All Cracked Up

Do you have one of those people in your life that think they're funny? I mean "delusional funny." When that person cracks a joke, they are so proud of it but they are the only ones laughing in the room? Their laughter turns to nervous fear when they realize their zinger was not all that zingy. Yep. That person. Well, Dear Readers, I am just lucky enough to be married to such a person. Lucky me. Lucky me.

This morning, BEFORE exercise and coffee, my charming husband, Russell, strolled up to me, quite casually and even more casually said, 'I don't like your new haircut.' Now Russ and I have been married a LONG time so I know when to brace myself. The funny part is, HE does not? Huh... Anyway, I recognize the proud 'this is gonna be good' glint in his eyes so I took a breath and waited for the "it." I looked at Russ with a puzzled look (pretty typical actually) as he continued to stroll toward me and attempt to cuddle me as he said, and I am NOT kidding, 'I don't like your haircut anymore because now I don't have the worst hair in the house.' No doubt this well-documented and brave moron believed his teasing would be well received. After all, my hair is pretty silly-looking in the morning, today's 'bed head' was no exception BUT really? Russ just cracked up and tried to cuddle me some more. He had the sense to be a little afraid at this point but only a little. He is after all, a moron. (This is my life Dear Readers.) Every woman "Dear Readers" will thank me for the upcoming message to my men "Dear Readers." Attention men "Dear Readers," a little advice. IF the woman makes jokes about her hair, you may not! Ever! LEAVE the ranks of well-documented and brave and morons strolling about the planet. We are at our limit!

Whew! I feel like I have done my civic duty and can finally get down to what today's blog is really about, cracked cakes. This morning, a reporter and photographer from the local newspaper called the Morning Call, are coming to my house to do a story about Funny Cakes. The reporter emailed me and said we will do the usuals such as showing photos of this and that and do some 'beauty shots.' 'Beauty shots?' I thought? 'Beauty shots of my Funnycake?' My next thought was, 'Oh-oh.' You see, my Funnycake as several large and not so funny cracks. Cracks most anywhere do not usually fall into the "beauty" category so what to do what to do? I cannot remake it because I do not have time... I figured I best share why it cracked. THAT I have time to do. 

My cake cracked, any cake cracks, because the temperature was too high and the rack was placed incorrectly. This makes perfect sense because I baked the Funny Cake in the toaster oven. One rack setting, too close to the heat. I saw the crack was happening but it was too late. I adjusted the heat, but again, it was too late. (The heat in a toaster oven is also not as accurate as a normal oven.) In my defense, it is very hot and humid here in the East right now and I did not want to turn the oven on, even for a newspaper article. Since the Funny Cake is charming and a rather silly cake, I am not too concerned and there is this other wonder- trick and it is called, "dust it with powdered sugar and serve." Problem solved!

Share your techniques for saving a dish that did not turn out as beautifully as you'd hoped and we can help each other. 

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