Let Them Eat Cake! Although this phrase is attributed to Marie Antoinette, there is no historical evidence that she actually said this. Today's puzzle was Easy as Pie.
20-Across. Indonesian archipelago now known as the Moluccas: SPICE ISLANDS. Spice Islands is also name of a company that sells spices and herbs. The Spice Islands are also known as Malaku or the Moluccas.
27-Across. Thorny garden flowers: TEA ROSES. Tea roses are named for the fragrance of their flowers. They are said to smell like a cup of freshly brewed tea.
35-Across. Shake, rattle, and roll at a concert: ROCK OUT.
45-Across. Absorb, as spilled milk: SPONGE UP.
And the unifier:
51-Across. "Nothing to it!," and what each circled letter literally is?: A PIECE OF CAKE. Each circle is a Piece of the word CAKE. We get SpiCe Cake, TeA Cake, RocK Cake, and SpongE Cake. I think Rock Cakes are more like cookies.
Here's the Grid so you can see all the Pieces of Cake scattered about the puzzle.
Scottish Rock Cakes
There were a lot of names in today's puzzle, but they were all pretty easy to suss out.
Across:
1. Marx brother known for silent gags: HARPO. The comedic Marx brothers make occasional appearances in the puzzles. There were five brothers known for their vaudeville acts and movies. Harpo Marx (né Adolph Marx; Nov. 23, 1988 ~ Sept. 28, 1964) was the second-oldest brother and rarely spoke but was known for blowing a horn. He also was known for playing the harp, hence, his name. [Name # 1.]
6. Laborious process: SLOG.
10. In style: CHIC.
14. "Rush Rush" singer Paula: ABDUL. Paula Julie Abdul (b. June 19, 1962) got her start as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers. [Name # 2.]
15. Uncontaminated: PURE.
16. Walesa of Poland's Solidarity movement: LECH. In the late 1970s, Lech Wałęsa (b. Sept. 29, 1943) co-founded the Solidarity trade-union in Poland. He later served as the President of Poland from December 1990 to December 1995. He was award the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983. [Name # 3.]
17. Burn with steam: SCALD.
18. Recedes slowly: EBBS.
19. __ Day vitamins: ONE-A-.
23. "Fiddlesticks!": OH, DARN!
26. Targeted, with "at": TOOK AIM.
30. Mardi Gras, for one: FEST. Mardi Gras is early next year. It falls on February 17, 2026.
31. Alpo rival: IAMS. It is pet food for dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.
32. Tire inflation abbr.: PSI. As in Pounds per Square Inch.
33. Currency of Montreal and Toronto: Abbr.: CAD. As in the Canadian Dollar. As of this writing, the Canadian Dollar is worth $0.73 US Dollars. It is very colorful money. Hi, Canadian, Eh!
34. Fuel additive brand: STP.
37. Six-pack in a gym: ABs. Abdominal Muscles are a crossword staple.
40. Vietnamese New Year: TET. In 2026, the Vietnamese New Year falls on February 17. It just happens to coincide with Mardi Gras. It, too, would be considered a FEST.
41. Move like a kangaroo: HOP.
42. "Enchanted" girl in a fantasy comedy: ELLA. [Name # 4, Fictional.]
43. Lab container: VIAL.
47. Blown sign of affection: AIR KISS.
50. Hybrid big cats: LIGERS. A Liger is the offspring of a male lion and a female tiger. Did you know that if the mother is a lion and the father is a tiger, the offspring is known as a Tigon?
54. Egg container: NEST.
55. Soon, to Shakespeare: ANON.
56. Most suitable: IDEAL.
60. Teen sleuth Nancy: DREW. Nancy Drew has been around since 1930. I read a lot of Nancy Drew mysteries when I was a kid. [Name # 5, fictional.]
61. Diet-friendly, on labels: LITE. // And 22-Down. Diet-friendly, on labels: LO-FAT.
62. Sculpture trunk: TORSO.
63. Canadian gas brand: ESSO. Everything you wanted to know about Esso, but didn't know to ask. Another shout out to Canadian, Eh!
64. Glaswegian, e.g.: SCOT. Someone from Glasgow, Scotland is called a Glaswegian.
65. Feeling of dread: ANGST.
Down:
1. "Everything __ Changed": Taylor Swift song: HAS.
4. Some neutron stars and analog watches: PULSARS. What exactly are Pulsars?
5. Seasoned vet: OLD PRO.
6. Architectural detail, for short: SPEC.
7. Jiffy __: chain that specializes in oil changes: LUBE.
8. Once around the world: ORBIT.
9. Artist's primer: GESSO. Not a Tuesday word. Gesso prepares the surface for painting, making the surface slightly textured and ready to accept acrylic paint. Without gesso, the paint would soak into the weave of the canvas.
