Blonde Beauty Icon Cinderella
The popular rags-to-riches fairy tale, known today as
Cinderella has been told around the world for centuries. The earliest version,
Yeh-Shen originated from China sometime around 860 A.D, and told the story of a feisty and clever servant girl, who befriends a magic fish, the re-incarnated spirit of her dead mother, who was murdered by her wicked stepmother. With the fishes help, she attends a town festival dressed in finery but leaves behind a tiny golden shoe, which later helps identify her to the King, who wants to marry her (In ancient Chinese culture, tiny feet were so highly prized that the brutal art of foot binding was a rampant trend). In the end, the stepmother and stepsister are stoned to death by order of the king, as punishment for their abuse of poor Yeh-Shen.
Ooh la laa! French couture!
The next and most popular version of the story,
Cendrillon was written by the French author Charles Perrault in 1697. In this elegant and aristocratic tale, a kindhearted yet poorly mistreated servant girl is rescued from her abusive household by a magic wand waving fairy godmother, who transforms a pumpkin into a coach, mice and rats into horses and coachmen, and her tattered clothes into Parisian couture so she can attend a royal ball. Also original to this version is the magical expiration date of midnight, and the iconic addition of glass slippers. By all accounts a tale of morality, gentle Cendrillon forgives her step-family's cruelty in the end and actually helps find them rich husbands!
Aschenputtel is another version of the tale, written by German authors The Brothers Grimm in 1812. Much closer to the original Chinese tale, there is no fairy godmother in this story and Aschenputtel is instead aided by doves that live in a tree growing from her dead mothers grave. In a dark twist, her vain stepsisters try and trick the prince by cutting off parts of their feet so the golden slipper will fit. Their plan goes awry when the doves alert the prince of blood leaking from the slippers, and as punishment, peck out the stepsisters' eyes, who must remain blind beggars for the rest of their lives.
Disney preproduction concept art by Mary Blair
Basing his version on the classic French tale, Walt Disney's saccharine 1950 animated musical features a decidedly more passive and timid Cinderella, and has since influenced most modern re-tellings of the story. There have been many other film interpretations of the tale over the years, starring a variety of actresses including Julie Andrews, Jennifer Beals, Drew Barrymore, Leslie Ann Warren, Jennifer Grey, Hillary Duff and Brandy as Cinderella.
Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale growing up and I tried to collect as many versions of the story as I could find. While a lot of little girls grew up pining away for a mythical Prince Charming to live happily ever after with, the story inspired me in a completely different way; all I want in life is a tricked out ride, a fabulous party dress and a FIERCE pair of heels! Snap!
Princess wave; it's all in the wrist!
Scarlett Johanssen as Cinderella in a Disneyland ad campaign
Caught by surprise!
For the princess with the need for speed!
These limited edition "glass" stilettos by Maison Martin Margiela will set you back $2,600 a pair!
After pAArtying all night with a handsome stranger, you got so wasted you missed your curfew AND lost a shoe! What's a girl to do? Well, since you have a leftover pumpkin....why not bake a pie? Perf!
The Bibbidi-Bobbidi-BLONDE pumpkin pie
Amber blonde maple pie with golden graham cracker crust and bouffant whipped topping.
Make sure you eat it all before midnight!
Ingredients
* 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
* 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten, at room temperature
* 1 cup evaporated milk
* 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
* 1 teaspoon
Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure vanilla extract
* 2 tablespoons Grade A Dark Amber pure maple syrup
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
For the crust:
* 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
* 3 cups graham cracker crumbs
* 3/4 cup sugar
For the whipped topping:
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 1/4 cup Grade A Dark Amber pure maple syrup
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium sized bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter and sugar. Press firmly into two 9" pie plates. Bake for 8-10 minutes and allow to cool.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
For the filling, in the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, evaporated milk, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, cloves and ginger, and beat until incorporated.
Pour the filling into the prepared pie crusts and bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature, cover with foil and refrigerate.
For the whipped topping, chill the bowl of an electric mixer in the freezer. Beat the heavy cream with a whip attachment until soft peaks form. Drizzle in maple syrup and beat until firm.
Makes two 9" pies
Darian Darling as Cinderella
(FYI...This is my mom's senior prom dress from 1956)
