This week on the Discovery Channel: Great Inventions that Someone Else Got Rich From.
Tonight we bring you a story about "could have been". Many of the world's best products and companies started with pure luck or mistake, and someone smart enough and brave enough to perfect the idea and take it to the general public. But what of those who had the luck but never made something out of it?
Such is the story of Shaina and Becca, two college roommates. One weekend a group had gathered at their apartment and Shaina had the idea to bake a cake to help feed the mass. She grabbed a chocolate cake mix, threw in the oil and eggs and had it in the oven in no time.
When the timer sounded, Becca got up to help Shaina, unaware of what her actions would lead to.
The cake looked perfect as the girls pulled it from the oven. Becca suggested that they let it cool for a few minutes before serving it to everyone. Shaina tried to wait, but her impatience got the best of her. But as she tried to get the cake out of the pan, the whole thing crumbled into a mess on the counter. Becca, in a moment of inspiration, grabbed a large bowl and said "let's just put it in this and we'll eat it popcorn style!"
Cake-in-a-bowl, as the treat was dubbed, became a favorite among the girls and their friends. They even tried mixing in or dipping frosting and other variations. Unfortunately, that's where their ambition ran out. They never realized what potential their treat could have with just a few refinements.
Years later, at a St. Patrick's Day dinner, Shaina discovered Cake Balls. Someone had taken the Cake-in-a-bowl idea and perfected it by adding cream cheese and a chocolate coating.
Now there are millions of online recipes and someone else has even built an entire company around producing and selling Cake Balls.
As delicious as these confections are however, for Becca and Shaina they will always be a little bitter-sweet as they ask themselves, what part of the Cake Ball fortune could have been theirs?
7 comments:
Are cake balls different then cake donut holes?
I don't know. Probably not. Are cake donut holes when you bake a cake from a box, crumble it into a bowl, add cream cheese and shape into balls that you freeze and dip into chocolate? Because that's what cake balls are.
I don't think that was me that came up with that brilliant idea, at least I don't remember it. But, if it turns out that some money can be made off of that idea, the YES, THAT WAS ME, I REMEMBER IT ALL SO CLEARLY!! WE'RE GENIUSES!
Ah, I missed the mixing with cream cheese part and freezing it. Interesting, you'll have to make them for us the next time we visit or you visit, when ever that maybe. I figure eventually you'll want to meet the newest Burgoyne.
Becca, I actually don't remember which roommate it was that helped me, so I picked you. As long as no one else fesses up, I'll still split the earnings with you.
Thanks Shaina, I'll take the credit, even though I'm pretty sure it wasn't me.
So actually, I'm not sure who played what part, but I know it was during the summer after sophomore year, and Gina and I played some part of it. Then when we made dessert for Tom and his roommates later in the summer, you and I talked it up a ton and when we finally presented it to Mike he said, "That's it? What a let down!" Stupid Mike, it's all his fault - he squashed any chance of you developing the idea further!!
Post a Comment