Comfort Food

Mike had a very bad day Saturday. My parents bake comfort goodies for those in need, so I decided to follow suit. I aproned up and searched non-profit cookbooks for a coffee cake to warm a distressed soul. It would be unethical for a lollygagger to have all the necessary ingredients on hand, but Wilma's (last name shall remain anonymous) Coffee Cake came the closest. After all, Mike was on the way home and could stop for buttermilk!

This was a three part formula. The damp ingredients, the dry ingredients and the crunchies. It required three bowls and a division of placement in the baking pan. That is when the problems began. You see Wilma said to use a loaf pan and I was focused on following the directions to the letter.

Reminiscent of Mt. St. Helens, batter began to overflow after 12 minutes at 350 degrees. The resulting burning embers clung to the oven racks, plopped onto the hot oven floor and filled the house with a smoky, burnt cake aroma. A cookie sheet placed under the cauldron enabled St. Coffee Cake to continue erupting in hopes of a finished product, but after an additional 10 minutes to the prescribed cooking time it became apparent that the center would not solidify.

The following picture does not capture the depth of the cauldron, but does establish that there was some salvageable parts crusted along the edges. I shared a serving with Doug, who also had a very bad Saturday, but discovered he failed to enjoy the full sample. Although this cooking experiment turned out "uncomfortable food" I may try St. Coffee Cake again, but Wilma, I will use a bigger baking receptacle.