10. Concealed: CLOAKED.
11. Reddish brown dyes used in body art: HENNAS.
12. Clinched the win: ICED IT.
13. Deep divide: CHASM.
21. Trendy place: IN SPOT.
23. R&B legend Redding: OTIS. Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (Sept. 9, 1941 ~ Dec. 10, 1967) tragically died at age 26 in a plane crash. [Name # 6.]
24. Frozen food directive: HEAT.
25. Like clothes put out to dry: DAMP.
28. Key near F1: ESC.
29. Many Punjabis: SIKHS. A religion primarily practiced in the Punjab region of Southeast Asia.
33. Rounded roof: CUPOLA.
35. Artifact: RELIC.
36. Alley-__ pass: OOP.
37. Not aweather: ALEE.
38. Hazy shape: BLUR.
39. Drains: SAPS.
40. Second try on a movie set: TAKE TWO.
42. Encouraged: EGGED ON.
43. Venomous snakes: VIPERS.
44. Spring blooms with beards: IRISES.
Vincent Van Gogh was famous for his paintings of Irises.
46. Soviet premier Khrushchev: NIKITA. Nikita Khrushchev (Apr. 15, 1894 ~ Sept. 11, 19971) was the first Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. He served from 1953 to 1964. Did he really bang a shoe on a desk at the United Nations? [Name # 7.]
47. "Hoarders" airer: A AND E. Usually depicted as A&E.
48. Aquatic barkers: SEALS.
49. Hedgehog mascot of Sega: SONIC.
52. Picture, informally: FOTO.
53. Gadget review site: C-NET.
57. Unit of energy: ERG.
58. Biblical beast: ASS. You can read about of Balaam and his talking donkey in the Book of Numbers (Chapters 22-24).
78A. Banker offering a penny for your thoughts?: MEMORY CASHIER. Memory cache.
89A. Artisan who specializes in life-size replicas of bison?: BUFFALO BUILDER. Buffalo Bill.
108A. Character in "Driving Miss Piggy"?: THE MUPPET CHAUFFEUR. The Muppet Show.
32D. One working with flower and dough?: BOTANY BAKER. Botany Bay.
42D. Couturier for Tinker Bell?: FAIRY TAILOR. Fairy tale.
This
is not a simple *DRIVE then DRIVER transformation. All of them have
spelling changes. Very creative. Hallmark of Ed's puzzles.
Loved the grid design also. I could picture the smile on Ed's face when he made four of the theme entries intersect.
Across:
1. Insurer with a fowl mascot: AFLAC.
6. LED screen alternative: LCD TV. 6. Unlike a 6-Across, say: LO-RES. Low resolution.
11. Fourth-yr. students: SRS.
14. Slice and dice, perhaps: PREP.
18. Stylish Geoffrey: BEENE.
19. Chicago hub: O'HARE.
20. Aim: GOAL.
21. Holiday lights spot: EAVE.
22. Trumpet sounds: BLATS.
23. Decor updates: RE-DOS.
24. Old school: ALMA MATER. We often just get ALMA.
29. Most articles in The Onion: SATIRES.
30. Shaft on a unicycle: AXLE.
31. Place of rapid development: HOTBED.
35. Short, made shorter: LIL.
36. One of 30 in septiembre: DIA.
39. Pub order: PINT.
41. Aerial footage provider: DRONE.
46. British school since 1440: ETON. Rich Hong Kongese send their kids to Eton.
47. Bikini tops: BRAS.
49. Biblical prophet: HOSEA.
50. Hit the deck again?: RE-DEALT.
52. Palais figure: ROI.
58. "Magic 3" rapper: NAS.
59. Utterly destroyed: IN RUINS.
61. __-Dame de Paris: NOTRE.
62. Happy cry: YAY.
64. Ancient pyramid builders: MAYANS.
65. Hair product that creates a wet look: GEL. I had this hairstyle for a short period. Preferred mousse.
68. Formerly named: NEE.
69. Tiny listening device: EARBUD.
72. Beginning of time?: TEE. Time.
73. Tri-tip, e.g.: STEAK.
75. Balaclava: SKI MASK.
76. Barnyard bleat: MAA.
83. Doll once sold with mustache and sideburn decals: KEN.
84. Jack Ma's company: ALI BABA. The middle guy is Jack Ma,
who speaks fluent English. Ma disappeared from the public spotlight for a
few years after criticizing China's financial system. Back now.
