Saturday, December 13, 2008

Awards and Cooking Failures

Yeah, it looks like I make all kinds of great foods. But we don't really want to admit to our failures, now, do we? Once, after 4 days of Thanksgiving leftovers, I made a turkey pot pie. It was good; however, since I've never been a casserole person, and my kids therefore don't understand "one pot surprise," they were clamoring for permission to find a rope and tree to use on me. Thankfully, their father declined permission. This happened 12, maybe 15 years ago. Sometimes stuff overcooks, usually due to one minor crisis or another requiring my attention outside the kitchen, although I've doubtless been guilty of negligence. But the turkey pot pie is the one thing that everyone mentions when they are trying to prove that I'm not a pretty decent cook. Well, we all have things we can never live long enough to escape.

So I thought I'd give you another example. Within the last week or 2, I found what should have been a great recipe for a "Holiday Nut Cake" in an insert in my paper called Rel
ish. If you also found it, save your money, because it's a pricy recipe, calling for 1/2 pound butter and a pound of nuts. It was absolutely lovely. It had a pretty good flavor. It was dry and crumbly. Marjie was greatly displeased. So, here's a picture of half of the cake. If you really want to try it, I suggest at least 3 eggs and less flour, and fewer nuts. That might save it. But I'm not sure I'm a brave enough soul.
Now, surprisingly to me, I've recently been given two more awards. You can both feel free to rescind them after this cake failure.


From everyone's favorite storyteller, The Blond Duck, I have been given the Uber Amazing Blog Award. Well, Duckie, I think you are uber-amazing, and am grateful that you think likewise of me. I will pass this on when my brain will function better, but it's late.

Katherine has presented me with the Proximity Award. This award means:
"This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!" Katherine, thank you so much. If I still lived in greater Knoxville, I'd come give you a big hug for this. I am to pass this on to eight bloggers, and, again, once I have my brains back around me, I will.

Good night to all my "imaginary friends", as Duckie so eloquently puts it, and have a lovely weekend!

9 comments:

Paula said...

Well, at least it looks pretty! I bet now that most of your kidlin's are out in the world most of the year, they know that it's pretty hard to top mom's cooking. I already feel sorry for their future spouses because you just know they'll hear stuff like, "Well, my MOM made dessert for us every night!" Congrats on your awards. You are a jewel!

Shelby said...

Congrats on your awards!

It is disappointing when something you think is going to be fabulous turns out bad. :(

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to try your recipe,

The Blonde Duck said...

You deserve it! You're such a wonderful invisible friend! I'm packing up your sussy today to send out! :)

Anonymous said...

I hate when a recipe doesn't work out...I am reminded often of the $50 of shrimp I made into this disgusting recipe....oh well, can't win them all.

Anonymous said...

Bah, that's not a cooking failure! I have 2 words for you: Cool Whip.

Congratulatios on the awards! :oD They are well-earned.

Anonymous said...

Make that "Congratulations". Blog commentary needs a spell check. ;o)

pam said...

Congrats on your awards! I hate it when I spend a lot of money or time on a recipe and it doesn't live up to my hopes.

Maria said...

Hallo Marije, thanks for visiting my blog! Congrats on your award!
Your dog looks so cute, what a big and strong darling!
Happy DoF!