As the Maryland Senate is poised tonight to pass legislation designating the Smith Island Cake the state's official dessert, one reader writes to ask why not anoint the Lady Baltimore Cake?

In an email, Bitten Norman writes, "If they are serious about a Maryland State Cake, perhaps they should do a little homework and select the 'Lady Baltimore Cake' instead because of its history."

 But a Google search (by no means exhaustive) reveals that the answer may be that some history buffs say the Lady Baltimore Cake is a Southern specialty. The cake, often served at weddings, is made with white frosting that includes chopped nuts and dried or candied fruits. According to one Web site, the cake hails from Charleston, S.C. – a bayside city, but not our bayside city.

See: http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Cakes/LadyBaltimoreCake.htm