By SHAVAUGHN MOSS, Lifestyles Editor, shavaughn@nasguard.com

You're an avid fan of the Food Network, and the show "Ace of Cakes" and you just wish ... you dream ... of being able to have one of those fabulous cakes. If only there was someone in The Bahamas who could bring the picture in your mind to reality, the way Chef Duff Goldman does on his show for his clients.

It was a few months ago when I visited the New Providence Community Centre Farm at Blake Road that I noticed photos of some exquisitely fabulous cakes lying around, and said to myself — wow — we do have our very own ace of cakes in the country. I asked about the person and was introduced to Ann Casserly Joseph, who was humbled to be put in the same category of Chef Duff, as she seeks to take your dreams from a figment of your imagination to reality with Bahamas Dream Cakes.

Ann is no stranger to the world of cakes, many may remember her from the Silver Palate, a bakery she operated for seven years in the Marathon Mall, before she closed up shop, and sold everything — lock, stock and barrel eight years ago — after the untimely death of her son, Dominic. Her spirit was broken. She didn't feel like doing it anymore.

Over the past seven years, her customers would not let her forget that she was letting a God-given talent go to waste.

One lady left a note under her kitchen doormat, begging her to make her wedding cake. Loyal customers would call. It was approximately three years after her son's death when a lady came up to her and whispered in her ear: "It's time to wake up." Ann still didn't listen.

"There are lots of things in life that happen and you bounce back, but sometimes it breaks your spirit, and it's difficult to come back. For some people it is illness, financial distress. For me it was my son's passing."

Luckily for Bahamians, Ann bounced back, and in the past seven months she's produced some of the most exquisite cakes — from weddings to birthdays to shower cakes — to hit our shores, and put a smile of satisfaction on the faces of those lucky enough to get one of her cakes. She goes the distance to ensure customer satisfaction, and can recall making a wedding cake, which she worked on exclusively for three weeks and took her 30 hours at the last minute to assemble and complete.

"It was a magnificent cake ... it was entirely handmade, and had 2,000 sugar flowers. It had four tiers, but everything was so involved, but I thought I'd never finish, it was lot work." she said with a laugh. But her satisfaction came with knowing that the customer was more than satisfied.

The enthusiasm that Ann's customers come to her with, in pursuit of the cake of their dreams is infectious for her, and makes the projects exciting for her to work on. "The brides are moving me out of my comfort zone. They are doing their own research via the Internet. I don't always have to come up with original designs, because people are able to Google their dream cake and email their picture to me." The master then goes to work on making it a reality.

Once a design is decided on, the customer is invited to a cake tasting evening where they can sample flavor combinations that are endless, but can range from

Pistachio cake with mango filling, to chocolate espresso, to almond cake with strawberry, or a passion fruit cake to wherever you want to take it.

And getting your dream cake doesn't have to be a budget-buster. She works with the design of the cake to fit it into your pocket.

"I try to tell people that they should have an idea in their head what they're comfortable spending, but to not let that be the driving force behind selecting the design of their cake because you're then putting the cart before the horse."

Her advise is for you to look for the cake you just have to have, and she will do her best to ensure that you get it.

This ace of cakes says she hasn't produced an ultimate cake because what she does is not about her, but about what the client wants.

"I want to make what you want. And people come to me because of my willingness to put what they want in front of myself. I try to take them where they really want to go, and give them something wonderful.

Ann suffered a horrible tragedy in her life, which almost robbed Bahamians of her magnificent creations. But she's back, and you too can get your dream cake.

Chocolate Chip Espresso Banana Cake

Recipe: Ann Casserly Joseph

1/2 pound butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs, beaten

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2/3 teaspoons baking soda

5 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon instant espresso powder

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease and flour an 8-inch by 3-inch cake pan.

Add the lime juice to the milk.

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs and mashed ripe bananas. Mix well.

Sift the flour and baking soda together. Stir in espresso powder.

Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture.

Add the milk and vanilla. Stir in 3/4 cup of chocolate chips.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle over remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.

Bake for about 45 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Serving suggestions:

Sift powdered confectionery sugar over the top and set out on your prettiest plate or serve cake warm with chocolate chip espresso ice cream.