AUTHOR: Marty, a.k.a. canape TITLE: More hell than heaven cake DATE: 9/29/2007 10:00:00 PM ----- BODY:

Tonight has to be the biggest baking disaster I have ever created. Girl shared a recipe for Heaven and Hell cake. It sounded so so good, and I was feeling up to trying something more than cookies or brownies.

Momma will know the first problem when I say that you start by making an angel food cake from scratch. Not my forte. But I keep trying. It didn't taste that bad, but it was the consistency of a thick whoopee cushion.

The devil's food cake turned out so moist and soft that it fell completely apart under the weight of the angel food rubber.

The best part was the peanut butter mousse. I wish that I had just tossed the angel food and spread the peanut butter mousse on the devil's food cake and dipped it in the chocolate ganache. But I didn't. I continued to try and assemble the cake.

The ganache poured off the top and onto the counters. The devil's food gave way under the weight of the angel food and squirted out the sides. A giant glop of it dropped onto Pupstar's back and onto the floor. As much as she shouldn't have chocolate, I was laughing too hard to stop her. Most of it was the peanut butter mousse anyway. She is still trying to lick it off her back.

Forgoing the refridgeration that was the last step because it was too far gone anyhow, I scooped some onto plates for us. True to form, Papa ate his in its entirety and gave a brusque, "What? What's wrong with it?"

I adore him.

Guy and I ate enough bites to determine that it was possibly the worst thing ever to come out of my kitchen and then gave up.

Now, all I have to do is figure out how to get it in the trash without spilling anymore on the dog.

~~~~~~~~~~

I decided this needed photos.

The angel food cake. Not looking too bad here.

Unfortunately, in about 10 minutes, they looked like this:

Rubber. Scary scary rubber cakes.

This is the oh so yummy peanut butter mousse.

The finished product before attempting to cut. You can see the lump of devil's food cake that are getting ready to squeeze out the sides.

And after cutting, but just before the ganache headed for the counter.

You would think I had never baked anything in my entire life.

Labels: baking, Not So Good Eatin'

----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Jenn DATE:Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 10:48:00 PM EDT I'm sorry, I laughed. It's a pity it didn't even taste good. Sometimes disasters make the best stories...well, maybe not today, but definitely next month. You have convinced me to go with boxed mixes if I ever attempt it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Marty, a.k.a. canape DATE:Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 10:50:00 PM EDT I thought the same thing. The mousse is good enough to try it again - but with an angel food mix for sure.

Plus, I've got to figure out what went wrong with the ganache. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Becki DATE:Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 10:54:00 PM EDT Is it bad that your story makes me want some chocolate?? Go get one of those Betty Crocker brownie things that are single serving (or at least I think they are!) - and you just add water. Yummy!!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

slouchy DATE:Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 11:44:00 PM EDT Really? Because even if it didn't look pretty, it still should have tasted reasonably good...

But maybe I'm not as picky as you, LOL! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Kelley DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 12:10:00 AM EDT Oh bugger, now my keyboard is splattered with coffee from laughing with a mouth full!
I am laughing with you. I have had some monumental disasters in my life but never, ever coated the dog with my creations. THAT is truly priceless, would have loved to see a photo of that.
Now I am going to see if I have the ingredients for peanut butter mousse..... sounds like the perfect lunch. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Mandy DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 12:19:00 AM EDT I would totally eat it! I hate kitchen disasters but at least it was funny.....for me. LOL

XOXO ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Amy DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 7:19:00 AM EDT LOL! And THAT, my friend, is why I'm using boxed stuff for my first attempt...if I ever get the energy to make it. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

gail DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 8:19:00 AM EDT Forgive me for laughing but even I have never seen it look so bad and it's my recipe, snort.

Note to my friend. Let Girl make the angel food, I am really good at it.

It was the chocolate chips. Always use good chocolate. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Steph DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 9:28:00 AM EDT oh my! Definately a kitchen adventure!! Im sorry it didnt even taste good...and poor puppy. Not sure if i will attempt this :( ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

katy DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 9:48:00 AM EDT Sounded good even if it didn't turn out so well. I love angel food cake but have finally figured out that I need to just buy them when I want one. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Redneck Mommy DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 12:29:00 PM EDT This post is reason enough for me not to ever attempt baking a cake.

I like my bakery. I support my bakery. My dollars pay for jobs and help the economy.

Plus the inside of my oven never gets dirty this way. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Kathy DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 1:31:00 PM EDT This post is reason enough for me not to ever attempt baking a cake.

I was going to attempt angel food cake from scratch, but maybe I should stick to Sarah Lee.

I tried to make chocolate-chip cake and had either too light a cake batter, or chips that were too heavy and sank to the bottom. I had to flip the cake over and tell everyone the sticky, chocolate top was intentional. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

slackermommy DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 3:01:00 PM EDT Looks like Heaven and Hell to me! Peanut butter mousse and chocolate? I'm all over that. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Candygirlflies DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 5:27:00 PM EDT Oh, Canape, you're just too much!! I wish I had been there, because pb and chocolate is my absolute favourite food combination, and experience has told me that the way something LOOKS doesn't always indicate how good something TASTES (I've had my share of "appearance disasters", too... but most of em still tasted great. Especially when I'm sobbing and stuffing them down my throat, alone in the pantry-closet where no one else can find me).

I am SO in awe that you would undertake such an intricate dessert your very own self!! Especially after the hand-burning incident...

Lots of love, CGF xo ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

brandy DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 5:42:00 PM EDT Ohhh I love you! I always see the results of people's cooking and they always look like the pictures came straight from Gourmet magazine. Thanks for showing me something I could relate to. (Because God knows, I would have made a cake that looked something similar). Better luck next time! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

labugga DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 8:07:00 PM EDT I'm glad I read a warning from Girl before I found this.

Is it sad that I would eat it anyway?

Must go change pants now, but many choco tacos to you for such a valiant effort! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

Bon DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 8:09:00 PM EDT due, you're way hard on yourself. i get excited if i manage to BUY cake, let alone bake it!

besides, did it taste good? ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

whymommy DATE:Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 8:50:00 PM EDT It looks delicious.

Peanut butter mousse...mmmmmm....

Me, I just dip the chocolate in the peanut butter and call it a day. You and Girl are much better cooks. ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:

mamma knows DATE:Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 2:40:00 PM EDT It looks good enough to eat, heck this week I've eaten everything in sight, I would have had some :)

also, whymommy told me to ask you for the code for the team whymommy badge for my blog, if you don't mind. Thank you! ----- --------