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Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,415
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

My (or your) latest recipe disaster

Yesterday I was all set to take another step along the road of my fascination for the recently-learned concept of "fika," which is the Swedish term for taking time out to relax with a cup of coffee/tea and a pastry or snack.

 

I used a recipe in my new "FIKA" book which appeared to be a simple one for cardamom cake to be baked in a decorative mold.  The only hard part was crushing the cardamom seeds.  Using my mortar and pestle didn't work so I put the four teaspoons of cardamom seeds in a plastic bag and pounded it with a hammer.  Not too hard, really.

 

But then the egg whites that were supposed to give lift and airiness to the cake wouldn't hold peaks and when I added sugar, it turned into a flat liquid.  OK, I thought, maybe adding a bit of baking powder will do the trick instead (the recipe didn't originally call for baking powder - it was all supposed to be up to the egg whites).

 

It baked, and when done, appeared a little flat, but a wooden pick came out clean so I let it cool.  

 

Finally, upending it showed me that I REALLY should have whipped another set of egg whites instead of trying to salvage the ones that went flat.  That's probably Cooking 101 but I went the thrifty route instead.  

 

Only the edges were edible. 

 

It was supposed to look like this but looked like the second picture instead.  Woman Tongue

cardamom cake is easy to make and delicious. the cardamom flavor shines through but is not overwhelming. yogurt helps to lighten the cake.Image result for cake disasters

 

At least my cup of coffee tasted good.

 

Anybody have any recipe disasters lately?

 

 

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,902
Registered: ‎11-24-2011

Re: My (or your) latest recipe disaster

@GingerPeach  I've had some disasters to numerous to count, but I'm sure happy when something turns out good. 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,201
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: My (or your) latest recipe disaster

@GingerPeach 

Ahhh! I know you feel kind of, well, less than a French pastry chef, but I enjoyed reading your baking disaster!

I mean, besides your added ingredients, were you able to determine what went wrong with your egg whites?

Clean metal bowl? Cold fresh eggs? Any yolk mixed in? Something in there was a factor.

 

Oh, I've had my share, just not lately. I mean I feel like a total pro about now due to all the calamities I've had in the past! Too numerous to put into words here.

 

 

 

egg whites 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,767
Registered: ‎03-13-2010

Re: My (or your) latest recipe disaster

Ummmm..........I have crumbled up a "few things" and tossed them in the yard for the birds............

♥Surface of the Sun♥
Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,415
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: My (or your) latest recipe disaster

Hi @Harpa 

Yes, I knew what the issue was but decided to give the baking powder a try anyway.  Usually things turn out, but this one wasn't meant to be.  

 

Even professionals have off days. Woman LOL

 

I did just make a lovely batch of oatmeal/cardamom/almond/cherry cookies, however.

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 19,346
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: My (or your) latest recipe disaster

It was worth a try. The original picture looked good though.

Valued Contributor
Posts: 936
Registered: ‎05-09-2010

Re: My (or your) latest recipe disaster

The picture of your cake could have come from my camera.  I recall many years ago trying to bake bread.  When my mother in law walked into the kitchen she asked if it was pizza crust.  I have since found excellent bakeries and pizza shops.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,415
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: My (or your) latest recipe disaster

That's funny, @Terrywu !

 

@AuntG , I will probably try again.  The bundt pan is still in the dishwasher waiting to be washed tonight.

[was Homegirl] Love to be home . . . thus the screen name. Joined 2003.
Honored Contributor
Posts: 18,604
Registered: ‎10-25-2010

Re: My (or your) latest recipe disaster

I have had a problem with my cookies burning on the bottom and being raw in the middle.  I blamed it on my oven or on my cookie sheets.  Out of every batch I made, half of them ended up as bird feed.

 

I am proud to admit that I made 10 different kinds this year and not one burnt cookie.

 

I bought new USA cookie sheets.  I bought an oven thermometer because I swore my oven was running too hot.  Actually it is 25 degrees cooler than it should be.

 

I also used metric measurements and weighed all of my ingredients instead of using cups and measuring spoons.

 

I still don't know what was wrong, but my cookies are now perfect.

 

@GingerPeach Hint:  you shouldn't not bake things that require whipped eggs whites when the air is humid.  Also humidity is not a friend of making candy that includes chocolate coatings or hard candies.  You are setting yourself up for a fail.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,955
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: My (or your) latest recipe disaster

I tried to use pre cubed white bread for the turkey dressing for Thanksgiving, and the groans could have been heard at Plymouth Colony AND WERE DESERVED.