thick meaty book (the kind with paper pages). So why should it be any different when inside there’s moist delicious chocolate cake smothered in chocolate ganache?