By: Ilona Salim
The phrases “ew, David”, “bebe” and “I’d kill for a good comma right now” have been stuck in my head for days… scratch that, weeks, ever since I watched the final episode of Schitt’s Creek. I don’t know about you all but I have NOT recovered.
As someone late to the hype, this show truly surprised me and I was happy to learn that it shocked many of us. Each 20-minute episode brought so much joy into the painfully mundane routine of my quarantine life. The sitcom invites us into the lives of the wealthy Rose family who suddenly find themselves completely broke. Everything but one asset is taken away-- a town Johnny Rose bought as a joke for his son David’s birthday gift, cleverly called “Schitt’s Creek”. The show unfolds and we watch as the family takes up residence in two tiny rooms at a dusty motel. It is a well-paced, hilarious depiction of a family coming to grips with starting over, and our hearts are quickly won over by each Rose member. At first, you root for their escape from Schitt’s Creek, but when the Rose family begins to find their place in the tiny town, you slowly begin to fall in love with it and its people, too. Ultimately, we watch them learn that “their greatest asset is having each other to love” (as said by Catherine O’Hara in her Golden Globe speech).
What a masterpiece! This family love story, created by and starring the iconic father-son duo, Eugene and Dan Levy, makes you feel all warm and cozy inside. It strips love to its purest form and portrays a world where acceptance comes naturally. The show also gave me a deeper appreciation for the love we have between family members, friends, partners, and most importantly, in ourselves.
While this may sound dramatic, Schitt’s Creek has impacted me in so many ways. Here are some iconic quotes that I will never forget (and will use from now on):
Alexis: “I will be enjoying my own company tonight.”
“When it comes to love, we can’t tell our kids who to love.”
“One must champion oneself and say, I am ready for this!”
On top of all of that, the humor is OUT OF THIS WORLD. I mean... Moira Rose’s linguistic prowess is a major highlight of every episode because I NEVER know what she’s about to say next. The vocabulary I have learned from Moira is actually insane. Also, I don’t even want to begin dissecting the sibling dynamic between Alexis and David or the wholesome father-daughter relationship that Johnny and Stevie share.
Schitt’s Creek is full of great albeit weird characters, touching moments, and important lessons. It starts off as a quirky comedy but later turns into something entirely different (in a good way). If I keep it going, there might not be an ending to this post haha! And if you haven’t seen this show, I sure hope this article is convincing enough!
I am well aware that this is a food blog, so there has to be some food content, right? Enjoy our tribute to this amazing sitcom-- a Schitt's Creek themed lunch box cake! Congratulations to the cast for winning so many awards AND our hearts!
“I can hardly hear you, John! The cheering and accolades are drowning out your gentle voice.”
“When one of us shines, all of us shine.”
The Recipe - Carrot Cake
Inspired by InspiredTaste.net's recipe (with adjusted sugar)
Ingredients:
250 grams (2 cups) all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/4 cup canola oil
150 grams granulated sugar
50 grams brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs
300 grams (3 cups) grated peeled carrots
1/2 chopped walnuts
Cream Cheese Frosting:
225 grams light cream cheese
70 grams powdered sugar
80 ml whipping cream
Food color (optional)
Steps:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease two 9- inch round cake pans and flour the bottom and sides of the pans.
In a bowl, mix in flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
In a large bowl, whisk oil, sugars and vanilla. Slowly whisk one egg at a time, until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in 3 parts. Gently stirring each time until incorporated before adding more.
Once wet and dry ingredients form a nice smooth batter, stir in grated carrots and nuts.
Divide the batter into the two cake pans.
Bake for about 30 minutes. To check if they are done, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake, if it comes out clean, then it is done.
Cool cakes in pan for about 15-20 mins. Then, turn them upside down into a cooling rack.
While the cakes cool, beat cream cheese with a hand mixer until creamy and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes)
Add in powdered sugar in parts until fluffy.
Pour in the cream and beat again on medium for 2-3 minutes.
Chill before frosting the cake.
Get creative with your decoration!
Enjoy!