Cakes Like Mother Used to Make

A quick update on the lovely Lilly...she is doing well and had a better day today. Fingers crossed that she keeps going that way. Last night was a restless one but today looked more promising, or it did until I started baking.

I thought this afternoon I would try my hand at cake making...I'm good at bread and pastry but cakes I am not renowned for...well not for good ones anyway!! My cakes remind me of the old joke about the sign in the baker's shop window saying " Cakes like your mum used to make £2.00...Cakes like your mum THOUGHT she made £5.00"!! I always thought mine were OK but others held a different opinion on occasions.

I remember when Charlotte had to take a cake to school for a party and she begged me to let her grandmother make it!! The cheek!! Lol!

Anyway, I got out the scales and thought I would be accurate..for a change. I weighed and followed a recipe precisely, it was going to be perfect and all those doubters would literally eat their words.

My son came home and I was quite smug when he asked what the great smell was. I proudly announced that I had baked a cake.......his facial expression changed...was that panic I saw briefly flash in his eyes? Nah...it must have been surprise.

Fifteen minutes later I warily eased the tins out of the oven and saw the most gorgeous vision of well risen, nicely browned cakes...success, yahoo!! I had done it!! The perfect cakes and they were all mine!! My son had to admit that things were looking good...but he reminded me they looked good the day I made him a birthday cake too. (OK, the less said about that day the better!!)

By now the smell had aroused a bit of interest and the kitchen was starting to fill up. I strutted around looking a bit like a bantam hen. "Yes of course I had known it would turn out well. I used a recipe" I bluffed, at the same time saying a big thank you to the powers that be for letting it turnout so well.

I just could not wait for the cake to cool so I could get down to the nitty gritty and try it out and get everyone else to try it too....but eventually it was time. Drum roll, cymbals, fanfare etc and the cake was cut. I tried to look casual as I handed around the plates, one to DH, one to younger son, one to Charlotte and a little one for Lilly.

I waited, holding my breath.......the cake was still sitting on the plates and I could see them watching each other out of the corner of their eyes...who would be first? I thought I would encourage them by coaxing Lilly to try a little...well after all she had no bad memories of my cake making and she is so trusting. Her little face was turned up and her mouth was open..so I popped a mouthful in for her. It was like a mini volcanic eruption!!! The cake went in every direction as she gave a shudder and went "Yuck!".

That's all it took and every face filled with fear!! I could seem the "Oh my god...she's done it again look" as the plates went down and all eyes turned towards me. "It's good, really it is" I muttered. The only way forward was to take a bite myself. I did and "Yuck!" Lilly was right..it was ghastly..with a capital Y!!! Thank goodness Lilly had spat it out, it could have killed her!!

Was it my fault that the caster sugar turned out to not to be caster sugar.....it looked like it....it was where I expected it to be. How was I meant to know it was SALT!! Who put it there anyway, we don't use salt.

So, in a nut shell...it was a bin job, along with the cake tins...no more cakes for me!!Now I am keeping a low profile, a very low profile for at least the next few hours!!

Before I go I want to share two wonderful layouts that Leaonna and Linda sent me using the "It's Almost Easter" Page Kit...they really are exceptional, full of imagination and real talent. Thank you ladies for sharing them!!

Here's Leaonna's page. I love the tails on the chicks , the clever way she used the eggs..... and those corners are brilliant. So full originality and style!! A beautiful layout.

 Linda's has used the papers and the border to get some terrific matting on her page, it works so well and really draws the eye in to the photo. The eggs and bow are lovely touch too. A great page!!

Well, that's all from me for tonight but see you all tomorrow. Don't forget Friday is a personal and commercial use OK freebie. I promise no more baking...well not cakes anyway!!

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