86. Name on a rap sheet: ALIAS. 114. Letters before an 86-Across: AKA.
87. Inventor/actress Lamarr: HEDY.
88. Most populous city in southwest Colombia: CALI.
95. Asteroids named for a Roman god: AMORS.
97. Covered in gold: GILT.
98. Subj. for some immigrants: ESL.
99. Browser address: URL. 13. Punctuation in a 99-Across: SLASH.
100. Passed in tedious fashion: WORE ON.
102. Upswing: BOOM.
104. Finger painting?: NAIL ART. 4. Digs for bugs?: ANTHILLS. Great clues.
113. Idylls: PASTORALS.
116. Accounts: TALES.
117. Info on a museum placard: TITLE.
118. Seller of Storå loft beds: IKEA.
119. High-chair feature: TRAY.
120. Put on a pedestal: EXALT.
121. Sea eagles: ERNES.
122. NL East team with a "curly W" logo: NATS.
123. Rte. displays: STS.
124. Charmingly silly: DIPPY.
125. Beloved ones: DEARS.
Down:
1. Arafat's successor: ABBAS.
2. Guy: FELLA.
3. Navigated furniture in a game of the floor is lava, say: LEAPT.
5. Viola's false identity in "Twelfth Night": CESARIO. Learning moment for me.
7. Guitarist Atkins known as the "Country Gentleman": CHET.
8. Root beer brand: DAD'S.
9. Pants, in slang: TROU.
10. Scooter whose name means "wasp" in Italian: VESPA. Fresh clue!
11. Out of debt: SOLVENT.
12. Oscar winner Malek: RAMI.
14. Orchard figure: PEAR TREE.
15. Rodent in some zodiacs: RAT. Chinese and Vietnamese.
16. Sistine Chapel figure: EVE.
17. "As __ my last email ... ": PER.
20. Pasta sauce staple: GARLIC.
25. Subjunctive, e.g.: MOOD.
27. Banjoist Fleck: BELA.
28. "Star Wars" Celebration, e.g.: EXPO.
33. Sherlock's sister: ENOLA.
34. Big dings: DENTS.
36. Singer Celine: DION. "Because You Loved Me" is so beautiful.
37. Pt. of RIT: INST.
38. Outfielder Tommie who was AL Rookie of the Year in 1966: AGEE.
40. Rich layer cake: TORTE.
43. Therefore: THUS.
44. Mend with yarn: DARN.
45. Food writer Drummond: REE. "The Pioneer Woman".
47. Cup edge: BRIM.
48. Novelist Jaffe: RONA.
51. Desert feature: DRY AIR.
53. Washington venue?: CINEMA. Oh, Denzel Washington.
54. Add-__: extras: ONS.
55. Finished first: WON. And
56. Finished off: ATE.
57. Outrage: IRE.
60. Dubai's country, briefly: UAE.
63. Sleeve: ARM.
65. 1960s muscle car: GTO.
66. Eternally, in verse: EER.
67. "__ it on me": LAY.
69. Squeeze (out): EKE.
70. Took advantage of: USED.
71. Big Apple fashion label: DKNY.
73. Tolkien dragon: SMAUG.
74. Heat meas.: KCAL. Kilocalorie.
75. Spanish "Yes, yes!": SI SI.
76. Bright parrot: MACAW.
77. Site of an 1836 siege: ALAMO.
79. Tidal movement: EBB.
80. Sunscreen additive: ALOE.
81. Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, e.g.: SIBS.
82. Transport by semi: HAUL.
85. Caps worn during conclave: BIRETTAS.
87. Inferno of the damned: HELLFIRE.
90. Leg bones: FIBULAS.
91. Mopsy's sister: FLOPSY.
92. Perched upon: ATOP.
93. Affair with ti leaves: LUAU.
94. Stared off into space: DRIFTED.
96. London district near Oxford Circus: SOHO.
101. "Dagnabbit": NERTS.
103. Portioned (out): METED.
104. "So gross!": NASTY.
105. MetLife competitor: AETNA.
106. Tool that's made to measure: RULER.
107. Hair piece?: TRESS.
109. K or Wal finale: MART.
110. Cab: TAXI.
111. Give a hand: CLAP. And 112. Lend a hand: HELP.
113. Brooch: PIN.
115. Good to go: SET.
Going to have my first infusion on Tuesday. Keep me in your thoughts and
prayers. Been feeling a bit anxious after having the phone call with
the RA nurse last week. They'll keep me for extra 30 minutes for
observation. Hopefully I don't have any of the side effects.